Heavy Possessions by Seoung Kim (Strange Horizons; Issue: 2 May 2022)
Short Stories was on break last month, and to get back into the swing of things I read Seoung Kim’s Heavy Possessions. I liked the style the story was written in. The narrative felt a little detached—or at a distance. But it worked well with the contents of the story. It was about a ghost, a digital medium, and reflection. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Magical Girl Burnout Bingo by Lauren Ring (Lightspeed Magazine; Issue 144: May 2022)
The second story I read was Magical Girl Burnout Bingo. When I first saw the title, I knew this one was going to be something I would make a point of reading in May. I liked this story a lot. It’s kind of like a chosen one (magical girl) story with a twist—plus a side of burnout. It poses the question of what if that whole scenario goes wrong, and what happens to that person afterwards. This one was great!
This Village by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny Magazine; Issue Forty-Six)
The next story I read was a piece of flash fiction, This Village by Eugenia Triantafyllou. I’m a sucker for fiction that reads like a fairy tale, and that’s exactly what This Village is. Candy and pastry coated descriptions make up the invitation, which also hints at an underlying darkness surrounding the titular village. It’s there for those who need it. And if you don’t, watch out. This Village was a short but thoroughly engaging story.
From around the web…
- You Are the Hero: Learning Storytelling From Video Games [Sarah Maria Griffin; Tor.com, April 8, 2022]
- Print Run Podcast Episode # 149: Critique, Awards, and Subjectivity
- Understanding Horses: Changing Season [Judith Tarr; Tor.com, April 4, 2022]
- Our Opinions Are Correct Episode # 106: Waking Up From The Illusion Of Change
- Print Run Podcast Episode #150: No Thoughts Just Toucans
