THE WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY Katherine Arden The Winternight Trilogy, which includes The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and The Winter of the Witch, is one of those rare beasts where each installment is as glorious as the last. The story revolves around Vasilisa, or Vasya, who is born as the youngest child … More Recommended Books: THE WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY by Katherine Arden
My two recommended stories this week are serious in tone, centering on a woman who has been subjugated by a system and the men who run it. COTTONMOUTH by Joelle Wellington is one of those powerful stories that have you on the edge of your seat, waiting, waiting for what’s to come. It tells the … More Recommended Short Fiction: COTTONMOUTH by Joelle Wellington & PROPHECY GIRLS by Sydney Paige Guerrero
Two stories about finding a perfect fit, one with a transformation into a fish and the other about finding new homes for a dying people. A MINNOW, OR PERHAPS A COLOSSAL SQUID by Carlos Hernandez & C S E Cooney is written in a partially experimental style, alternating between excerpts and letters in the perspective … More Recommended Short Fiction: A STRANGER GOES ASHORE by Adam R Shannon & A MINNOW, OR PERHAPS A COLOSSAL SQUID by Carlos Hernandez & C S E Cooney
These two stories both center on difficult choices that can’t be undone. THE FALLING by M V Melcer is a science-fiction tale about a girl living on ringed spaceship where people live on specific numbered rings depending on their usefulness and capability. This story documents her life as she discovers her passion, her calling, and … More Recommended Short Fiction: THE FALLING by M V Melcer & TIL HUMAN VOICES WAKE US by Jennifer Hudak
FUGITIVE TELEMETRY by Martha Wells Murderbot graces my recommendations yet again! Fugitive Telemetry is the sixth installment and fifth novella featuring Murderbot, an android with a penchant for vid dramas who would really rather be doing anything other than work. In this story, taking place before the novel Network Effect, but after the other four … More Recommended Book: FUGITIVE TELEMETRY by Martha Wells
Two humorous stories told in experimental ways, both dealing with themes on freedom. A GUIDE FOR WORKING BREEDS by Vina Jie-Min Prased is a delightful story told in DM/Text/Notification bits between a couple of robots, one having to mentor the other. There are dogs and killings and love and…you just really need to read it … More Recommended Short Fiction: A GUIDE FOR WORKING BREEDS by Vina Jie-Min Prased & HOW TO SAFELY ENGAGE IN TELEPATHY WITH THE DOLPHINS OF OCEAN PARADISE by Elizabeth Cobbe
Marie Croke 