Different Seas, by Alastair Reynolds

[Anthology]

★★★★★ Nice action, powerfully emotional

(SF Action) Lilith is sole crew member on a sail-by-wire clipper ship off the coast of Chile when a big solar storm knocks out the system that controls her rudder. She ends up getting help from an unlikely source. (5,230 words; Time: 17m)

In the Ground, Before the Freeze, by Margaret Ronald

[BCS]

★★★★★ A moving story of a tragic love

(Dark Fantasy) They say the mountain women have “unnatural habits” so when Katrin falls in love with a lowland man, no good can come of it. (6,631 words; Time: 22m)

Other People's Dreams, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

[F&SF]

★★★★★ Sometimes Dreams Come True

(Future Fantasy) Young Bardo and his master accept an off-world commission to make a very special custom dream for a mysterious client. (6,506 words; Time: 21m)

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

Prophet of the Roads, by Naomi Kritzer

[Anthology]

★★★★★ Good Characters, Cool Setting, Nice Twist

(SF Thriller) The Engineer is an AI that used to rule humanity. Luca carries a working piece of it, and looks for ways to bring the Engineer back (4,721 words; Time: 15m)

Field Biology of the Wee Fairies, by Naomi Kritzer

[Apex]

★★★★★ Sweet, Funny, and Inspiring

(Modern Fantasy) When other girls catch fairies, they wish for beauty, but Amelia just wants to do well on her science project. (4,700 words; Time: 15m)

You Pretend Like You Never Met Me, and I'll Pretend Like I Never Met You, by Maria Dahvana Headley

[Lightspeed]

★★★★★ Funny, Sad, and Magical

(Modern Fantasy) A washed-up magician drinking whisky at 9 AM meets a mysterious British lady, who leads him into the worst day of his life. (6,778 words; Time: 22m)

Impetus, by Shane Landry

[Analog]

★★★★★ Loveable Characters and Thrilling Action

(SF Sports) Sakura was a champion before her accident, and her dad objects to her competing again, but she may have to to support him and her little brother. (6,340 words; Time: 21m)

Superbright, by Ryan Row

[Interzone]

★★★★★ Humorous but with an edge that bites

(Superhero) Tom’s modest superpowers only qualify him for a class D superhero license, but he’s determined to get into the big leagues. (7,167 words; Time: 23m)

A Song of Home, the Organ Grinds, by James Beamon

[Lightspeed]

★★★★★ Colorful setting, packed with action

(Military Steampunk) An orphan recruit on a Turkish airship tends the brainwashed monkeys that constitute one of their principle weapons. He fears them deeply, but the ones with mechanical parts he fears the worst. (5,990 words; Time: 19m)

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

The Queen of the Peri Takes Her Time, by Corey Flintoff

[F&SF]

★★★★☆ A Fun Tale That’s Full of Surprises

(Modern Fantasy) A young man seeks help to try to get out of a deal he made with the supernatural queen of the Peri. (5,412 words; Time: 18m)

Meat And Salt And Sparks, by Rich Larson

[Tor.com]

★★★★★ Great Characters in a Great Setting

(SF Mystery) An enhanced chimp and her human partner investigate an apparently pointless murder committed by a woman who was under remote control from an unknown source. (7,373 words; Time: 24m)

Recommended By: GTognetti+2 KBurnham+2

The Streaming Man, by Suzanne Palmer

[Analog]

★★★★★ Cool Technology, Great Characters

(Near-Future SF) Rohn originally implanted sensory chips in his body and mapped them to music just to make them easier to test. He didn’t count on becoming an Internet sensation, but he plays it for all it’s worth. (7,459 words; Time: 24m)

Sour Milk Girls, by Erin Roberts

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(Near-Future SF) Fourteen-year-old Ghost gave up on finding a foster family a long time ago. She’s just waiting until she turns 18 and can leave “the Agency.” Then a new girl turns up—one who can actually remember her life before she was sent there. (6,447 words; Time: 21m)

Rating: ★★★★★ Deep and Disturbing, but Ultimately Moving