Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue, by Charlie Jane Anders

[Boston Review]

★★★★☆ Thought-Provoking but Exciting Too

(Dystopia) In a near-future ruled by conservatives, an organization called “Love and Dignity for Everyone,” kidnaps Rachael in order to “fix” her. But she doesn’t want to be “fixed.” (7,410 words; Time: 24m)

Recommended By: GDozois+1 RHorton+2 JStrahan+2

The Hunger After You're Fed, by James S.A. Corey

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(Near-Future SF) In a world where everyone has basic income, a secretive writer speaks to a generation that struggles to make their comfortable lives meaningful. (3,763 words; Time: 12m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Sidewalks, by Maureen F. McHugh

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(SF) Dr. Rosni Gupta examines Malni, a woman who’s institutionalized because she speaks gibberish. She’s sure it’s just another language, but what could it be? (5,789 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Forever Night, by Dana Beehr

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(Dark Fantasy) Her grandmother stopped the darkness at great price, so when Elseir comes to Tomas’s village, he’s eager to help her in her new quest. Whatever it is. (7,007 words; Time: 23m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Sasabonsam, by Tara Campbell

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(African Folklore Horror) In the darkness, a Sasabonsam hangs from a tree waiting for suitable victims to walk underneath. You shouldn’t go out alone. (1,794 words; Time: 05m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Chilling but Satisfying

Night Shift, by Eileen Gunn

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(SF Exploration) Sina works with AI nanobots in space, processing small asteroids into raw materials. She likes the AI and considers him her friend—which means she’s not watching as closely as she’s supposed to be. (5,959 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Use of Things, by Ramez Naam

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(Hard SF) Ryan’s the only person on a prospecting mission to an asteroid, so when he gets knocked loose, there’s no one he can call for help. (4,569 words; Time: 15m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Mozart on the Kalahari, by Steven Barnes

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(SF Adventure) Meek dreams of visiting a luxury space station, but a black teen living in poverty hasn’t got much chance of that—until a science contest offers him the chance of a free trip to it. (5,780 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Uneven

Vanguard 2.0, by Carter Scholz

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(Hard SF) In the early 2030s, Sergei works for Uber collecting trash in low-Earth orbit. He’s surprised when Uber’s boss comes up and has a special mission for him. (5,907 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Museum Piece, by J.D. Popham

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(SF Adventure) The last robot in the solar system uses his creator’s death as an excuse to escape from the museum he’s been imprisoned in for forty years. (5,999 words; Time: 19m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Edge of Things, by Katharine E.K. Duckett

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(Alternate Reality) The narrator wakes up every day to an endless party in an infinite house that seems to have replaced the whole world. She’d like to get out, but she can’t even remember her own name. (6,585 words; Time: 21m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Behind Her, Trailing Like Butterfly Wings, by Daniela Tomova

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(Apocalypse) Space-time anomalies are destroying the world. Some survivors live in “oases,” which are mostly protected but other walk the road following a mysterious woman. Mallow interviews a roadie to find out why. (6,300 words; Time: 21m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Signal, by John Lanchester

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(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

The Sacrifice of the Hanged Monkey, by Minsoo Kang

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(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

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(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

Landmark, by Cassandra Khaw

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(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

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(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

Crossing LaSalle, by Lettie Prell

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(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

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(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

You Will Never Know What Opens, by Mari Ness

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(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