Year-To-Date

Year-To-Date by Rating (Recommended stories grouped by RSR Rating)
Year-To-Date by Score (Recommended stories grouped by Score)
Year-To-Date by Magazine (Recommended stories grouped by Magazine)

Year-To-Date by Rating

The year’s 5-star and 4-star stories recommended by Rocket Stack Rank are listed below like the monthly ratings.
The 3-star, 2-star, 1-star, and Not Rated stories are filtered to show only the ones recommended by other reviewers.


Rating: 5 -> Hugo-worthy

Stories: 32;  Estimated Time: 23h:47m (428K words)
All Systems Red by Martha Wells  Time: 1h:43m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 05/02/17
(SF Thriller; Murderbot Diaries) A “security bot” assigned to support a survey team impresses them with its competence as a series of things go wrong. What they don’t know is that it has disabled the governor that prevents it from hurting people.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
An Evening with Severyn Grimes by Rich Larson  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 07.08|17
(SF Thriller) After terrorists spring her from cryo-prison, talented hacker Girasol goes into cyberspace to help them target the rich businessman who put her in prison in the first place.
And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker  Time: 1h:03m (Novella)  IssueUncanny 15
(SF Mystery) The inventor of trans-multiverse travel invites hundreds of instances of herself to a conference. It’s great fun until one gets murdered.
Bring Your Own Spoon by Saad Z. Hossain  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Djinn Falls in Love, and Other Stories 2017
(Dystopic Fantasy) In a future, polluted Dhaka, Hanu makes friends with a djinn, and they decide to open a restaurant—even though almost everyone eats synthetic food.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 JStrahan
(Alternate History Fantasy; Dominion of the Fallen) Two people from a secret, underwater House try to infiltrate a troublesome surface House that rules much of a Paris still recovering from long-ago magical wars.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Concessions by Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali2  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueStrange Horizons 03/06/17
(Near-Future SFF) Bilqis,  the only real doctor in a dying community of religious exiles, finds something strange when she examines a pregnant woman.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 JStrahan
Dear Sarah by Nancy Kress  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) The new tech the aliens gave us created a golden age for some and abject poverty for others. MaryJo joins the army to get out, knowing she may end up fighting rebels who are friends or relatives.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 GDozois:5
Destroy the City with Me Tonight by Kate Marshall  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueBehind the Mask 2017
(Superhero) The disease that turns Cass into a superhero makes her almost invisible to ordinary people without her costume.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire  Time: 2h:08m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 01/10/17
(Horror) Jenna has lived in New York City ever since she died forty years ago. Now something is happening to New York City’s ghosts, and she’s determined to find out what and stop it—if it doesn’t find her first.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
How Sere Picked Up Her Laundry by Alexander Jablokov  Time: 1h:04m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 07.08|17
(SF Mystery) A struggling private investigator in a city full of alien refugees, Sere risks her life seeking connections between some mysterious aliens and an exterminator who blew himself up.
i know my own & my own know me by Tracy Canfield  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Adventure) A team trying to understand what happened to a human colony whose members have all regressed to animal intelligence is distracted when someone uplifts their cat to human intelligence.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 SFRevu:4
In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle  Time: 1h:46m (Novella)  IssueIn Calabria 2017
(Modern Fantasy) Claudio tends his farm alone down at the tip of the Italian peninsula until a young woman and a pregnant unicorn disturb his tranquility.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
In the Shade of the Pixie Tree by Rodello Santos  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 221
(High Fantasy) Bekka is apprentice to the local witch, and she's off to collect pixies. Joakem wants to walk with her, and she can't tell him no.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Nexus by Michael F. Flynn  Time: 1h:21m (Novella)  IssueAnalog 03.04|17
(Time Travel) A time traveler, an immortal, an android, a telepath, and a variety of space aliens meet at cross purposes in modern America.
Remote Presence by Susan Palwick  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueLightspeed 83
(Modern Fantasy) Chaplin Win is in trouble for letting an unauthorized ghost talk with hospital patients, and inspectors are coming tomorrow.
The Common Sea by Steve Rasnic Tem  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 269
(Near-Future SF) Trips from flooded Miami to the trading post are always hazardous, especially for an old man, but Tom needs supplies for his family.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 SFRevu:4
The Dragon of Dread Peak by Jeremiah Tolbert  Time: 1h:19m (Novella)  IssueLightspeed 89
(YA Portal Fantasy; Dungeonspace) Flip and his teenage friends accept a dangerous mission to steal from a dragon. They’re really too green to attempt this, the dragon is very old and powerful, and they’re falling behind on their trigonometry homework.
The Garden of Eating by R. Boyczuk  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 273
(Post-Apocalypse) Alone in the ruins, Boy finds an “Amerigun,” and he’s sure she’s up to no good. His failing robot tutor gives his strange instructions, and for the first time, he’s not sure what to believe.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
(SF Horror) A group of runaway cyborgs has to prepare meals for unknowing human ships or else blow their cover. But they’re short on one critical ingredient.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 SFRevu:4
The Heart's Cartography by Susan Jane Bigelow  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 84
(Time Travel) The time travelers across the road think they’re being clever, but Jade’s family spotted them right away. Even so, they’ve got a daughter her age, and she wants to make friends.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 SFRevu:4 CPayseur
The Prisoner of Limnos by Lois McMaster Bujold  Time: 2h:28m (Novella)  IssueThe Prisoner of Limnos 2017
(Fantasy Adventure; Five Gods) When Nikys asks for Penric’s help rescuing her mother from an imperial prison, he jumps at the chance to win her affections back. It’s obviously a trap, and he doesn’t know anything about the place, but he does have a demon
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 132
(SF Adventure) The ship hadn’t activated Bot 9 in a long time—it’s an unstable model—but in a desperate situation it needs all its resources. And how much trouble can it get into hunting down a rat?
The Smoke of Gold is Glory by Scott Lynch  Time: 56m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure) Tarkaster Crale, a young thief down on his luck, meets up with friends who want to assault the Anvil, the mountain where the last dragon hid its hoard—and from which it dares people to try to take it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 JStrahan
The Wages of Honor by Catherine Asaro  Time: 40m (Novelette)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(SF Adventure) Eldrin and Althor have grown up in the low-tech, honor-based culture of their father’s world, but they are heirs to their mother’s high-tech, off-world culture. At age 16, each will have to choose between honor and necessity, with results t
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
There Was a Crooked Man, He Flipped a Crooked House by David Erik Nelson  Time: 1h:18m (Novella)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(Horror) Glenn’s boss sends him to check out a new house he plans to flip, but just getting inside turns out to be harder than anyone could imagine—never mind getting back out.
(Horror) At a drunken party, Scarlett tells the new boy a ghost story she’d promised her now-dead best friend she’d never repeat.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 JMcGregor:4
Twenty Excellent Reasons by Bennett R. Coles  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(Military SF) The rebellion on Thor is getting worse, and Jack has to lead a mission from orbit to rescue some hostages. His craft isn’t designed for this, there’s no ground support at all, and he’s got a newbie to nursemaid.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Utopia, LOL? by Jamie Wahls2  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 06/05/17
(SF Humor) After Charlie is unfrozen, Kit guides him around the future. It’s, like, TOTALLY not what he expected, and yet, like, kinda familiar, LOL.
Weather Girl by E.J. Swift  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) Lia’s top-secret work uses hurricanes against America’s enemies by falsifying the weather and satellite records to fool enemies into thinking no storm is coming.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
When Stars Are Scattered by Spencer Ellsworth  Time: 43m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 04/05/17
(Exoplanetary SF) On planet Isach, the native Kites are enthusiastic converts to Islam, but they’re dying from a virus that the local Muslims suspect was planted by the neighboring Christian colony.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
When We Go by Evan Dicken  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 223
(Mythic Fantasy) Because the gods abandoned her people, she has sworn to kill them. Now only one remains.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 JMcGregor:5
Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance by Tobias S. Buckell  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Space Opera) After its side won the space battle, an indentured robot with an uploaded intelligence finds an important refugee who makes a dangerous offer it can’t refuse.

Rating: 4 -> Recommended

Stories: 105;  Estimated Time: 57h:41m (1039K words)
A Place to Grow by A.T. Greenblatt  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 225
(High Fantasy) Lillian likes the most recent world, and she doesn’t want her uncles to tear it down. But they’ve already dismantled the sun, so she’ll have to move fast.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad1  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 124
(Chinese SF) A blackmailer forces Helena to make entire fake steaks for him or else he’ll tell the authorities about her business printing fake beef for shady restaurants. She’s never tried to make a whole steak though.
A Strange Kind of Beauty by Christien Gholson  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 269
(High Fantasy) Based on a new prophecy she found, Heoli leads her people out of the desert to a ruined city rich with water. Some fear that it’s too good to be true, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
A Temporary Embarrassment in Spacetime by Charlie Jane Anders  Time: 35m (Novelette)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Space Opera Humor) Sharon and Kango have to go back to their home worlds to capture an ultimate weapon that threatens the galaxy, or else they’ll never achieve their dream of opening a restaurant.
A Tinker's Damnation by Jerry Oltion  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Colony) When the nanofab failed seventeen years ago, it condemned the colony to slow decline as their high tech wore out and they switched to iron-age methods. Young Henry wants to fix it and be a hero.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Abductive Reasoning by Christopher L. Bennett  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Humor) When Cjek guides her damaged ship to an emergency landing in Roy’s cornfield, problems ensue because she’s not the sort of UFO he was expecting.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
An Unearned Death by Marissa Lingen  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(High Fantasy) Osrith helps people near the end of life find a god who’ll take them, for in her world, no matter how old, worn, or broken you are, death must be earned.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Auspicium Melioris Aevi by JY Yang  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 15
(SF) Harry, a clone of Lee Kwan Yew, was on track to graduate until decided to start improvising.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Books of the Risen Sea by Suzanne Palmer  Time: 56m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(Climate SF) Caer brings an abandoned robot back to his hideout in the flooded part of town and tries to prepare for attack by the raiders who dumped it.
Bring the Kids and Revisit the Past at the Traveling Retro Funfair! by Seanan McGuire  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Space Opera) Nora and Doc bring their show to a Dyson Sphere, but their lack of funds forces them to sell some attractions to people they probably shouldn’t be dealing with.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Brother's Ruin by Emma Newman  Time: 2h:13m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 03/14/17
(Historical Fantasy; Industrial Magic) In order for her to marry her fiance, help her brother and pursue her secret career as an illustrator, Charlotte has to keep her magic a secret.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 225
(Clockwork Fantasy) Zee lives with her father in a windup world. Bored with her life, she decides to visit the carnival.  She meets a boy, and things go from there.
Children of Xanadu by Juan Paulo Rafols1  Time: 49m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(Dystopia) In a China-occupied Philippines, Dr. Garcia engineers superior children for his people’s conquerors. He’s got a plan to turn the tables, if he can execute it before he dies.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Climbing Olympus by Simon Kewin  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Adventure) Florian used to be a climber back on Earth, and now he wants to be the first man to climb Olympus Mons.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Come As You Are by Dale Bailey  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Near-Future SF) Dave drops out of school when he gets hooked on a drug that lets you experience being other people.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
Command and Control by David D. Levine  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) India and China are at war in Tibet about 100 years from now. Kandiah’s team are outnumbered by the Chinese forces near Lhasa, but she makes a surprising discovery that could turn things around
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Confessions of a Con Girl by Nick Wolven  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Dystopia) Sophie explains the events that led to her fall from grace—that is, how she accumulated enough “unlike” votes to be forced out of college.
Conversations with an Armory by Garth Nix  Time: 09m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) The Armory AI has been out of service for a long time, so when a group of wounded soldiers try to wake it up to assist in a battle plan, it takes a while to figure out what’s going on. Or whether to trust them.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Crimson Birds of Small Miracles by Sean Monaghan  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(SF) C.J. brings his dying daughter to Ariosto to see Crimson Birds, an art installation that includes a vast flock of artificial birds.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:5
Crispin's Model by Max Gladstone  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 10/04/17
(Eldritch  Horror) Delilah makes some money modeling, and Crispin offers twice what anyone else does. He never lets her look at the works in progress, though. He has his reasons.
Dall's Last Message by Antha Ann Adkins1  Time: 07m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(SF) Dal approaches the end of it's life and wishes to leave a worthy message to posterity--if the waterwraiths will leave it alone long enough.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
(SF Adventure) Four women staffing an advance base on Phobos get a male visitor who brings them some bad news.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 GDozois:5
(Portal Fantasy; Wayward Children) Twin sisters, Jack and Jill, escape from overbearing parents into The Moors, a fantasy land where werewolves and vampires are real.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Ecuador vs. the Bug-Eyed Monsters by Jay Werkheiser  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 03.04|17
(SF Sports) On an alien spaceship, the Ecuadorian football team plays against France for the World Cup. But the stakes may be a lot higher.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Eminence by Karl Schroeder  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueChasing Shadows 2017
(Near-Future SF) Nathan watches helplessly as the alternate currency he created collapses, taking down his friends and family with it.
Eyejacked by David Walton  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueChasing Shadows 2017
(Near-Future SF) Patrick’s wife, Alicia, has become an online star, but the constant exposure of every detail of their lives is ruining their marriage.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
For All Mankind by C. Stuart Hardwick  Time: 43m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 07.08|17
(Hard SF) A secret 1970 space mission sends a US and a Soviet woman on a one-way trip to deflect a killer asteroid.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Gravity's Exile by Grace Seybold  Time: 30m (Novelette)  IssueBCS 219
(High Fantasy) Jeone has been descending the World Cliff for years, but she's never seen a town quite as strange as Shasten Dhu.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 JMcGregor:4
Hollywood Squid by Oliver Buckram  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(SF Humor) The squids from space haven’t been very popular for a while, but washed-up director Tony Casagrande has a can’t-miss plan for a detective thriller with a human and a squid.
Hrunting by C.J. Cherryh  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure) Two generations after “Beowulf,” a young man returns to Grendel’s mother’s lair seeking his grandfather’s famous lost sword.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
In Memory of Jianhong, Snake-Devil by Richard Parks  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 226
(Chinese Historical Fantasy; Pan Bao and Jing) Jing and her father climb a mountain to find and kill a Snake-Devil that has been killing people and goats, but she’s not exactly what they expected.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
Inheritance by Michael Milne2  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueBehind the Mask 2017
(Superhero) Young Oliver needs to learn how to control his powers, but his superhero dad is always too busy saving the world to help him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Keepsakes by Kenneth Schneyer  Time: 32m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 11.12|17
(Near-Future SF) In 2070, you can take snapshots of your personality and talk to them later. Is it healthy talking to your Keepsake self decades later? And should a Keepsake be allowed to testify in court?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
Krace Is Not a Highway by Scott Vanyur1  Time: 03m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 10/02/17
(Post Apocalypse) HiQIRR was built to rate national highways and report problems, but no one listens anymore. Only Krace, and he wants HiQIRR to look for other surviving humans.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Majnun by Helene Wecker  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Djinn Falls in Love, and Other Stories 2017
(Modern Fantasy) In modern Morocco, Zahid gets called for the most difficult exorcism jobs. This one is going to be a doozy.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Making Us Monsters by Sam J. Miller and Lara Elena Donnelly  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueUncanny 19
(Historical Uncanny Horror) Fifteen years after his lover died in World War I, Siegfried starts receiving letters from him, dated just before his death.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 CPayseur
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones  Time: 1h:15m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 06/20/17
(Horror) At 12, Junior thinks his dead father has returned to protect his family. There’s a lot Junior doesn’t know about his father—living or dead.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Memories of Fish by Shauna O'Meara  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 270
(Near-Future SF) Through the eyes of a drone, a “Tourist” explores a Sri Lanka town from the comfort of his own home, but ends up taking an unexpected detour.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Mira's Last Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold  Time: 1h:33m (Novella)  IssueMira's Last Dance 2017
(High Fantasy; Five Gods) Gravely injured, out of money, and pursued by the imperial government, Penric needs to get himself and his two companions out of the country, despite them being so recognizable.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
My English Name by R.S. Benedict1  Time: 35m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(Horror) The narrator is an alien who takes human form, but periodically has to change it. This is a problem if it falls in love with someone.
My Fifth and Most Exotic Voyage by Edward M. Lerner  Time: 47m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Adventure Pastiche) In which we learn of a hitherto-undisclosed fifth voyage of Lemuel Gulliver, to a place called “Chicago” in 2022, and of the marvelous things that happened there.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Native Seeds by Catherine Wells  Time: 1h:06m (Novella)  IssueAnalog 11.12|17
(Post-Apocalypse) In 2284, Earth is recovering from geological and ecological catastrophe, and in Arizona a group of survivors on Kitt’s Peak reaches another group at the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Necessary Illusions by Tom Greene  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Colony-Planet SF) When Iolus refuses demands that it become part of the empire, the imperial agents are much too smart to destroy the planet, but they’re definitely up to something.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
Neko Brushes by Leah Cypess  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(Japanese Historical Fantasy) Kenji is just a boy, and a commoner at that, but his extraordinary drawing ability attracts the attention of nobles and draws him into their plots.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
Night Passage by Alastair Reynolds  Time: 47m (Novelette)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(SF Adventure) Captain Bernsdottir wakes from hibernation with her ship stalled next to a vast alien artifact and a mutiny in progress.
Nine-Tenths of the Law by Molly Tanzer  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 80
(SF) Donna’s cold and distant husband has an industrial accident the day she planned to leave him, so she stays to nurse him back to health. After that, he’s different—in ways she likes.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
Not Far Enough by Martin L. Shoemaker  Time: 1h:26m (Novella)  IssueAnalog 07.08|17
(Hard SF; Captain Nick Aames) When an accident strikes, the Mars crew have to figure out how to salvage what they can and somehow survive until help can arrive.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Of Letters They Are Made by Jonathan Edelstein  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 228
(Alternate History Fantasy) Taharah’s magic makes language come alive for audiences, but she seeks knowledge of her people’s ancient, forgotten tongue.
On the Road to the Hell of Hungry Ghosts by Richard Parks  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 235
(Chinese Historical Fantasy; Pan Bao and Jing) Pan Bao, his daughter Jing, and their snake-devil friend, Mei Li, encounter a ghost who needs help. They usually expect to be paid for their sorcery, but the ghost is very persistent.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Operators by Joel Richards  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Near-Future SF) Barry investigates self-driving trucks that are being hijacked, although he has more than a little sympathy for the unemployed truckers who he imagines are behind it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Over an Embattled City by Adam R. Shannon1  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueBehind the Mask 2017
(Superhero) Teenage Emma remembers when New York City was called “Hyde” and was filled with superheroes and villains, but no one else does. Now there’s just one superhero left, and she desperately needs to talk to him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Pedestal by Seanan McGuire  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueBehind the Mask 2017
(Superhero) When she’s not being a superhero, Alice hides in the suburbs to get away from super villains and her fans.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
(Generation Ship) As the ship approaches its destination, Ninah’s work teaching preschool is about to come to an end.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Probably Still the Chosen One by Kelly Barnhill  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 81
(Portal Fantasy) Corinna was eleven when her magical journey to the Land of Nibiru ended with her returning to her kitchen at home. Now she’s waiting for her friends to return for her. Probably.
Public Domain by Scott Sigler  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueChasing Shadows 2017
(Near-Future SF) In a world where everything is recorded, Hoyt uses publicly-available online data to see if his girlfriend is cheating on him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Queen of Dirt by Nisi Shawl  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 93
(Contemporary Fantasy; Brit Williams) Teenage Brit enjoys teaching little kids at a Seattle Experience Outreach camp, even though she senses that something evil haunts the abandoned bunkers up the hill.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 CPayseur
Red by Ramsey Shehadeh  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 05/24/17
(Contemporary Fantasy) Ansel feels guilty about his little sister’s disappearance six months ago, and his search for her leads him into the world of a board game their family played.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Red Bark and Ambergris by Kate Marshall  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 232
(High Fantasy) Sarai’s talent lies in scents, but she pursues poisons to get revenge on the queen who imprisoned her on this island.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5
Region Five by Linda Nagata  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(Military SF) To evacuate his unit before the attackers get them, Josh has to get them from the 38th floor to the 88th floor of a damaged skyscraper. And they don’t know what’s above them.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 GDozois:4
Sasabonsam by Tara Campbell  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 12/11/17
(African Folklore Horror) In the darkness, a Sasabonsam hangs from a tree waiting for suitable victims to walk underneath. You shouldn’t go out alone.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Shore Patrol by Jack Campbell  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(Military SF) Ensign Geary gets stuck with shore patrol at the last minute, and he’s got his hands full. He’s got four of the worst recruits to try to supervise five ships full of sailors, marines, and airmen, and no matter how bad things get, they can al
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
Soulmates.com by Will McIntosh  Time: 51m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(Near-Future SF) Daniel, a lonely grad student in Athens, Georgia, meets the girl of his dreams through an online matching service. Now if he can just get her to meet in person . . .
Stillborne by Marc Laidlaw  Time: 1h:02m (Novella)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Fantasy Adventure; Gorlen Stories) To find the magician who cursed them, Gorlen and Spar journey to the swarming of the Philosopher Moths, giant, telepathic insects reputed to cure even extreme ailments.
Sunwake, in the Lands of Teeth by Juliette Wade  Time: 1h:12m (Novella)  IssueClarkesworld 127
(SF) Liaison Rulii must travel into a war zone to find a missing human linguist whom his king wants to meet in just three days.
Tasting Notes on the Varietals of the Southern Coast by Gwendolyn Clare  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(Horror) In which a military conquest is described in terms of the wines produced near each of the conquered cities.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
That Lingering Sweetness by Tony Pi  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueBCS 224
(Chinese Historical Fantasy; Candyman Ao) To undo some of the damage caused the last time he invoked zodiacal spirits, Ao needs to lift a pair of conflicting curses cast by two warring spirits.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
The Atonement Tango by Stephen Leigh  Time: 50m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 01/18/17
(Superhero SF; Wild Cards) Michael “Drummer boy”  Vogali seeks vengeance on the terrorists who maimed him and killed most of his band and many of his fans.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Beard of Truth by Matt Mikalatos  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueBehind the Mask 2017
(Superhero Humor) The narrator just developed a new superpower that forces people to tell him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Big So-So by Erica L. Satifka  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 273
(Post-Apocalypse) Syl thinks people ought to at least try to put civilization back together—not just sit around moping about how great the alien drugs that destroyed it were. And she worries about her friend who wants to break into the aliens’s compound a
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang  Time: 2h:13m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 09/26/17
(Epic Fantasy; Tensorate) The Protector’s twin children threaten her absolute rule. Their magic is almost as strong as hers, and they pursue technology as well.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Bridgegroom by Bo Balder  Time: 30m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 130
(Post-Apocalypse) Alois wants to go back to the university—not spend the rest of his life guarding an old bridge. Even if it does talk to him about the world before the collapse.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
The Chameleon's Gloves by Yoon Ha Lee  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Space Opera; Machineries of Empire) Rhehan used to be a Kel supersoldier before being kicked out. Now the Kel needs Rhehan for a dangerous mission—offering the only coin Rhehan might consider.
The Chatter of Monkeys by Bond Elam  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 05.06|17
(Post Apocalypse) War and pollution are killing the last survivors on Earth, but an alien robot descends and tells young Molly that there is still time to save the planet.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Colgrid Conundrum by Rich Larson  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure) Crane and Gilchrist arrive in filthy industrial Colgrid with a box that needs an expert to open. An expert who may demand payment in some other form than cash.
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The Evaluators by N.K. Jemisin  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueWired 01|17
(SF Horror) A crew on planet Manka has disappeared, possibly eaten by the natives. We read the transcripts to try to decide what happened.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Faerie Tree by Kathleen Kayembe1  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 90
(Modern Fantasy Horror) Only Marianne can see that her new brother-in-law is a horror, and although she knows she can summon the faeries to get rid of him, she also knows the price will be very high.
The Goddess of the Highway by Erica L. Satifka  Time: 41m (Novelette)  IssueInterzone 272
(Dystopia) Since the mist came down, people are sorted into castes based on metal plates screwed into their temples which determine how much thinking they’re allowed to do. A girl from the top wants to break the system, and a man from the bottom may give
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
The Hidden Girl by Ken Liu  Time: 31m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Chinese Fantasy Adventure) She was only ten when they kidnapped her to train as an assassin, but now she’s sixteen and she needs to prove herself.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Last Dance by Jack McDevitt  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Near-Future SF) Ethan gets an AI reconstruction of his dead wife. He can’t touch her, but just being able to see each other and talk should be enough. Right?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
(Cambodian Horror/Mystery) Thirteen years after Dara’s sister Sopha disappeared, a foreign film crew comes to their village asking awkward questions about what really happened to the little girl.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 07/19/17
(Apocalypse) As civilization is dying on Earth, a woman building a monument on Mars by remote control gets a message from a Mars colony long thought to be dead.
The Masochist's Assistant by Auston Habershaw  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(High Fantasy; Saga of the Redeemed) Georges has to help his master torture himself as part of his plan to make himself immune to almost all forms of death.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
The Mocking Tower by Daniel Abraham  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure) Somewhere near the every-changing Mocking Tower the Imagi Vert has hidden a sword that holds the soul of the late emperor, and a thief has come to try to steal it.
The Morrigan by Stewart Horn  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 273
(Modern Fantasy Horror) In the Glasgow slums, the gangs meet a mysterious woman who inspires them to even more violence than usual. Eighteen-year-old Baz watches it happen and struggles to understand it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
The Proving Ground by Alec Nevala-Lee  Time: 58m (Novella)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Hard SF) Haley hopes the "colony" on Bikini island will let her people survive sea-level rise, but a problem with local birds presents an unexpected threat.
The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales by Fei Dao  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 127
(Fairy Tale) The king programs a robot to lie even more than he does, hoping to change his reputation as the biggest liar in the kingdom.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
The Runabout by Kristine Kathryn Rusch  Time: 2h:29m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Space Opera; Diving Universe) The narrator leads a team salvaging long-lost technology from a graveyard of starships, whose stardrives still disrupt the surrounding space in dangerous ways.
The Sand in the Glass is Right by James Smythe  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Djinn Falls in Love, and Other Stories 2017
(Horror) You can force a jinn to grant you a wish, but they always find a way to twist it. Simon Bond figures out a wish they can’t pervert. Or so he believes.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
(Space Opera) The Scholast fell to earth in the Low Waters Kingdom and called on them to prepare to defend themselves from an invasion from another world.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:4
The Selkie Wives by Kendra Fortmeyer1  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 95
(Fairy Tale) In which we learn that there’s more than one way for a fisherman to find a selkie wife, and lots of ways it can turn out.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Shark God's Child by Jonathan Edelstein  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 222
(High Fantasy; Tasik) The shark god rises from under Mei’s island home, leaving all the inhabitants homeless or drowned. She escapes and finds a home, but the shark god still has plans for her.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Speed of Belief by Robert Reed  Time: 1h:07m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Far-Future SF; Great Ship) To secure a deal with a world ruled by what appear to be intelligent rivers, the Great Ship sends three representatives on a long, sub-light-speed mission. By the time they get there, things don’t look so rosy.
The Sword of Destiny by Matthew Hughes  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure; Baldemar) Baldemar’s attempt to retrieve the Sword of Destiny for Thelerion goes awry, and rather than face his master empty-handed he flees—into even bigger trouble.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
The Thule Stowaway by Maria Dahvana Headley  Time: 38m (Novelette)  IssueUncanny 14
(Fantasy Horror) Edgar Allan Poe’s writing has brought a creature into this world and it inhabits a young woman who wants to be rid of it. It has its own agenda.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 JMcGregor:4
The Twilight Pariah by Jeffrey Ford  Time: 1h:50m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 09/13/17
(Horror) College friends Henry, Maggie, and Russell decide to play archeologist in the back yard of an old, abandoned house, but things get serious when they find the deformed skeleton of a child.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
(Historical Fantasy) A young apprentice at making magic gloves considers breaking the rules to make a special pair to control his sister’s epilepsy.
Them Boys by Nora Anthony2  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 11/06/17
(Modern  Fantasy) The narrator and her best friend explore the beach where other teens hang out, but the real action is in the little cave with the boys from the sea who have tails instead of legs.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
This Is for You by Bruce McAllister  Time: 04m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 84
(SF) He spent his childhood on another planet, but he’s trying to fit into highschool on Earth, and he really wants a girl.
Unfamiliar Gods by Adam-Troy Castro and Judi B. Castro  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Horror) Faster-than-light travel needs divine assistance, but the gods are capricious. A starship cast into unknown space has no choice but to try to deal with unknown gods—and they are usually the worst kind.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Untilted by K.A. Teryna  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueApex 102
(Modern Fantasy (Russian)) Little Marcus walks the Moscow Metro at Midnight looking for stray animals and lost souls to heal. But he needs something too.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Vinegar and Cinnamon by Nina Kiriki Hoffman  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Rural Fantasy) Sam is a good boy who works hard on the family farm, although he does tease his little sister Maura. She’s not a bad girl, but one time she got mad and turned him into a rat.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 SFRevu:4
Welcome to Astuna by Pip Coen1  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 97
(SF Mystery) Jane wakes up in a strange place. Did her professor drug her? And why is she suddenly 18 years older?
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Wind Will Rove by Sarah Pinsker  Time: 48m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(Generation Ship) The ship lost most of its historical records some years back, and the narrator tries to use music to maintain a connection with distant Earth.
Witch's Hour by Shannon Connor Winward  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(High Fantasy) Esmelda really needs to impress the new king with her cooking, but the pesky ghost of the last cook won’t leave her alone.
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ZeroS by Peter Watts  Time: 45m (Novelette)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) Technically dead after a terrorist attack, Asante gets a new body and second chance at life, provided he serves 5 years as an experimental supersoldier.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5

The 3-star, 2-star, 1-star, and Not Rated stories are filtered to show only the ones recommended by other reviewers.

Rating: 3 -> Average

Stories: 188;  Estimated Time: 74h:06m (1334K words)
A Dog's Story by Gardner Dozois  Time: 04m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(Animal Fantasy) Blackie’s getting old, but he still goes out to explore when the moon is full and he can talk to the other animals.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
A Gathering on Gravity's Shore by Gregor Hartmann  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Far-Future SF; Franden) When Franden’s upper-class friend asks him to speak at his ascension party, he knows he’ll be out of place, but the opportunity to meet the “Upheld” in their own environment is too good to pass up.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
A Human Stain by Kelly Robson  Time: 32m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 01/04/17
(Horror) Helen comes to Meersee in Germany to be a governess for her friend’s nephew. The child is young and peculiar, the staff are old and peculiar, and more peculiar things turn up by the minute.
A Singular Event in the Fourth Dimension by Andrea M. Pawley  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(SF) Olive’s parents are having a baby soon, and she fears they won’t need an android daughter after that.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
A Touch of Heart by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro and Adam-Troy Castro  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 86
(Chinese Historical Fantasy) Dou hates his neighbor because Gan’s farm flourishes while his own languishes. Enough to seek out the Black Touch.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
Acadie by Dave Hutchinson  Time: 1h:07m (Novella)  IssueTor Novella 09/05/17
(SF Adventure) Even after 500 years, Earth is still after the founders of the Colony, so when a probe wanders into their system Duke has to find a way to get everyone to safety.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Across the Steaming Sea by Rob Chilson  Time: 44m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 07.08|17
(SF Adventure; Prime Mondeign) Unwanted third-son Luro leaps at the chance to join an expedition to find the lost technological treasures of the legendary Empyrean.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:4
Afiya's Song by Justin C. Key  Time: 46m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(Alternate History Fantasy) There was magic in Afiya’s songs. Even after they cut out her tongue, she still managed to inspire the rebellion that ended slavery.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
After the Harvest, Before the Fall by Scott Edelman  Time: 37m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(SF) Daniel greets new children and prepares his flock for harvest, but his successor is proving a problem.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
An Ever-Expanding Flash of Light by Timothy Mudie  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 88
(SF Epic) Tone’s wife has terminal cancer, and to get the money to pay to freeze her until there’s a cure, he signs up on a starship that won’t be back for centuries.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
An Inflexible Truth by Christopher East  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueLightspeed 87
(Climate SF) After his teammate disappears in the ruins of Las Vegas, a newsman goes to investigate—even though he has a desk job and has never been in the field before.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
An Unexpected Boon by S.B. Divya  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 102
(Modern Fantasy (India)) Little Kalyani might be autistic, but no one in her village knows what that means. A passing sage offers her a boon, but it’s not at all a cure.
Angel of the Blockade by Alex Wells  Time: 31m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 09/06/17
(SF Adventure) Even though she’s blind, Nata’s one of the best smugglers, and because of the war, she’s in great demand. This latest deal, though, pays so well for so little work there’s got to be something fishy about it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Assassins by Jack Skillingstead and Burt Courtier  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 125
(Virtual Reality) Sonia used to be a fan of the <i>Labyrinthiad</i> until they killed off her favorite character. Now she sneaks online and kills other people’s favorites.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Attachments by Kate Wilhelm  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Modern Fantasy) On a visit to England to try to forget about her abusive ex-boyfriend, Drew accidentally picks up a couple of ghosts, who follow her home.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Aunt Dissy's Policy Dream Book by Sheree RenΓ©e Thomas  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueApex 95
(Horror) Cassie uses the Sight to earn a living, but visions only come to her in dreams, and some dreams aren’t meant to be told.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Belly Up by Maggie Clark  Time: 37m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 07.08|17
(Military SF) The courts removed Imbra’s ability to get angry or fight back, but he still wants to help his world fight off the invaders who’re threatening them.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Big Girl by Meg Elison  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Modern Fantasy) A missing teenage girl turns up in San Francisco Bay, and now she’s 350 feet tall.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Black Hole Heart by K.A. Teryna  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 97
(Horror) Your life has been on hold ever since you stopped at a diner 65 years ago, and you never stop wondering what might have been.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Black Powder by Maria Dahvana Headley  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Djinn Falls in Love, and Other Stories 2017
(Horror) The Kid wants to the other kids in high school to pay attention to him, so he steals a rifle. The rifle he steals is much more than just a gun, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Briz by Jay Werkheiser  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Alien SF) When the alien starship has an accident, they have to skip their original target star and find a new one. That turns out to be a hard decision to make.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
By the Red Giant's Light by Larry Niven  Time: 06m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Hard SF) She’s been on Pluto for a billion years, watching the sun expand. An alien robot has set up camp nearby, and she needs its help with a problem.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Cadet Cruise by David Drake  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(Military SF) Against her better judgment, Cadet Pennyroyal accompanies her fellow cadet Leary on liberty in a port where bad things have happened to a few other crewmembers.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
(SF Humor) To avoid having their spaceship repossessed, Kango and Sharon go on a dangerous mission to infiltrate a cult and steal DNA from their children.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
Catching Zeus by Tom Jolly  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Hard SF) Red and Churro look for naturally-occuring superconducters in the cold Canadian winter, but the competition is really murder.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Crossing the Threshold by Pat Murphy  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 85
(Contemporary Fantasy) Helping an old man get over a chain-link fence leads the narrator into the world of the occult.
Cupido by Rich Larson  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(Near-Future SF) Marcel surreptitiously sprays people with pheromones to make them fall in love with his clients. He’s not supposed to get attached to them himself.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Daisy by Eleanor Arnason  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Detective SF) Emily agrees to help a gangster find his missing octopus.
Dead Men In Central City by Carrie Vaughn  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(Historical Fantasy) Ricardo needs to hide out in a small, western town for a few days, where he meets Doc Holliday. Doc figures out he’s a vampire, but for some reason chooses not to expose him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Death Every Seventy-Two Minutes by Adam-Troy Castro  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 82
(Horror) Every 72 minutes, Negelein has a vision of his own death. They don’t hurt him, but they’re so vivid, they’re ruining his life.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Destination by Jack Skillingstead  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(SF Dystopia) Brad has a cushy job inside the Seattle Exclusive Zone, and he’s not eager to participate in a game where a car takes you to an unknown destination, but the company is making everyone play. But is it even a game?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Diamond and the World Breaker by Linda Nagata  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(SF) 12-year-old Diamond gets involved with a licensed terrorist group and manages to drag her mother into it too.
Disturbance In the Produce Aisle by Kit Reed  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(Horror) Dick likes to visit the supermarket and chat with the ghosts who hang out there, but lately Satan keeps barging in and ruining it for him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Driverless by Robert Grossbach  Time: 31m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Near-future SF) Everyone knows Jacob’s driverless-car company destroyed the world economy, but he wants to tell his side of the story.
Dunnage for the Soul by Robert Reed  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(SF) When scientists find a way to test people and animals for what everyone assumes are souls, the narrator feels left out because he’s one of the people without one.
Emergency Protocol by Lettie Prell  Time: 01m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF) In the event of an emergency, your body may be taken over by remote control.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Evangeline and the Forbidden Lighthouse by Emily B. Cataneo  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 270
(Magical Realism) On the coast of Maine, Cady and her friend, Evangeline, find bottles that wash up with messages about the future.
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Everyone Gets A Happy Ending by Julie C. Day  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 268
(Apocalypse) A virus causes women to give birth to rabbits. Kendra flees Ohio with her girlfriend Steph when they learn Steph is infected.
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Evil Opposite by Naomi Kritzer  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(SF Multiverse) A Ph.D. student focusing on alternate universes builds a machine that lets him look at lives he might have lived.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee  Time: 47m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 02/15/17
(Space Opera; Machineries of Empire) A Heptarchate undercover mission lead by one of Jedao’s friends has gone missing, so Jedao goes undercover to try and rescue them.
Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad1  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 18
(Alternate History Robot SF) Computron was the only intelligent robot built in the 1950s. Now all he does is answer questions from children and write fan-fiction about the robot in the Hyperdimension Warp Record TV show.
Focus by Gord Sellar  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 05.06|17
(Near-Future SF) Locals plan a riot to disrupt foreign factories in Vietnam which use a drug called “focus” to control their employees.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Fool's Cap by Andy Dudak  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 129
(SF) Hunting an ex-ruler who committed genocide, Beadith ends up stranded on an island with him and a strange psychoactive moss.
Gale Strang by Michael Bishop  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 07.08|17
(Modern Fantasy) An intelligent birdcage narrates the story of a young runaway, a lonely old lady, and a missing bird.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Galleon by Brian Trent  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 07.08|17
(Interstellar SF) Galleon runs trade routes between Sol and Ra. She’s very attached to her human captain, but he’s showing signs of settling down with a human woman.
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Gallows Girl by Mel Kassel2  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 233
(High Fantasy) A gallows girl uses her power to let hanged men take a little innocence to the next world. Kal’s sister was a great one, but Kal worries that her first assignment won’t go right.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
Ghostmail by Eric Del Carlo  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF) Kushal and his wife had a telepathic link installed before she went to war. Now he’s still getting messages from her, even though she died months ago.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Golden Ring by Karl Schroeder  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Far-Future SF) By the time Eos turned her light back on, Sagitta was an iceworld, so she sent an avatar to see if she could atone to any of the survivors.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
Grand Theft Spacecraft by R. Garcia y Robertson  Time: 44m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(SF Adventure Humor; The Family) With the death of Crown Princess Rylla of Callisto, things in the Jovan system are about to get nasty, and at 18, Cole is ready to be right in the middle of it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
His Wife and Serpent Mistress by Gillian Daniels  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 238
(Fantasy Adventure) The young Marquis has to marry for money, and he’s not quite sure how his new wife is going to cope with his mistress.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
Homecoming by Rachel Pollack  Time: 1h:15m (Novella)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Urban Fantasy; Jack Shade) Carol has always felt a piece of her was missing, so she hires supernatural investigator Jack Shade, to find it. It seems simple enough, but quickly becomes much more than simple soul retrieval.
How Bees Fly by Simone Heller1  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 125
(Post-Apocalypse) Just before a chemstorm strikes, Salpe encounters two demons between her community and the bee hives. They don’t act like the demons in the stories, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
How to Survive an Epic Journey by Tansy Rayner Roberts  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 19
(Mythic Fantasy) Atalanta was the only woman Argonaut, and her version of the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece is rather different from the one we usually hear, albeit a bit more plausible.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
I am a Handsome Man, Said Apollo Crow by Kate Elliott  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Historical Fantasy Adventure) Apollo Crow takes an assignment from the Emperor to steal the sketchbook of a woman whose speeches are fomenting rebellion.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
I Am Not I by G.V. Anderson2  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(Dystopia) The narrator is a normal human in a world of hostile genetically modified people, and she’s desperate enough to do anything for money to replace the failing body modifications that let her “pass.”
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
I Have Been Drowned in Rain by Carrie Vaughn  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 223
(High Fantasy) Jared has almost brought the princess to safety, but he worries that Kat, the crazy women who accompanies them, might have betrayed them.
I Met a Traveller in an Antique Land by Connie Willis  Time: 1h:01m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Urban Fantasy) A novelist finds a bookstore in New York that sells “the rarest of rare books.” These books look pretty ordinary, for the most part, and there sure do seem to be a lot of them.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:5
If a Bird Can Be a Ghost by Allison Mills1  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 99
(Slipstream) Shelly’s grandma teaches her how to deal with ghosts so she can continue the family ghost business.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
In Dublin, Fair City by Rick Wilber  Time: 43m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Alternate History; Moe Berg) It’s 1940. Moe Berg heads to Dublin to do a deal that might help the US get the Japanese out of San Diego before the armistice signed after the Nazis captured England falls apart.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Ink by Bruce McAllister  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 87
(Modern Fantasy) A young hemophiliac American boy in Italy visits a creepy old house to try to get old stamps for his collection.
Integration by John Eckelkamp1  Time: 06m (ShortStory)  IssueCompellingSF 06.07|17
(AI SF) Zerith is a new AI, and he’s required to spend some time in a class of human students.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
Interchange by Gary Kloster  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 124
(Near-Future SF) Inside a reverse stasis bubble, a work crew can take six months to build a new interchange while no time passes outside. No one’s quite sure what can happen if something goes wrong, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
Intro to Prom by Genevieve Valentine  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 133
(Post Apocalypse) The four teens are the last people left in their town, and they hold a prom night every few days—while trying to ignore that crack in the sky.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
L'appel du vide by Rich Larson  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 98
(Near-Future SF) Pau is sure that his kidnappers want information about the secret project he’s working on, but why don’t they ever ask him any questions?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Last Chance by Nicole Kornher-Stace  Time: 38m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 130
(Post-Apocalypse) Even though she’s just a little girl, Aneko keeps looking for a way to escape the slavers who ambushed her mother’s coach and captured her.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
(Superheroes) Ice Sickle joined the Excaliburs to fight evil, but Sin-Master may be her match.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
Learning to See Dragons by Sarah Monette  Time: 02m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 19
(Horror) Annie’s grandmother is dying, and her parents are fighting, but she keeps imagining that she sees giant dragons under the mountains and wishes she could join them.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
Leash on a Man by Robert Reed  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(SF) Porous enjoys being a prison guard up until a new prisoner arrives who stirs things up.
Little /^^^\&- by Eric Schwitzgebel  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 132
(Epic SF) An alien intelligence, exiled to our solar system, passes the time by interacting with the Earth.
Looking for Laika by Laura Mauro1  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueInterzone 273
(Alternate History) In 1988 England, 13-year-old Pete obsesses over the threat of nuclear attack, while his 5-year-old sister obsesses over Laika, the space dog.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Losing Heart Among the Tall by A.M. Dellamonica  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 02/22/17
(High Fantasy; Stormwrack) Gale and Parrish solve a mystery involving a dead merman, a missing magical artifact, and their captain, who only wants to retire in peace.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Love Engine Optimization by Matthew Kressel  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 85
(Near-Future SF)  Sam is a talented hacker who extracts Jane’s personal info in order to seduce her.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
Luminaria by John Hornor Jacobs  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueApex 94
(Horror) In a remote part of Arkansas, Victoria plans to celebrate her 100th birthday in style.
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Mag, the Habitat and We by Lia Swope Mitchell  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 92
(Horror) A city inspection in a week creates a crisis for the small creatures who scurry around Mag’s house. They think she’s their mother. She thinks they’re rats, when she thinks about them at all.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 CPayseur
Marley and Marley by J.R. Dawson1  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Time Travel) At age 12, Marley loses her parents, but instead of getting foster parents, her 28-year-old future self comes to take care of her.
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Message in a Bottle by K.J. Parker  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Djinn Falls in Love, and Other Stories 2017
(High Fantasy) The narrator seeks a plague cure a long-dead scholar may have left in a bottle. Or it might be a new kind of plague. But how to decide?
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Milla by Lorenzo Crescentini2 and Emanuela Valentini1  Time: 09m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 124
(SF) As Marek surveys Shiva, the most Earth-like planet yet discovered, he chats with an AI named “Milla,” the sole survivor of a long vanished civilization.
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MΓΆbius Continuum by Gu Shi  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 132
(SF) The narrator suffers a near-fatal car accident, but new technology lets him be productive again.
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Museum Piece by J.D. Popham  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueCompellingSF 10
(SF Adventure) The last robot in the solar system uses his creator’s death as an excuse to escape from the museum he’s been imprisoned in for forty years.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
My Struggle by Lavie Tidhar  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueApex 101
(Alternate History) Adolph Hitler, a failing private investigator in London, tries to locate a relic alleged to be the spear that pierced the side of Christ.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 CPayseur
Neptune's Trident by Nina Allan  Time: 46m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 129
(Post-Apocalypse) The world is gradually being destroyed by what seems like an alien plague that attacks people and software alike. Caitlin lives in a seaside Scottish town, nursing her dying lover.
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Next Station, Shibuya by Iori Kusano1  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 92
(Modern Fantasy) Nagiko lives in Tokyo and loves to explore her city. Her city loves her too and has plans for her.
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Nightshade by J.W. Halicks1  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 222
(Dark Fantasy) At sunset, Ezekiel Nightshade, King of Night, rises from the earth and heads for an appointment with a dying woman. But her seven-year-old daughter bars the way.
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No Pearls as Blue as These by Benjanun Sriduangkaew  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 232
(High Fantasy) Tarangkaya made Bidaten into supersoldier from infancy, and she’s been content to serve them for years. Then her mistress takes a new bride who makes her think differently.
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Octopus vs. Bear by Kendra Fortmeyer1  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 84
(Modern Fantasy) Unexpectedly, you woke up female this morning, in someone else's body. Now you have to decide what to do about it.
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On the Ship by Leah Cypess  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Exploration SF) A child on a spaceship worries that the first five planets they've found weren’t habitable, and the sixth isn’t looking good.
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One Way by Rick Norwood  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Hard SF) Harvey’s theory predicts a one-way filter is possible, letting matter through in only one direction. In practice, there are a few really important safety issues he should have worried about.
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Other Worlds and this One by Cadwell Turnbull1  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 07.08|17
(Time Travel) The narrator revisits the past hoping either to change it, understand it, or at least make peace with it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
(Modern Fantasy) Nina knows that owls appear to warn us of impending catastrophe, but what does it mean when one of them keeps harassing you?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics by Jess Barber and Sara Saab  Time: 40m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 132
(Climate SF) This story follows Amir and Mani’s careers starting when they’re teenagers in water-starved Beirut.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5 CPayseur
Paradox by Naomi Kritzer  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 16
(Time Travel) In which a chorus of time travelers give us advice, in the paradoxical way of time travelers.
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Party Discipline by Cory Doctorow  Time: 50m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 08/30/17
(Dystopia) Lenae and Shirelle are just high school girls with no futures, but they fantasize about fighting the corporations who keep people down, and they find a unique way to do it.
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Penelope Waits by Dennis Danvers  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 101
(Alien Abduction) Cindy’s boyfriend says alien’s abducted him, but she’s sure he was with another woman. Up until the aliens contact her too.
Persephone of the Crows by Karen Joy Fowler  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Modern Fantasy) Ten-year-old Polly wishes she could see fairies like her friend Isabelle can. She wishes a lot of things. Not all wishes should come true.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Proteus by Joe Pitkin  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 05.06|17
(Solar System SF; John Demitrius Stories) Epic Khorasani travels to Venus in disguise to get evidence of illegal genetic engineering in the cloud colony of Proteus.
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Rain Ship by Chi Hui  Time: 47m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 125
(Post-Human) Jin is a mercenary hired to protect archeologists investigating an ancient ship built by the extinct human race.
Read Before Use by Chinelo Onwualu  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 16
(Post-Apocalypse) Satellite City will die if it can’t find a new source of power. Alia thinks the secret lies in a library of ancient books, but she needs results soon because her support is drying up.
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Requiem for the Unchained by C.A. Hawksmoor  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 217
(Steampunk/Horror) The narrator flies a lantern ship, a balloon with a special light that keeps away the ghosts that gather during storms. Out of money, she’s desperate enough to take a dangerous contract from a man she hates.
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Riddle by Lisa Mason  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(Horror) On his way home, Edwin meets an exotic woman who’s part lion and loves asking riddles.
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Rings by Nina Kiriki Hoffman  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(SF Horror) Aris wanted a male slave from off-planet, and she thinks Firen is a fine choice. Young, strong, flawed only because he can’t speak.
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Rising Star by Stephen Graham Jones  Time: 07m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 15
(Time Travel) A modest proposal for a grant to experiment with a most imperfect time machine.
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Sanctuary by Allen M. Steele  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 05/17/17
(Hard SF) We read the log books that survive from two human colony ships which arrived at Tau Ceti e. We know things didn’t go well, but we don’t know why.
Seven Permutations of My Daughter by Lina Rather1  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 83
(Multiverse) Sarah travels the multiverse looking for a reality where her daughter isn’t a drug addict.
Seven Salt Tears by Kat Howard  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 80
(Fantasy) As a girl, Mara learned that you need to cry seven tears into the sea to summon a selkie. She’s always felt more a sea creature than a land creature anyway.
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Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time by K.M. Szpara  Time: 30m (Novelette)  IssueUncanny 16
(Slipstream) When Finley gets bitten by a vampire, he’s pissed because he didn’t consent. When he learns he’s going to become a vampire, he’s really upset, because it’s not legal for a trans person to be a vampire at all.
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Soccer Fields and Frozen Lakes by Greg Kurzawa  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 82
(Near-future SFF) After the government rules he isn't really human, Chris loses his human wife and hybrid kids.
Soliloquy in a Cheap Dinner Off Route 66 by James Beamon  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 92
(Time Manipulation) Lolonyo keeps rewinding his initial meeting with Aliza, sure he can eventually make it perfect.
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Some Cupids Kill With Arrows by Tansy Rayner Roberts  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 14
(Fantasy Humor) On speed-dating night at the Dog and Biscuit, Meg notices that all the guys seem to be figures from Greek mythology.
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Starlight Express by Michael Swanwick  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(SF) Far in the future, Flaminio meets the love of his life when a woman steps through a matter transmitter that hasn’t worked for centuries.
Streams and Mountains by Nick Wolven  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 128
(Near-Future SF) A “sasquatch” is pregnant, and that’s a big problem.
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Suddenwall by Sara Saab  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 220
(High Fantasy) The city of Vannat offers forgiveness to former war criminals, but those it deems unworthy get trapped inside stone walls that appear out of nowhere.
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Sun, Moon, Dust by Ursula Vernon  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 16
(High Fantasy) Allpa receives a magic sword on his grandmother’s deathbed. Three spirits in the sword are supposed to train him to be a mighty warrior, but he really just wants to be a better farmer.
Tagging Bruno by Allen M. Steele  Time: 41m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Planetary SF; Coyote) A scientific team tagging “boids” in the wilderness on Coyote copes with equipment that’s falling apart, a drunken leader, and the man-eating, flightless birds themselves.
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Ten Half-Pennies by Matthew Hughes  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(High Fantasy; Baldemar) Young Baldemar gets a favor from a moneylender’s hired muscle. The challenge is paying it back.
The Avenger by Albert E. Cowdrey  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Modern Fantasy) Jeanne hires Mr. Warlock because no normal attorney could cope with the problems her late husband’s crooked relatives are causing her.
The Banffs by Lavie Tidhar  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 05.06|17
(SF Conspiracy) Suffering from writer’s block, the author agrees to house sit for some rich friends of his agent.
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The Bride in Sea-Green Velvet by Robin Furth1  Time: 30m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 07.08|17
(Horror) Sir Henry prepares to resurrect a dead murderess as an offering to dark and hungry sea gods who expect something from him on his 49th birthday.
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The Catastrophe Of Cities by Lisa Goldstein  Time: 30m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Horror) As kids, Lila and Beth had adventures exploring mysterious houses with strange rooms and scary occupants. Forty years later, Beth tries to discover whatever happened to those houses—and to her friend.
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The Dark Birds by Ursula Vernon  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueApex 92
(Horror) There are always three sisters. When one gets big, Father eats her, and Mother has a new baby. This is the story of how that cycle ended.
The Dead Father Cookbook by Ashley Blooms1  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 07/17/17
(Horror) The narrator wants to bring her father back from the dead, but first she has to trick her brother into helping eat his cremated remains.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:5
The Discrete Charm of the Turing Machine by Greg Egan  Time: 40m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Dystopia) Dan loses his job and goes looking for something that hasn’t already been automated away. There’s not much, and what he does find is rather strange.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5 JStrahan
The Dragon that Flew Out of the Sun by Aliette De Bodard  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueCosmic Powers 2017
(Space Opera) As a child, Lan learned her family lost their world when a dragon came out of the sun, but now she wants to know the real truth.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
The Edge of Things by Katharine E.K. Duckett  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 103
(Alternate Reality) The narrator wakes up every day to an endless party in an infinite house that seems to have replaced the whole world. She’d like to get out, but she can’t even remember her own name.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The First Day of Someone Else's Life by John Schoffstall  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(SF Thriller) Your name is Mook Donnel. You’re an important person. You negotiate with governments for your corporation. But you don’t think that’s who you really are at all, and the lady in your head won't stop talking to you.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The First Trebuchet on Mars by Marie Vibbert  Time: 06m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Colony) Jill ‘s trebuchet that can throw rocks across a crater is her first “creative anachronism” to get any real interest from the colony, but is it good for anything?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Fisherman and the Pig by Kameron Hurley  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 235
(Fantasy Adventure) Nev has been in hiding for eight years, so when some men offer him too good a deal to sell their fish, he suspects a trap.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
(Near-Future SF) Otto and Trevor host a party where some friends demonstrate the latest in polymer toys. Otto meets Avram, who won’t be good for their relationship. But it’s the toys he should be worried about.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
The Girl Who Stole Herself by R. Garcia y Robertson  Time: 1h:21m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 07.08|17
(SF Adventure Humor; The Family) In 3V, Amanda is a proud space princess, but in the real world she’s a 17-year-old high school dropout who lives with her mom. Slavers are after her, and some parts of the 3V world are more real than they ought to be.
The Hermit of Houston by Samuel R. Delany  Time: 40m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(SF Epic) The narrator describes his life in a very different North America, where everyone is male.
The History of the Invasion Told in Five Dogs by Kelly Jennings  Time: 07m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(Alien Invasion) The narrator describes his/her efforts to stay alive over a period of years. Each segment includes a dog who made a difference in the narrator’s life.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
(SFF) Alex’s town is being attacked by aliens, and she needs to save it somehow.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
The Human Way by Tony Ballantyne  Time: 32m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 03.04|17
(Military SF) A terrorist group has kidnapped an alien, and Serena’s team need to find them and free it before it’s too late.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
The Influence Machine by Sean McMullen  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueInterzone 269
(Historical SF) In 1899 London, Inspector Grant investigates a lady who claims her big electrical apparatus is for a camera, even though it looks like a bomb or a death ray.
(SF Horror) Meant to clear plastic from the sea, the artificial “squids” have put the oceans off-limits to humanity. Not everyone takes that lying down.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 GDozois:5
The Last Cheng Beng Gift by Jaymee Goh  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 88
(Fantasy) It pleases Mrs. Lim that her children keep sending her gifts even ten years after her death, but her daughter’s gifts aren’t always appropriate.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Last Garden by Jack Skillingstead  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 81
(Post-Apocalypse) Casey’s only companion on the Airforce base is a robot, which is determined to protect her. That includes keeping her from investigating frozen clones that might survive in a distant vault.
(SF) Reuth has come to a beach resort on Ardabaab to try to finish his last novel before he dies. A young girl distracts him, then inspires him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
The Library of Lost Things by Matthew Bright  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 08/23/17
(Fantasy) Tom takes a job as an indexer in a library that exists outside of space and time for the purpose of collecting books and manuscripts (among other things) that were lost.
The Man Who Put the Bomp by Richard Chwedyk  Time: 1h:33m (Novella)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Near-Future SF) Danner investigates a problem at the house where little dinosaur toys are housed since they were recalled for being too intelligent.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Martian in the Wood by Stephen Baxter  Time: 55m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 08/02/17
(SF Pastiche) When Zena’s brother disappears into a mysterious forest on her family property, she goes looking, and she finds that not all of the Martian invaders perished at the end of the War of the Worlds.
The Meiosis of Cells and Exile by Octavia Cade  Time: 35m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Historical Fantasy) On the train from Moscow to exile in Dzhambul, Lina Stern is visited by three younger versions of herself.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Mouth of the Oyster by Adam-Troy Castro and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 239
(High Fantasy) Plague took the narrator’s vision, but now he has the opportunity to get new eyes. Eyes that might see narrowly but too well.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
The Nanny Bubble by Norman Spinrad  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Near-Future SF) At age 11, Teddy has the best life, with great hardware and software toys. Those toys let his parents keep him under tight control, but he doesn’t mind until he finds something he really wants to do.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:5
The New Man by Malcolm Devlin  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueInterzone 270
(Near-Future SF) After an accident, a man gets a new body, but he has trouble believing he’s really the same person.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
(Generation Ship) Captain YΓ‘nnis needs to get the ship moving again, and then God gives him a message.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Ones Who Know Where They Are Going by Sarah Pinsker  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(Fantasy) You have lain in your cell long enough to forget how to walk. Then you see sunlight and realize someone has left the door open.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
The Person Who Saw Cetus by Tang Fei  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 128
(SF) Lillian grew up poor, but soon she’ll be one of the first astronauts to traverse a wormhole. Memories of her father keep haunting her, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Prognosticant by Matthew Hughes  Time: 43m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(Sword and Sorcery; Baldemar) Master Thelerion sends Baldemar and Oldo on a dangerous mission to recover a powerful magical artifact.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
The Shining Hills by Susan Palwick  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 87
(Urban Fantasy) Some nights shining lights appear atop hills in urban areas, and people who walk into them disappear—some say to fairyland. A cop who thinks otherwise tries to talk a young woman out of trying it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
The Significance of Significance by Robert Reed  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 130
(SF) A young woman reacts to the news that our universe is just a simulation by making wild choices that her family has to deal with.
The Siret Mask by Marie Brennan  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 238
(Fantasy Adventure) Viorica attempts to steal the famed Şiret Mask from Codruţ, brother of her dear friend. There are lots of complications, not least of which that Codruţ expects someone to try to take it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:5
The Stone Lover by Marta Randall  Time: 05m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 82
(Fantasy Erotica) The new queen wants a beautiful male statue carved to satisfy her desires.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Three-Tongued Mummy by E. Catherine Tobler  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 96
(Horror) Jackson partly revived an ancient mummy to use in his carnival. The undead thing has an agenda too, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Toymaker's Daughter by Arundhati Hazra1  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Fairy Tale) As she paints them, the girl makes up stories about the wooden toys her father carves, unaware that she’s filling them with magic.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
The Triumph of Virtue by Walter Jon Williams  Time: 38m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Mystery; Quillifer) Quillifer intends to discover who tried to assassinate the wife of the queen’s lover, even though suspects are plentiful and clues are few.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
The Turing Machines of Babel by Eric Schwitzgebel  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 98
(Magical Realism) Hamete lives in Borges’s “Library of Babel,” and his life changes forever when he follows a rabbit into the depths.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
The West Topeka Triangle by Jeremiah Tolbert  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueLightspeed 80
(Horror) Jason struggles with a bully in elementary school, a stepdad who hates him, and he thinks the local equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle is causing local kids to disappear.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:5
The White-Throated Transmigrant by E. Lily Yu  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 06/21/17
(Dark Fantasy) Hiding from her own problems, Winona volunteers at the local ornithological museum after she hits a bird with her car.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
The Wind's Departure by Stephen Case  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueBCS 240
(High Fantasy) Diogenes ought to be using the magician’s floating castle to help the emperor, but he feels obliged to honor his promise to restore Sylva’s body to her—even if it destroys the world.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
There Used to Be Olive Trees by Rich Larson  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Post-Apocalypse) Valentin’s implant should let him talk to the machine gods, but he’s failed the test three times, and he decides to run away before facing it again. Of course things outside the town are even worse.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
(Alternate History) Back in the fifties, the Benefactors came to Earth and made some people “geniuses.” Now, as those people die, the Benefactors “harvest” their bodies. Akeem hates them for this, and he fears his grandmother might be next.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
Though She Be But Little by C.S.E. Cooney  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 18
(Fantasy Horror) When the world changed and the sky turned silver, magic became real, Emma Anne became a little girl and her neighbor became a pirate. But can a little girl fight off an attack by the Loping Man?
Three Can Keep a Secret... by Bill Johnson and Gregory Frost  Time: 31m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(SF Thriller) A resourceful assassin from Earth comes to an unnamed planet on a mission to double-cross someone.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 GDozois:4
Throw Me a Bone by Stanley Schmidt  Time: 03m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Paleontology SF) The Titanosaur bone destroyed Bill’s career because its isolation smacked of fraud. But there had to be another explanation.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Time Travel is Only for the Poor by S.L. Huang  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 11.12|17
(Near-Future SF) A homeless man fights a government decision to put him in hibernation.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Timewalking by Michael Cassutt  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 11.12|17
(Time Travel) James’s sleepwalking therapist tells him his episodes are caused by someone from the future trying to contact him. But about what?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Tongue by Ashok K. Banker  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 87
(SF Horror) Married at age 10, she was determined to do anything to support her husband. No matter what.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Travelers by Rich Larson  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 130
(SF) The starship wakes her up 32 years too soon, and the only other person awake is a really strange guy.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
Triceratops by Ian McHugh  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Near-Future SF) The narrator visits a reserve in Northern Canada where they’re experimenting with resurrected mammoths.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Two Ways of Living by Robert Reed  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 126
(Near-Future SF) Each sleep takes Artemus two years closer to his goal, but he wakes up weak and starving after each one, and he doesn’t need nosey neighbors bothering him while he recovers.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:4
Ugo by Giovanni De Feo1  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 88
(SFF) Ugo can “remember” things from the future, which he shares with Cynthia—including the fact that she’ll be his wife someday.
Uncanny Valley by Greg Egan  Time: 44m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 08/09/17
(Near-Future SF) Adam has 70% of the memories of the man who created him, but something vital is hiding in that missing 30%.
unfurl/ed by Jes Rausch  Time: 08m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 08/14/17
(SF) The Arnos power grid has a problem, but the entities that run the power satellite are having difficulties of their own—including not knowing how long ago this problem started.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: CPayseur
Universe Box by Michael Swanwick  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 09.10|17
(Slipstream) A man who just stole the universe hides in Howard’s apartment, interrupting his attempt to propose to his girlfriend. Then it gets weird.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:5 RHorton:4
(Hard SF) In the early 2030s, Sergei works for Uber collecting trash in low-Earth orbit. He’s surprised when Uber’s boss comes up and has a special mission for him.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
(Apocalyptic) The narrator wants to spend the last hours before the asteroid strike with her parents, but she runs out of gas in the middle of South Dakota.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Waterfalling by Lavie Tidhar  Time: 36m (Novelette)  IssueThe Book of Swords 2017
(Fantasy Adventure; Gorel of Gloris) Searching for his lost homeland, addicted to a drug excreted by gods, and suffering withdrawal, Gorel gets an invitation to an adventure—to kill a god.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
We Are Born by Dare Segun Falowo  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 09.10|17
(Modern African Fantasy) Wura has miscarried three times, so she decides to make a child from clay and lightening.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
(Near-Future SF) Jesse uses virtual reality to give tourists a vision-quest experience. It’s demeaning, but it pays the bills. Then a tourist turns up who wants a really authentic experience.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
What the Hands Know by Gregor Hartmann  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 05.06|17
(Far-Future SF; Franden) Franden goes to a fight club to get some ideas for characters in his stories. A peaceful sort, despite his size, he has no intention of actually participating.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 GDozois:4
Whatever Comes After Calcutta by David Erik Nelson  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 11.12|17
(Horror) Lyle is having a bad day, what with finding his wife in bed with a cop, but not as bad a day as this lady he finds hanging from a tree because her neighbors decided she’s a witch.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Whatever Knight Comes by Ryan Row2  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 226
(Fairy Tale) You are a knight cursed to kidnap maidens and the die trying to keep them when a knight comes to rescue them. Over and over.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
(Near-Future SF) A young body builder gets an offer from a rich old man to swap bodies.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
When I Close My Eyes by Chris Barnham  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 271
(Exploration SF) A cave-in on Titan leaves Darlo trapped, but he’s not going to die without a fight. It’s probably a bad sign that he’s having visions of his dead wife, though.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Whending My Way Back Home by Bill Johnson  Time: 42m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Time Travel; Martin & Artie) Trapped in the past, Martin tries to engineer a change in reality that will let him go home.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Who Won the Battle of Arsia Mons? by Sue Burke  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 134
(Military SF) Four international teams develop combat robots to stage a fight on Mars—televised live, of course.
Winter Timeshare by Ray Nayler  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(SF) Regina and Ilkay take an annual holiday together in Istanbul, renting “blank” bodies for the occasion.
You Will Never Know What Opens by Mari Ness  Time: 06m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 91
(Portal Fantasy) Your house is full of doors to other worlds, and you can’t keep yourself from exploring them—even though they’re dangerous.

Rating: 2 -> Not Recommended

Stories: 40;  Estimated Time: 17h:52m (322K words)
A Burden Shared by Jo Walton  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 04/19/17
(Near-Future SF) Penny uses a technology that lets her share some of her daughter’s pain from a congenital joint problem.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
A Death in the Wayward Drift by Tim Akers  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 269
(Science Fantasy) Castaa and the other initiates of the Water Caste travel with their master to try and fix a problem with the machines that stir the lake.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
(High Fantasy; Birdverse) The Old Royal has ruled the desert for millennia from their palace where a star once fell, but the arrival of a young stranger brings chaos.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: CPayseur
An Account of the Sky Whales by A Que  Time: 38m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 129
(Planetary Adventure) Azuki travels to Goliath to bring the ashes of his dead girlfriend home. Exporting human remains is illegal, so he gets help from some poachers.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:4
Arp! Arp! by Christina De La Rocha2  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(SF Techno Mystery) Monique comes to an ocean platform that extracts phosphorus from sea water to solve the mystery of why the plankton that drive it are dying.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Baroness by E. Catherine Tobler  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 128
(Planetary Exploration) In the methane oceans of Titan, Bishop and her crew try to figure out what happened to another ship which seems to have been crushed by a giant alien vessel.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Bourbon, Sugar, Grace by Jessica Reisman  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 06/07/17
(Colony Planet SF) Since the Combine all but abandoned Sloe, scavengers are important, and Fox is a good one. Her latest mission could be her best yet, provided she survives it.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: JMcGregor:4
Concerning the Devastation Wrought by the Nefarious Gray Comma and Its Ilk: A Men In Tie-Dye Adventure by Tim McDaniel  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 03.04|17
(SF Humor) Austin catches some men in tie-dye costumes digging up his plants in the middle of the night.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Cut, Cut, Cut by Walter Mosley  Time: 20m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 95
(Horror) Marilee dates a brilliant plastic surgeon who might have murdered his ex-wife and has an unhealthy interest in brains.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Darkness, Our Mother by Eleanna Castroianni1  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 135
(Surreal SF) A priesthood of mathematicians has kept the planet Cemar safe, but things have been safe for so long that some people think the priestesses themselves are the bigger danger.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Elephant on Table by Bruce Sterling  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueChasing Shadows 2017
(Near-Future SF) Tullio and Irma serve the eccentric, 104-year-old, Chief—the last prime minister of Italy—in his “Shadow House,” a place immune from surveillance.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Goodnight, Melancholy by Xia Jia  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 126
(AI) The narrator’s therapy includes some cute little robots that help cheer her up.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:5
Hexagrammaton by HanuΕ‘ Seiner2  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 05/10/17
(SF) A woman approaches the narrator to help her smuggle a special package to the human survivors of an alien virus that could make people something more than human.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
How To Be A Barbarian in the Late 25th Century by Jean Johnson  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinite Stars 2017
(Military SF) Mitch Turman files a report on a routine combat mission, but on the side he writes about the same episode, but turns it into an epic battle in a swords & sorcery universe.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: RHorton:4
In the Mists by Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg  Time: 07m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 05.06|17
(SF) The narrator has been cast away on a deserted planet for seventeen years. He’s filled up 766 logbooks, and he’s starting on 767. And he’s having awful dreams.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Marcel Proust, Incorporated by Scott Dalrymple  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 85
(Near-Future SF) Users who stop taking a memory enhancement drug end up losing everything they learned on it, making it possible for banks to repossess someone’s education.
Mines by Eleanor Arnason  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) An ex-soldier on a colony planet who hunts for mines with a modified giant rat finds companionship in an injured soldier.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Miss Cruz by James Sallis  Time: 10m (ShortStory)  IssueF&SF 03.04|17
(Horror) When the narrator plays his guitar, people really listen.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: GDozois:4
Night Fever by Will Ludwigsen  Time: 52m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 05.06|17
(Alternate History) Charles Manson spends ten years in prison and doesn’t start his cult until 1977 instead of 1967.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
Number Thirty-Nine Skink by Suzanne Palmer  Time: 18m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(Hard SF) Long after the loss of its crew, Kade-5 continues its mission of terraforming the planet. It finds something interesting, but whom can it tell?
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: GDozois:5
Rushford Recapitulation by Christopher Mark Rose2  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 270
(Slipstream) In the village of Rushford, New York, women have started giving birth to appliances instead of babies.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: SFRevu:4
(Far-Future SF) An uplifted octopus finds a mysterious capsule in the water and wonders if one of the long-vanished humans might be inside it.
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Split Signal by Joel Richards  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Mind Uploading) Is an uploaded personality a legal person? Is it kidnapping to make a copy? Is it murder if the original hires a hit man to target the copier?
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Sweetlings by Lucy Taylor  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 05/03/17
(Climate Apocalypse Horror) As the seas have risen, terrible things have come crawling out of them. Jersey wants Mir to come with him and move inland, but she won’t go without her disabled father.
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Tao Zero by Damien Broderick  Time: 1h:13m (Novella)  IssueAsimov's 03.04|17
(SF) Someone has attacked New York and MIT, and 16-year-old Shipton is caught in the middle of it.
Terra Nullius by HanuΕ‘ Seiner2  Time: 21m (ShortStory)  IssueStrange Horizons 03/20/17
(Alien Invasion) Only juvenile aliens are capable of original thought, so we can't even tell the adults that they're destroying our world. Reaching the juvenile's means going deep inside the enormous females.
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The Fall of the Mundaneum by Rebecca Campbell  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueBCS 235
(Historical Fantasy) In the first days of World War I, young Oskar is left to manage the Mundaneum as the Germans approach. He’s nervous, but hopeful they’ll respect the institution and its priceless artifacts.
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The Ghost Ship Anastasia by Rich Larson  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 124
(Hard SF) Things look bad for the repair crew, come to fix an unresponsive space ship. Their AI expert is all doped up, mourning his sister who died in transit, and the AI isn’t broken—it’s insane.
(Horror) ‘Nisha only has five hours to get across New York to her dead aunt’s apartment before the city comes to throw away all her stuff. She’s not even sure it’s worth it, but they said her aunt was a witch…
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The Law of Conservation of Data by John Grant  Time: 32m (Novelette)  IssueLightspeed 86
(Far-Future SF) Five sex partners decide to explore the remains of a casino that was pushed into a black hole an eon ago.
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The Moon is Not a Battlefield by Indrapramit Das  Time: 27m (Novelette)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) After spending almost her whole life as a lunar soldier, Gita gives an interview to a reporter about what it was like and how she’s adapting to life in India.
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The Old Dispensation by Lavie Tidhar  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 02/08/17
(Space Opera) Shemesh returns from his mission on planet Kadesh to face inquisition by the Exiliarch. What really happened when he met the heretic there?
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The Rocket Farmer by Julie C. Day  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 271
(Science Fantasy) Sarnai’s family have always grown rockets, but her teenage daughter seems to have an unhealthy fascination with them.
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The Stone Weta by Octavia Cade  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 131
(Hard SF) An international conspiracy of scientists struggles to save climate data from governments trying to hide or falsify it.
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The Sword of Damocles by Norman Spinrad  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueAnalog 09.10|17
(Epic SF) The Galactic Eye has found hundreds of alien races, but, so far, humanity has done nothing but count them. That’s about to change.
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The Worldless by Indrapramit Das  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueLightspeed 82
(Offworld SF) The Dunyshar are stranded on an outpost, but NuTay dreams of going home to Earth.
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(SF) A Loonguni travelling box can safely carry thousands of passengers, but the ever-changing architecture makes it uncomfortable for the first human passengers.
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Tumbledown by Kameron Hurley  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueApex 100
(SF Adventure) If Sarai and Khulan can’t get the vaccine to Batbayer settlement, the whole colony may perish from the plague.
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We Who Live in the Heart by Kelly Robson  Time: 49m (Novelette)  IssueClarkesworld 128
(Colony SF) People who don’t like living underground in the colony can live inside giant “whales” that float high in the planet’s atmosphere. That’s usually pretty safe.
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(SF Horror) The narrator’s four-year-old asks uncomfortable questions about the holocaust that awaits the human race in just a few weeks.
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Rating: 1 -> Needs Improvement

Stories: 12;  Estimated Time: 5h:09m (93K words)
Cryptic Female Choice by Andy Dudak  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 271
(Dystopia) The ability for women to mix and match genes from multiple men leads to social unrest.
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Fatherbond by Tom Purdom  Time: 40m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Planetary SF) After taking fifty years to reach planet Kendavala, colonists are disappointed to find strict regulations on where they can settle. But is anyone actually going to enforce those rules?
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(Fantasy Science) Carlos is second-in-Command of a submersible city, and he has to cope with a sequence of failures that threatens to destroy them.
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Oracle by Dominica Phetteplace  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueInfinity Wars 2017
(Military SF) Rita’s success in AIs for marketing leads to success in military applications. A bit too much success.
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Plaisir d'Amour by John Alfred Taylor  Time: 1h:14m (Novella)  IssueAnalog 03.04|17
(Utopian SF) Ben visits an asteroid mining ship to study the people who live on it, and he falls in love.
Prasetyo Plastics by D.A. Xiaolin Spires1  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 134
(Hard SF) In which the end of the world is brought to you by plastics.
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(Old West Fantasy) Six-gun rides into Dead Gulch and finds the townspeople don’t like “her kind,” but they have a mission for her: to kill the Dead Coon Trashgang.
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Starphone by Stephen Baxter  Time: 19m (ShortStory)  IssueAsimov's 01.02|17
(Climate SF) Keely inherits an advanced robot from her eccentric aunt.
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The Psychology Game by Xia Jia  Time: 09m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 133
(Near-Future SF) A TV show features a person and a therapist, and the audience tries to guess whether the therapist is human or an AI.
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The Shallowest Waves by Thoraiya Dyer and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueAnalog 01.02|17
(Hard SF) Charlotte dreams of seeding Europa with life, if only she can find someone to fund it.
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The Trip by Mari Kurisato  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueApex 99
(Colony Ship) A woman on a colony ship tries to save the life of her best friend.
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Waiting on a Bright Moon by JY Yang  Time: 33m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 07/12/17
(Space Opera) Xin’s orderly life on Eighth Colony changes forever when she ushers a mutilated body through the portal.
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Rating: Not Rated

Stories: 4;  Estimated Time: 1h:30m (27K words)
Bodies Stacked Like Firewood by Sam J. Miller  Time: 22m (ShortStory)  IssueUncanny 14
(Mainstream) Cyd’s suicide brings his friend Kelvin to Albany for his memorial.
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Come See the Living Dryad by Theodora Goss  Time: 29m (Novelette)  IssueTor.com 03/08/17
(Mainstream) In 1888 a woman suffering a hideous deformity was murdered in London. Today, her descendent wants to find the culprit.
Encyphered by Jonathan L. Howard  Time: 12m (ShortStory)  IssueInterzone 270
(Mainstream) A young man has a life-long obsession with cryptography.
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Wetherfell's Reef Runics by Marc Laidlaw  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueF&SF 01.02|17
(Mystery) Ambrose runs a bookstore on a remote Hawaiian island. He gets tangled up in the mystery of a visitor who chained himself underwater and drowned.

Not Yet Rated



January 1, 2018

3 comments (may contain spoilers):

  1. Hi guys, love your site since I discovered it earlier this year. Do you know the sidebar link to the year-to-date page still goes to the 2016 one, rather than this one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I've fixed the link.

      Delete
    2. No prob. Thanks so much for the rec of "And Then There Were (N-One)"; I wouldn't've seen it otherwise, I suspect, but it will almost certainly go on my Hugo noms.

      Delete