To a Cloven Pine, by Max Gladstone

[Anthology]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(Virtual Reality) In a VR simulation, a starship AI keeps reenacting scenes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. But why? (3,702 words; Time: 12m)

Fitting In, by Max Gladstone

[Tor.com]

★★★★★ Loveable characters in a great caper tale

(Superhero; Wild Cards) A retired superhero and a conspiracy theorist join forces to gather evidence against a mobster who’s trying to force their friend to sell her property to him. (13,710 words; Time: 45m)

Crispin's Model, by Max Gladstone

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(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. (7,929 words; Time: 26m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Impressive, Entertaining, Thoughtful

The Scholast in the Low Waters Kingdom, by Max Gladstone

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(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. (6,743 words; Time: 22m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Fascinating, Complex, and Entertaining

Giants in the Sky, by Max Gladstone

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(Transhuman) One of the ascended humans wants to help the ones who stayed behind on now-primitive Earth, but bureaucracy appears to have survived ascension. (3,645 words; Time: 12m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

Big Thrull and the Askin’ Man, by Max Gladstone

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(Folk Tale) A small, pink, human asks Big Thrull's protection. She's the toughest mammoth herder there is, but she's got a soft spot. His endless questions are a problem though. (3,745 words; Time: 12m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average