The End of the World Measured in Values of N, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★☆☆☆

(Apocalypse) The world just came to an end N seconds ago. We discuss that for different values of N. (1,959 words; Time: 06m)

The Time Traveler's Advice to the Lovelorn, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆

(Time Travel) Samael finds himself in love with a woman who doesn’t notice him, so he asks the village time-traveler for advice, figuring he ought to know more than anyone else. (3,624 words; Time: 12m)

Many Happy Returns, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆

(SF Sports) Gorman travels the galaxy engaging in all the risky sports that only the very rich can do, but he’s haunted by an annoying robot that keeps trying to interrupt him with a birthday card. (5,411 words; Time: 18m)

Fortune’s Final Hand, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆

(Afterlife) A girl named Fortune plays cards in an afterlife where you bet with memories. (7,485 words; Time: 24m)

Eros Pratfalled, Or, Adrift in the Cosmos With Lasagna and Mary Steenburgen, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(SF Humor) Ellis is a nice young man, but he can’t find his soulmate, and no one else will do. Unfortunately, this soulmate is a dead alien invertebrate. (3,712 words; Time: 12m)

Sacrid's Pod, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★★☆ A rather different escape drama.

(SF Thriller) On the eve of her 20th birthday, Sacrid Henn’s parents send her to an AI prison for her failure to conform. It’s a pleasant prison, but prison nonetheless, and she’s determined to get out. (8,741 words; Time: 29m)

The Gorilla in a Tutu Principle or, Pecan Pie at Minnie and Earl's, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Analog]

★★★☆☆ Mixed

(Future Fantasy) A young man working on the moon during a construction boom keeps seeing two men doing crazy things in the middle of nowhere. Men who leave no trace and whom no one else can see. (20,795 words; Time: 1h:09m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+2 (Q&A)

Sand Castles, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Horror) Lauren visits a giant sand castle on the beach and thinks she sees something moving inside it. (8,258 words; Time: 27m)

The Minor Superhero, at Home after His Series Ends, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Superhero Humor) Bob is a minor superhero, and these days he only gets called into action for big events calling for hundreds or more heroes. In the meantime, he protects his town—or at least his apartment building. (2,514 words; Time: 08m)

Survey, by Adam-Troy Castro

[F&SF]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(SF Horror) A young college student participates in an academic survey to earn some extra cash. The whole setup is a little weird, particularly the armed guard, but it’s a lot of money just to answer some questions. (5,050 words; Time: 16m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

The Savannah Problem, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Analog]

★★★★☆ Nonstop action and excitement.

(SF Action/Adventure; Draiken) Draiken kidnaps a hired killer from a space station and spirits him away for a “demonstration.” But what sort of demonstration could possibly change the man’s mind? (21,452 words; Time: 1h:11m)

Recommended By: 👍RSR+1 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

Although this story can stand alone, it’ll be extra fun for anyone who’s read the previous stories in the Draiken series.

The Last to Matter, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★★☆ Who Knew the End of the World Could Be So Entertaining?

(End of the World) The city is dying and its immortal human inhabitants seem inclined to die with it. Except for Kayn. (8,586 words; Time: 28m)

The Unnecessary Parts of the Story, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Analog]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Dark SF Humor) In which we look closely at the plot of an alien-inspired SF thriller and discover something lurking in the hilarious plot holes. (4,810 words; Time: 16m)

Greetings, Humanity! Welcome To Your Choice Of Species!, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Average

(SF Humor) The galactic government has decided to evict humanity from Earth, but we’ve got a choice of different species that are willing to accept us—provided we convert to their forms. (2,528 words; Time: 08m)

A Stab of the Knife, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Analog]

★★★★☆ Great characters, great dialogue, great worldbuilding

(SF Action/Adventure; Draiken) Two series meet in this crossover episode where ex-assassin Draiken’s search for justice is interrupted when he’s arrested by ace prosecutor Andrea Cort. (23,544 words; Time: 1h:18m)

Recommended By: 👍GTognetti+2 👍RSR+1 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

Although this continues Draiken’s adventures and touches Andrea Cort’s series as well, it can be enjoyed by itself and probably serves as a good introduction to both series.

A Place Without Portals, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Lightspeed]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(Portal Fantasy) She was not the chosen one; that was only a dream. She did not flee our world via a magic mirror, and she was not chased by pig monsters, but she did wake up in her own bed. (2,148 words; Time: 07m)

The Streets of Babel, by Adam-Troy Castro

Read this issue

(Allegory) A man in the countryside is scooped up by one of the “living cities” which immediately impresses him into its workforce. (6,700 words; Time: 22m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

Blurred Lives, by Adam-Troy Castro

[Analog]

★★★☆☆ Average

(SF Action/Adventure; Draiken) Draiken and Thorne seek out a torturer they once knew in hopes he can lead them to surviving leaders of the organizations they once worked for but are now sworn to destroy. (22,290 words; Time: 1h:14m)

Recommended By: 👍GTognetti+2 👍RHorton.r+2 👍STomaino+2 (Q&A)

This is third in a series, but reading the first two isn’t critical to enjoying this one

The Mouth of the Oyster, by Adam-Troy Castro and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

Read this issue

(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. (5,875 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

Recommended By: RHorton+1

What I Told My Little Girl About the Aliens Preparing to Grind Us Into Hamburgers, by Adam-Troy Castro

Read this issue

(SF Horror) The narrator’s four-year-old asks uncomfortable questions about the holocaust that awaits the human race in just a few weeks. (2,472 words; Time: 08m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended