Marbles, by Sean Monaghan

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(SF Drama; Shilinka Switalla) Gabrielle has fallen behind on her task of finding a location for Shilinka Switalla’s next big art installation, so when the famous artist turns up, she’s sure she’s going to be fired. But Shilinka has something else in mind. (10,147 words; Time: 33m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

The Voice, by Bruce McAllister

[Asimov's]

★★★★☆ A nice guy with a hard choice in a difficult position.

(SF Thriller; DreamPet) Jude knows his company is secretly selling engineered animals that were meant to be disposed of. He needs more proof to go public, but meanwhile one of the creations is invading his mind. (4,988 words; Time: 16m)

Pax Mongolica, by Evan Marcroft

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Alternate History Fantasy) In a world where the Mongol Empire never fell, and Egyptian college boy meets a Polish girl at a zoo where all the old gods are held captive. (4,527 words; Time: 15m)

Brave New World by Oscar Wilde, by Ian Watson

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Time Travel) A pair of researchers goes to 1897 to rescue Oscar Wilde before he dies and bring him back to 2050. (3,726 words; Time: 12m)

Digital Witness, by Dominica Phetteplace

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Digital Dystopia) Alma makes a good living from data mining, but she’s not content with her much-younger girlfriend, and besides that, someone is sending her death threats. (4,739 words; Time: 15m)

Ithaca, by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Medical SF) When Wayne inherits the family fortune, he learns millions have been spent to provide dreams to his sister who’s been in a coma 20 years. Before he pulls the plug, he goes to check it out. (6,084 words; Time: 20m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+2 (Q&A)

The River, by Alice Towey

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(SF Drama) Imani got the implant so she could do her job better, but now the job is taking over her whole life. (6,184 words; Time: 20m)

Perfect Blue, by Tegan Moore

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Horror) Exiled to Hawaii due to “problems at school,” Gretchen struggles to hide the secret of the things growing in her flesh. (7,779 words; Time: 25m)

Against the Stars, by James Gunn

[Asimov's]

★★☆☆☆

(Fantasy Science; In Our Stars) A group of scientists and spiritual leaders gathers to discuss what to do about a hostile alien AI that might threaten the Earth or might not exist at all. (14,030 words; Time: 46m)

This story is a direct sequel to In Our Stars and will be hard to make sense of if you haven’t read that one first.

Ronni and Rod, by David Gerrold and Ctein

[Asimov's]

★★★★☆ Good, old-fashioned thrills, chills, and excitement

(Hard SF Disaster; Ripple Effect) A young San Diego couple face a megatsunami. (10,660 words; Time: 35m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

Although this is a part of a novel-length work, it stands alone very well.

The Mrs. Innocents, by Ian R. MacLeod

[Asimov's]

★★☆☆☆

(Alternate History) In which we visit an alternate 1940 where there were no world wars, and Europe enjoys peace and prosperity. (11,395 words; Time: 37m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

Tunnels, by Eleanor Arnason

[Asimov's]

★★★★☆ A great adventure in the dark.

(Space Opera Thriller; Lydia Duluth) Lydia’s visit to Innovation City on planet Grit is interrupted by an engineered virus that compels her to hide in the tunnels under the city. (17,343 words; Time: 57m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

This story is part of her Lydia Duluth series, but I had no trouble enjoying it without having read any of the other stories.

Living in Wartime, by R. Garcia y Robertson

[Asimov's]

★★☆☆☆

(Space Opera; The Family) Amanda may be a war hero, but she’s also a teenage girl, and she not only has to go back to school, she has to go to court, because the government doesn’t actually see her as a hero. (20,098 words; Time: 1h:06m)

You really need to read the rest of the series from the start to make much sense out of this story. There may be some benefit in listening to the song “Living in Wartime” before reading the story, inasmuch as the author claims it was an inspiration.

Tachyon Hearts Cannot Love, by Derek Künsken

[Asimov's]

★★☆☆☆

(Fantasy Science) A man tells his story of travelling the galaxy faster than light. (1,950 words; Time: 06m)

Return to the Red Castle, by Ray Nayler

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(SF Adventure) Years ago, Irem went to the stars, but the results were disappointing, and now she’s trying to settle back into an Istanbul grown strange to her. (7,171 words; Time: 23m)

So Long as We Both, by Tom Purdom

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(SF Drama) Jobarto wants a child, but Rebeka isn’t ready. He’s willing to wait, but, even though they’re immortal, he doesn’t want to wait forever. (5,044 words; Time: 16m)

Rena in the Desert, by Lia Swope Mitchell

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Apocalypse) In a broken USA, a woman fleeing oppression finds an automated hotel still operating in the middle of the desert. (5,981 words; Time: 19m)

Skin, by Garrett Ashley

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Slipstream) Foster and Bryce have a happy life until he starts bulging out of his skin, revealing that he’s really made of fungus. It upsets his friends, and it makes him question whether he really wants to be human. (4,938 words; Time: 16m)

A Summary of our Neighborhood's Salvation After the Storm, by Jason Sanford

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(SF Thriller) The salvation truck came by after the hurricane to upload people to virtual heaven or hell, but Alma’s determined to keep them away from her daughter. (5,307 words; Time: 17m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

Opportunity Space, by Nathan Hillstrom

[Asimov's]

★★★★★ Rich Setting, Cool Characters, Great Action!

(Space Opera) If Kova can convince the Washe to sign the agreement with the Fiscality, she’ll save their species from extinction and advance her career hugely, but they’re reluctant to sign, her ship is under attack, and there’s something really weird going on. (13,020 words; Time: 43m)