Simmered in Their Wealth Like the Richest of Sauces by Jo Miles (Lightspeed Magazine; September 2023; Issue 160)
Simmered in Their Wealth Like the Richest of Sauces by Jo Miles is the kind of fantasy story with a somewhat nested narrative that was also heavy with social commentary. Told from the perspective of a dragon, the subject was capitalism with a focus on the greed of the rich. It was essentially epitomized by the character named Dennis Knight, who had seemingly done everything—from game hunting, to deep sea diving, and even space flight. But this was a story about greed, he wanted more and more and more, and you can pretty much guess what kind of consequences are going to happen. But, generally, this was a good story and one I enjoyed. The choice of narrator was excellent, especially with the dragon’s analogies about Dennis Knight and how greed is greed no matter if it’s the medieval age or the present.
The Tale of Clancy the Scrivener by Ramsey Shehadeh (Tor.com; September 20, 2023)
The next one I checked out was The Tale of Clancy the Scrivener by Ramsey Shehadeh, a short story set in a post-apocalyptic society with a touch of horror via a plague with strange (almost fantasy-esque) effects. It’s been a while since I’ve read anything from this particular genre, but I enjoyed so much about it. The narrator was the titular Clancy. I liked his perspective for his frequent moments of reminiscing—about a world lost to the apocalypse—as well as his job at the scriptorium and his interactions with Pricilla, an orphan. The society he lived in was a strict and relatively dangerous one—i.e. the harsh punishment for infractions and what was expected to be recorded by the scribes and what was to be excluded—which is fairly typical for dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories. However, I liked the author’s approach to it. And what was a highlight was how much of the story was permeated by this a strange and horrifying atmosphere, between moments that felt very day-to-day with pop culture references.
Met Swallow by Cassandra Khaw (The Book of Witches edited by Jonathan Strahan and illustrated by Alyssa Winans)
I’ve seen Cassandra Khaw’s writings around for some years now, but I never got to those stories. So when I saw Met Swallow in the table of contents, I was very excited to see what it would be like. Met Swallow is a horror-tinged short story about a fox inhabiting the skin (and the life) of a deceased witch named Amaranth. This was quite an intense little tale with a number of smart reveals and details about the life the fox had stepped into. From the beginning to the very last word, there was an underlying horror to the whole thing. All-in-all, it was a very good story.
The Nine Jars of Nukulu by Tobi Ogundiran (The Book of Witches edited by Jonathan Strahan and illustrated by Alyssa Winans )
I liked The Nine Jars of Nukulu just as much as Met Swallow. This one also had some horror imagery. At its core, though, it was a about a father and daughter as well as about the lengths someone would go to obtain power regardless of who was betrayed or hurt in the process. Sura’s perspective was full of moments of unease, and the ending brought a satisfying conclusion to the various aspects of The Nine Jars of Nukulu.
From around the web…
- Why Fanzines Now? [Christopher J Garcia; Uncanny Magazine Issue Fifty-Four]
- Interview with Author Lyndsie Manusos [Marissa van Uden; Apex Magazine; September 7, 2023]
- Experiences: On Not Being Creative Enough to Be Creative [Dana Cameron; Apex Magazine; September 14, 2023]
- Finding Magic in the Unexpected: The Fictional Worlds of Emma Bull [Jonathan Thornton; Tor.com; September 27, 2023]
