Beyond the Tattered Veil of Stars, by Mercurio D. Rivera

[Asimov's]

★★★★☆ Full of Tension and Surprises

(Virtual Reality Thriller) Cory’s ex-girlfriend invites him to write a story about her virtual-reality machine that she uses to find solutions to real-world problems. (8,253 words; Time: 27m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

In the Stillness Between the Stars, by Mercurio D. Rivera

[Asimov's]

★★★★☆ Interesting, Creepy, and Ultimately Touching

(SF Horror) En route to α Centauri, the ship AI awakens a psychotherapist to help a crew member who thinks she’s seeing monsters. (8,813 words; Time: 29m)

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

The Walk to Distant Suns, by Matthew Kressel and Mercurio D. Rivera

[Analog]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(SF Adventure) Shandi works at the L5 point helping rich people emigrate from a dying Earth to a distant paradise planet. She’s determined to make the trip herself, though, and bring her family with her—rules or no rules. (8,587 words; Time: 28m)

Tactics for Optimal Outcomes in Negotiations with Wergen Ambassadors, by Mercurio D. Rivera

Find this book

(Military SF) The Wergens have helped humanity a lot, but sometimes it seems that they like us a little bit too much. (2,587 words; Time: 08m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Those Brighter Stars by Mercurio D. Rivera

Read this issue

(Psionic SF) Ava recounts the visit of the "Needlers" to Earth and her part in the attempts to communicate with the aliens. (6,030 words; Time: 20m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Recommended By: GDozois:5

Unreeled, by Mercurio D. Rivera

Find this issue

(SF Horror) EncelaCorp "streams" the consciousness of explorers to distant parts of the galaxy. Jonathan worries that the experience may have changed his wife somehow. (5,193 words; Time: 17m)

Rating: ★★★★★ Award-Worthy

Recommended By: SFRevu:4 GDozois:4

The Water-Walls of Enceladus, by Mercurio D. Rivera

Find this issue

(SF) A disfiguring illness drove Lilly to leave Earth and live in a community of aliens who think she's beautiful. Trouble is, they like her too much. (6,200 words; Time: 20m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

Recommended By: GDozois:4