Today over on SF Signal I review the latest issue of Clarkesworld Magazine, and it is a good one. It features three original and two reprint works of science fiction, all very accessible to readers. The first story, “The Urashima Effect” by E. Lily Yu, is a particularly poignant story that feels as if it is in the same wheelhouse as Ken Liu’s “Mono no Aware” which we will be discussing in detail here this Sunday (don’t miss out!). Jacob Clifton’s “This is Why We Jump” was written for author Cathrynne M. Valente. If you have read Valente’s work you will see her inspiration in Clifton’s language.

All 5 stories are available free online and the two mentioned above are currently available in audio podcast on the Clarkesworld site as well. Head over to SF Signal to check out my full review.

Hope everyone has a good weekend ahead. I start the summer running season with a short 2.8 mile Summer Intro run sponsored by the Trail Nerds tomorrow morning. I’m being joined by my friend and web guru, James, who is participating in his first race! I am giddily excited about this, the first of three weekends in a row where I will be doing runs. Hope to see you Sunday for a discussion of “Mono no aware”.

This week’s Short Fiction Friday is a review of the latest issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine, on shelves now.  I was thrilled to see the cover of this month’s issue, part of a larger work by a digital artist whose work I’ve admired for several years, Melonie Delon. I highly encourage a visit to her website to see more of her work, including the full version of this image.

As sometimes happens, the stars align just so and the content matches the richness and depth of the cover art and that is the case with this issue of Asimov’s. The novelettes and short stories in particular are varied, interesting and ultimately satisfying with characters that draw you in and stories that provide intrigue without head-scratching sf mumbo-jumbo.

Please head over and check out my review at SF Signal, and let me know what you think.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

(Image Credit)

(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 →