“I have always loved playing around with words. I
didn’t know it was called poetry. I was just an innocent kid messing
around with words.”
—Benjamin Zephaniah, 1958–2023
—Benjamin Zephaniah, 1958–2023
Issue 2024.68
![[ Issue 2024.68; Cover art © 2024 Cécile Matthey ]](http://futurefire.net/images/f68cover.jpg "[ Issue 2024.68; Cover art © 2024 Cécile Matthey ]")
Short stories
- ‘The Rose Sisterhood’, Susan Taitel - art by Fluffgar
- ‘Escape Choice’, Emma Burnett - art by Cécile Matthey
- ‘A Witch, a Wakening’, Laura Blackwell - art by Sarah Salcedo
Novelettes
- ‘The Ensanguined Shore’, Jennifer R. Donohue - art by Sebastian Timpe
Poetry
- ‘Bone Planet’, Petra Kuppers - art by Toeken
- ‘Homunculi of Creation’, Avra Margariti - art by Melkorka
6 comments:
Alex Brown in Reactor Magazine (formerly Tor.com) highlight's Emma Burnett's “Escape Choice” as one of several must read speculative short stories in January. They recognize the experiences of the neurodivergent protagonist, and his growth to better articulate his boundaries and resist the lack of understanding from others. This sharp review helped me read the story, even.
The Rose Sisterhood -wonderful take on that tale.
The Rose Sisterhood - there are often feminist takes on the story. This one is quite original, even as it is kin to Tanith Lee's "when The Clock Strikes."
"The Rose Sisterhood"- there are often feminist takes on this tale, but this version is original and suspenseful. It is kin to Tanith Lee's "When The Clock Strikes."
Over at Frivolous Comma, a review of Emma Burnett’s “Escape Choice” has a different reading of the story (and multiple readings are good), concluding “I highly recommend this quick read. It was insightful and enjoyable.”
I just read ‘The Ensanguined Shore’, and what a tidy bit of both worldbuilding and revisitation wrapped up in such a tiny package. The harpies fascinate me, and the military tropes provide a comfortable (but not overfamiliar) ground from which to face this new world. I'm looking forward to when I can read this author's longer works (it's a budgeting thing).
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