★★★★☆ Entertaining and Horrifying all at the same time.
(Future Fantasy) Olive’s life changes when her hated little sister’s red wings become visible in her chrysalis, and everyone knows she’ll be the new queen when she emerges. (8,911 words; Time: 29m)
"My Sister's Wings Are Red," by Christine Tyler [bio] (edited by Scott H. Andrews), appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies issue 298, published on February 20, 2020.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2020.126 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: Right off the bat, it’s clear that something strange is going on. The “larvae” (also known as “humans”) very much seem to be human like us, even though the adults in this society seem insectoid, if not actual butterflies. An important part of the fun in the story is gradually figuring out what happened here.
The horror of the situation gradually grows the more we read. When we lean Priscilla had “three stars” we abruptly realize that this was our world. The aliens destroyed Earth when then turned people into insect-like Imagos.
Olive’s act of rebellion (also an act of kindness) at the end is completely understandable, even if it’s a disaster for her personally.
Con: Even at the end, it’s not clear what happened to turn people into insects, and Olive’s sacrifice doesn’t seem to have accomplished much other than to free 4408.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Christine Tyler Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: Right off the bat, it’s clear that something strange is going on. The “larvae” (also known as “humans”) very much seem to be human like us, even though the adults in this society seem insectoid, if not actual butterflies. An important part of the fun in the story is gradually figuring out what happened here.
The horror of the situation gradually grows the more we read. When we lean Priscilla had “three stars” we abruptly realize that this was our world. The aliens destroyed Earth when then turned people into insect-like Imagos.
Olive’s act of rebellion (also an act of kindness) at the end is completely understandable, even if it’s a disaster for her personally.
Con: Even at the end, it’s not clear what happened to turn people into insects, and Olive’s sacrifice doesn’t seem to have accomplished much other than to free 4408.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Christine Tyler Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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