★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention
(Apocalypse) In a broken USA, a woman fleeing oppression finds an automated hotel still operating in the middle of the desert. (5,981 words; Time: 19m)
"Rena in the Desert," by Lia Swope Mitchell [bio] (edited by Sheila Williams), appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction issue 03-04|20, published on February 20, 2020 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2020.120 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: The eerie quiet quasi-familiar setting of a motel in the middle of nowhere adds quite a bit of tension because we’re sure something bad is about to happen—we just don’t know what. We also know that quite a few bad things have already happened, and the eastern part of the US is ruined and impoverished, ruled by a tyrannical government.
Con: The rescue of Josh and Adela doesn’t really require any cleverness—just a measure of trust. Nor does Rena seem much changed by the experience. And we never do find out what happened to Adela’s parents.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Lia Swope Mitchell Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: The eerie quiet quasi-familiar setting of a motel in the middle of nowhere adds quite a bit of tension because we’re sure something bad is about to happen—we just don’t know what. We also know that quite a few bad things have already happened, and the eastern part of the US is ruined and impoverished, ruled by a tyrannical government.
Con: The rescue of Josh and Adela doesn’t really require any cleverness—just a measure of trust. Nor does Rena seem much changed by the experience. And we never do find out what happened to Adela’s parents.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Lia Swope Mitchell Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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