★★☆☆☆
(Super Hero) Emerald Blair, aka The Green Blaze, attends Ceres ModCon 2108 to represent the Troubleshooter Corps at a time when relations between baseline and modified humans are tense. (9,799 words; Time: 32m)
Note: I think you probably need to read the “Only Superhuman” novel first in order to fully enjoy this story.
"Conventional Powers," by Christopher L. Bennett [bio] (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact issue 09-10|19, published on August 16, 2019 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.467 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: Anyone who’s ever been to a big SF or comic convention should find something amusing in this tale. People familiar with the Sad/Rabid Puppies controversy will recognize the attempt by the “Hounds” to steal the awards.
Con: The biggest problem with this story is that there’s no obvious plot to it. Emry shows up at the con, gives a rather dull speech, tangles with some bigots, etc. but it’s all aimless; she’s got no particular goal she’s trying to achieve, so I kept wondering “when is the story going to start?”
Beyond that, there are a too many infodumps and too much intrusive narration to make this a fun read.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Christopher L. Bennett Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: Anyone who’s ever been to a big SF or comic convention should find something amusing in this tale. People familiar with the Sad/Rabid Puppies controversy will recognize the attempt by the “Hounds” to steal the awards.
Con: The biggest problem with this story is that there’s no obvious plot to it. Emry shows up at the con, gives a rather dull speech, tangles with some bigots, etc. but it’s all aimless; she’s got no particular goal she’s trying to achieve, so I kept wondering “when is the story going to start?”
Beyond that, there are a too many infodumps and too much intrusive narration to make this a fun read.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Christopher L. Bennett Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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