(Horror) David takes his family for a weekend visit to the manor house of an old friend. He worries about a “tall man” who seems to be taking too much of an interest in his children. (6,497 words; Time: 21m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Showing posts with label Review+2017. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review+2017. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
The Sacrifice of the Hanged Monkey, by Minsoo Kang
(Epic Fantasy) In which we learn how the priests of the Hanged Monkey whose name was Bob resisted the Sublime Empire’s conquest of their realm. (4,216 words; Time: 14m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
The Evaluators, by N.K. Jemisin
(SF Horror) A crew on planet Manka has disappeared, possibly eaten by the natives. We read the transcripts to try to decide what happened. (3,132 words; Time: 10m)
Rating: ★★★★☆ It Gets You Gradually
Monday, December 4, 2017
Landmark, by Cassandra Khaw
(Surreal SF) In which we learn that even in the very far future, long-distance relationships are hard to maintain. (1,627 words; Time: 05m)
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Needs Improvement
Darkness, Our Mother, by Eleanna Castroianni
(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. (5,219 words; Time: 17m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
Falling in Love with Martians and Machines, by Josh Pearce
(Near-Future SF) Chromium Jim and Babe work their way north to Alaska by winning rocket-powered drag races along the way. (8,363 words; Time: 27m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
Crossing LaSalle, by Lettie Prell
(Near-Future SF) Mara desperately wants to join the Newbodies, but they put her on the waiting list. There’s got to be another way in . . . (5,595 words; Time: 18m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
The Rains on Mars, by Natalia Theodoridou
(SF Adventure) Mac’s team drills tunnels that will connect the big Martian bases together. He came to Mars to run away from his problems on Earth, but some problems come with you. (4,814 words; Time: 16m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Sunday, December 3, 2017
You Will Never Know What Opens, by Mari Ness
(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. (2,064 words; Time: 06m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
The House at the End of the Lane Is Dreaming, by A. Merc Rustad
(SFF) Alex’s town is being attacked by aliens, and she needs to save it somehow. (6,794 words; Time: 22m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
A Third of the Stars of Heaven, by Cadwell Turnbull
(SF) Henrietta has inoperable cancer, but she rejects the medical treatments the aliens are offering. (4,966 words; Time: 16m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
The Greatest One-Star Restaurant in the Whole Quadrant, by Rachael K. Jones
(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. (4,287 words; Time: 14m)
Rating: ★★★★★ Both Rare and Well-Done
The Wind's Departure, by Stephen Case
(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. (10,901 words; Time: 36m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Low Bridge! Or The Dark Obstructions, by M. Bennardo
(Historical Fantasy) On the Erie Canal, a young man and his bride confront an author who doesn’t believe in the supernatural at all. (8,086 words; Time: 26m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
There is almost no speculative element in this story.
Mandelbrot the Magnificent, by Liz Ziemska
(Historical Fantasy) An account of how the young Benoit Mandelbrot learned he could affect physical reality with his mathematics and how he tried to mount a defense against the Nazi’s in France. (20,135 words; Time: 1h:07m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
See related articles on Tor.com.
Three May Keep a Secret, by Carlie St. George
(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. (7,682 words; Time: 25m)
Rating: ★★★★★ Tense yet Endearing
El Cóndor del Machángara, by Ana Hurtado
(Magical Realism) In a riverside village in Ecuador, a girl identifies with a mythical figure who once sought help in the river of the condor. (4,704 words; Time: 15m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
Monday, November 27, 2017
In Calabria, by Peter S. Beagle
★★★★★ Beautiful, Charming, and Uplifting
(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. (31,954 words; Time: 1h:46m)
Recommended By: 🏆Locus+2 🏆WFantasy+1 👍RHorton.r+1 👍RSR+2 (Q&A)
There is no connection with the Last Unicorn stories.
Woe and Other Remedies, by Michael Anthony Ashley
(High Fantasy Horror) The empire’s immortal nobles are hopelessly jaded, and Dejanira’s parties bring them excitement through the threat of death. (7,123 words; Time: 23m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
The Mouth of the Oyster, by Adam-Troy Castro and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
(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
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