(Illustration for story created by Scott Brundage)

Last week I chose a story for us to read that I had not yet read myself, the first such experiment in this brief run of Sunday short story discussions. Author Rachel Swirsky had suggested “On 20468 Petercook” had a P.G. Wodehouse flavor and that alone made me want to give it a read.

I certainly got that vibe as I read the story, a slight and humorous one about two men stationed together out in space with a very specific mission. It is a short read, mostly dialogue, and one particularly enjoyable for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I hope you’ll give it a read (link here) and share your thoughts.

Continue reading “On 20468 Petercook” by Andy Duncan →

Thanks for joining me for this Sunday’s short story selection. “Robot” by Helena Bell is one of the stories nominated for this year’s Nebula Award. The story was featured in the September 2012 issue of Clarkesworld and along with “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard is one of my favorite picks for the award. When I first reviewed the story for SF Signal I wrote:

“Bell’s story is constructed as a conversation in which the reader sees only one side, that of an older woman as she instructs the alien robot purchased to process the diseased flesh of her feet and legs. Or perhaps it is not a “conversation” at all but instead a running commentary that may be occurring aloud or simply within the mind of the protagonist. The story is brilliantly conceived and executed in that it conveys a sense of the passage of time, reveals much about the protagonist’s past and present, paints a picture for the reader of what the world looks like in the future that Helena Bell has created and offers layers of meaning all while maintaining this deceptively simple structure. The horrifying nature of the procedure this woman is undergoing is ever present while her litany of instructions as to how this being must act shows a wide range of emotions that she is undergoing, the stages of grief on display as well as evidence of the first signs of dementia. The one-sided structure of the story lends an air of suspicion that makes the reader question what is real and what is imagination with Bell leaving bread crumbs to lead one down either path.”

And that is about all I want to share with those who have not read the story. This morning’s reading, in preparation for the discussion to follow, is my third and I was startled with the things that caught my eye with this reading as opposed to the previous two. It speaks to the strengths of the story that it reveals so much outside of the very narrow focus of the protagonist and what is occurring in her life.

Take a few minutes to give “Robot” a read and then come and share your thoughts.

Continue reading “Robot” by Helena Bell →

It is once again Friday, and that means I’ve been reading some of the latest short fiction offerings in Science Fiction and Fantasy in order to bring them to your attention, dear readers. Due to some time constraints this week I had to switch things up and so instead of part two of the latest issue of Asimov’s I read the original fiction selections from the latest edition of Clarkesworld.

These three stories are wonderfully weird and certainly out of the science fiction norm. If you are looking for something that challenges your definitions of science fiction then head over and check out my review on SF Signal. All three stories are up for free reading on the Clarkesworld site and the links are in my non-spoiler reviews.

Have a wonderful April weekend everyone! Get outside and enjoy the Spring weather, if you’ve got it, and don’t forget to make time for journeying into world’s fantastic and wonderful.

I’m off tomorrow to see Wil Wheaton at Kansas City’s Planet Comicon!