Rabbit Test

by Samantha Mills

Short story that appeared in issue 49 of Uncanny Magazine.
Winner Best Short Story Nebula Award 2023
Winner Best Short Science Fiction Sturgeon Award 2023
Winner Best Short Story Locus Award 2023

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

26 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[John Wiswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've only read "Rabbit Test," you aren't prepared for the amazing journey Mills is about to take your on. Her stories are equally trenchant and humane. And if you haven't read "Rabbit Test," what are you waiting for?

I received an ARC from Tachyon, or else I would've just bought this book myself. I'm probably going to pick up a couple of copies just to give to friends.

[Abolfazl Nasri · Rating 4 out of 5]

دوازدهمین داستان از مجموعه داستان کوتاه بی‌کران:
داستان آزمایش خرگوش اثری رادیکال، تلخ و چندلایه است؛ متنی که با هوشمندی میان گذشته و آینده رفت‌و‌برگشت می‌کند تا نشان دهد کنترل بدن زنان، از قرن‌ها پیش تا آینده‌ی دور، در اشکال گوناگون تکرار شده است. روایت پر از جزئیات تاریخی است — از آزمایش‌های حیوانی اوایل قرن بیستم تا فناوری‌های نظارتی قرن بیست‌ودوم — و همین پیوند میان علم، تاریخ و اخلاق، آن را از یک داستان معمولی فراتر می‌برد.

در عین حال، اثر صریح و بی‌پرده است، گاهی تا مرز شعار و گاهی چنان گزنده که مخاطب را به چالش می‌کشد. من با برخی نگاه‌های ایدئولوژیک داستان هم‌دل نیستم و در بخش‌هایی حس کردم متن می‌خواهد موضع خاصی را به من تحمیل کند، اما نمی‌توان انکار کرد که نویسنده مهارت شگفت‌انگیزی در روایت تاریخی-اجتماعی دارد و توانسته از دل یک مسئله‌ی زیستی، گفت‌وگویی عمیق درباره‌ی اختیار، قدرت و بدن شکل دهد.

[Kate Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art of short story writing is to make the reader feel as connected to the character, place, and plot as if they were reading a novel length story. Samantha Mills exceeds expectations in this area, and I will be on the lookout for everything and anything written by her in the future.

From stories about a time-traveling fisherwoman, a love story involving Death, bodily autonomy, to a rock-and-roll legend squaring off against a town full of devils, Mills transports you to another world, or another version of our world, in which you find yourself right at home. Each story drew me in, no matter how outlandish the story might seem, it is grounded in reality and compassion for the characters. I highly recommend this to fans of science fiction, short stories, or moral dilemmas.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

[Nereis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really strong collection of short stories blending fantasy and science fiction, sometimes inside the same story. Most of them revolve around themes of family and bodily autonomy. The writing is easy to follow even if she likes to jump around time a lot in a few of the stories, I still found myself pretty grounded and never lost.

It's hard to choose a favourite one because I truly believe they were all very good. I think I have a soft spot for Strange Waters, the story about the time lost fisherwoman.
But honestly they all have their qualities : The Death of the God-King is great fantasy and made me want to read a whole book about it, I loved how the timelines were intertwined in Rabbit Test, 10 Visions of the Future has such an compelling argument, Four of Seven is such a personal and relatable story and you really feel for the main character, Laugh Lines is flash fiction and yet its impact is impeccable, Kiki Hernandez is for the ones who want a bit of fun and punk rock (definitely a different tone than the other stories), and Anchorage was fascinating and I could once more read a whole book about the world and crew (reminded me a bit of the Wayfarers series).

It's always hard for me to write a long positive review because I just enjoyed myself and loved the concepts explored here and I don't really know how to delve into that. So just know it's good, it covers different genre of SFF, and it's not that long. You should check it out.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this collection.

[Jenessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a short story about abortion. Can be read here: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/artic...

[Tracey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty much every story in Rabbit Test and Other Stories punched me in the feels. In the first part of each story, I was getting the lay of the land, following the path so expertly laid out by Mills. I trusted this writer to lead me, as a reader. And by the end of each story, I was either in tears, or needed to “take a moment” to breathe.

Below are some of my highlights, but every story is magnificent.

Strange Waters is a gorgeous but harrowing story of a mother traveling through time to get back to her children. Equally heart-wrenching is Adriana in Pomegranate; the way Mills unveils the relationship between the main characters in this story is absolutely masterful.

I somehow missed the multi award-winning title story, Rabbit Test, when it was initially published in Uncanny magazine. As an avid reader of short stories, I’m not sure I can ever forgive myself for this. But it is a story regarding how abortion access has never been easy, and in certain parts of the US, may never be easy. In 2026, the last lines of the story still ring depressingly true:
”It is 2022 and it isn’t over.
It is 2022 and it is never over.”

A Shadow is a Memory of a Ghost (what a title!) tells the story of two sisters, one of which has inherited the family duty of “care of souls unwilling to cross over to the next side”. 10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days includes ten nightmare scenarios concerning an open hellgate off the coast of California, and the ways in which a couple cope. It contains my favorite description of an eldritch beast: “An elephant-sized spider with mouths for eyes…” Amazing.

When I finished reading Spindles, I literally yelled “STOP!” To an empty room. Eight-year-old Callisto, and her bear companion, Babo, try to navigate the world amidst an alien invasion. My heart could not take it.

Hopefully by now, you’re curious enough to pick up this collection. I cannot believe this is Mills’ debut collection; it is such an accomplished piece of work, and so full of heart.

[Patricia notonlyreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escalofriante por lo realista.
Muy recomendable.

[Durval Menezes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really science fiction, but fantasy -- so I'm not sure why it was a Hugo Awards winner.

But it's a great, poignant tale just the same. Recommended to everyone, and it's freely available to read directly from the website of the magazine that first published it: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/artic...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so bleak and depressing

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard read for so few pages. It really drove home that the there will always be a fight for female autonomy.

[DarkPlotsAndLipGloss (Carlie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A collection of thought provoking short stories that I am currently obsessed with! Some stories were just okay, but others were absolutely mesmerizing. My favorites are "Strange Waters", "Spindles", The Death of the God-King", "Anchorage", and "A Shadow Is a Memory of a Ghost". (I would absolutely read a full length novel on these!)

Quiet devastation. Maximum impact. No notes.

Thank you NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for this ARC.

[Venneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic collection of short stories from Ms. Mills, including the title story that won the Nebula, Hugo, and Locus for short stories that was a response to the overturn of Roe v Wade. There are also some amazing fantasy and sci-fi stories here as well, and was just a great collection to wrap the year with. Pick this up in the current Barnes and Noble preorder sale to help drive up sales!

[ROLLAND Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong women, revolting against their fate.
Magic and witchcraft.
SF and fantasy, sometimes woven together in the same story.
Circular time, blurred timelines.
Characters getting lost at sea to find themselves.

Samantha Mills knows how to pack a punch. The Rabbit Test and Other Stories is an enjoyable collection of very different stories. The author experiments with different genres and styles, which can be disconcerting. Careful sense of detail is infused in every story, painting rich universes and providing universal lessons.

The star of the collection, award-winning story The Rabbit Test, left me completely out of breath. I had to pause, stop reading, and do something else. Wow. The collection is worth five stars, for that story alone. It's no wonder that it won the Hugo award.

But that's not all. Samantha Mills describes advanced chips forcing pregnancy tests on teenagers, and in the next story, we explore towers with child sized cages and witchcraft. As you start each story, you have no idea what you will find. Style, time, pace, ambience - this is an exhilarating mix and match. It almost feels like Samantha Mills, following the power she grants her characters, loudly claims "I am the author, I call the shots, I make the rules". And it works.

In a totally different medium, there are parallels between this collection and the video games series The Longest Journey. Fantasy / magic and SF / high tech can totally coexist in the same works of fiction. Below the surface, it is about tools. What they can and can't do. How they transform the world, and the lives of the characters. What leverage looks like when placed in the wrong hands. Magic, tech, witchcraft - just a different toolbox. Enjoy the ride, this one is a rollercoaster.

Thank you NetGalley and Tachyon publishing for an excellent collection of stories. Thank you Samantha Mills for opening the Pandora's box so many times. I feel like most of those stories could lead to novels I would read. Beautiful work.

[Meg Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story follows many women both from the past as well as the future finding out they’re pregnant and the emotions that come with the news. Some women want to make the personal decision to get an abortion; while others are forced to keep the pregannt viable; and others want the baby.

Despite “The Rabbit Test” being a short story, many heavy and difficult themes are tackled such as the lack of privacy in the reproductive choices of women, the uncertainty of the futures of women when faced with a big life decision, and the roles religion as well as men themselves play into the lives of women.

I enjoyed the jumping of timelines between past, future and present as it showed how women having personal autonomy over their bodies has always been a controversial issue, is still a controversial issue, and will continue to be a controversial issue. This story was trying to explore that notion the bodily autonomy shouldn’t be some controversial issue, as every woman, regardless of their background or religion or world view, should always have the right to choose what they do with their bodies.

Overall, this was an impactful and timeless short story—many of its themes still hold up today, especially in an age of the overturn of Roe v Wade.

[Raquel Nebje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué pasada de relato.
Hace un repaso a lo largo de la historia del sentimiento de incertidumbre ante la duda de si se está embarazada o no: qué haces con el embarazo, continuas o no; cómo va a cambiar tu vida; cómo hacerle frente. Cada una de las escenas en los diferentes siglos son buenísimas.

Además, en el relato, acompañas a Grace mientras vive en un futuro en el que abortar está prohibido y tiene que asumir las consecuencias de ciertas decisiones que irá tomando.

Es un relato que hace rabiar.

«Es el año 2022 y esto no ha acabado. Es el año 2022 y nunca se acaba».

[Oliver Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Mills writes with the force of a supernova in this collection. Rabbit Test is not merely a collection of competent stories; it is a stunning mix of science fiction and fantasy, exploring the most intimate, urgent, and timeless facets of the human condition: memory, power, agency, and resistance.

The titular story, Rabbit Test, is a standout must read for its powerful and important message, woven into a narrative that time-hops through the brutal history of policing women's bodies. It is an essential and masterfully executed read; the kind of story that leaves a permanent mark on a reader’s conscience.

Despite this, my personal favourite story of the collection was Strange Waters, a tale that left me wishing Mills had written an entire series set in its universe. It’s a longing I felt throughout the rest of the book and still feel now, a few days later.

Unusually for a short story collection, there was no bad story here for me. A few landed as more middling, perfectly readable but somewhat forgettable compared to the exceptional work that surrounds them. The overall hit rate, however, is remarkably high.


Overall, this is a strong recommendation for the entire collection and an absolute must read for Rabbit Test alone.

I would go so far as to say I believe it should be required reading.

A big thank you to Tachyon Publications and Netgalley for providing this book for early review, all opinions are my own. #RabbitTestandOtherStories #NetGalley

[The Speculative Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse array of stories, each engaging and lively, brimming with heart and an urgent sense of purpose. In “Strange Waters,” a fisherwoman is lost to time. The currents sweep her centuries beyond her known present day. She seeks out new “timestreams” that might return her to what she understands as the present, while her arrivals and departures create ripples across time.

“Laugh Lines” is a lean tale about a translucent rabbit-baby, adopted by a spider-mother, which examines adoption and disability advocacy. “The Limits of Magic” explores, well, the limits of magic. It’s a beautifully constructed high fantasy about a woman bearing the weight of expectation amidst the tumult of war.

Samantha Mills’s stories run the gamut of SFF genres and subgenres. Not every story worked or kept me fully hooked, but the ones that did were truly fantastic.

Favorite stories: “Strange Waters,” “Rabbit Test,” “The Limits of Magic”

My thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[Mohan Morusupalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One generation’s fight to choose their partners is fueling the fight to choose the size of their families"

Samantha Mills crafts a poignant and powerful narrative that seamlessly intertwines the personal and the political, exposing the ongoing struggles surrounding bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Rabbit Test boldly confronts issues of control, silence, and the generational impact of laws designed to govern private choices.

The Hugo Award-winning short story follows multiple women across time as they navigate fear, uncertainty, and the fight to reclaim agency over their bodies. For anyone who has ever felt their voice dismissed or their choices questioned, Mills captures the raw emotional truth of resisting systems designed to silence and suppress.

Mills reminds us that our stories—especially the difficult ones—deserve to be heard. Silence is not a neutral force; it erases lived experiences and allows oppression to thrive unchecked. But by breaking that silence, we reclaim our humanity and demand a future where no one is denied the right to choose their own path.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinceramente, al leer su comienzo pensé que no me gustaría nada a pesar que el tema que trata es tan importante y tengo una opinión tan clara sobre el mismo.

Aquí se nos cuenta la historia de una chica llamada Grace pero, a la vez, se van intercalando pequeños textos de otras mujeres en su misma situación en diversas épocas a lo largo de la historia y esa mezcla fue la que, en un principio, no me convenció pero que, finalmente, terminó encantándome.

Este relato ha conseguido hacerme llorar y es que es muy real lo que en el mismo se nos narra a pesar de estar ambientado en el futuro. Aquí se nos deja muy claro que la historia es cíclica, que los derechos que hoy tenemos, mañana se pueden perder y que estos retrocesos afectan, sobre todo, a nuestros derechos, a los derechos de las mujeres.

Su lectura ha sido muy dolorosa pero, a la vez, nos tiene que servir como advertencia ya que aún estamos a tiempo de frenar ciertos movimientos retrógrados donde se nos infantiliza y donde un grupo de señoros se creen con la potestad para legislar sobre nuestros cuerpos.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Overall, I was disappointed with this. This was my last try at being a short story girlie...and it failed. I want to give this a 2/5, but that could be a me issue.

Story 1. Nothing happens. Just the definition of a god-king.
Story 2. Had a plot but no point.
Sotry 3. Nothing happens. There's a diary.
Story 4. Leave the rabbits alone!
Story 5. More interesting than the others. But second person reads so awkwardly.
Story 6. Cult.
Story 7. Aliens.
Story 8. More aliens, but zero context.
Story 9. Trying too hard to seem casual.
Story 10. No strong thoughts (in a good way).
Story 11. Choppy.
Story 12. Choppy.

I really did not care for this author's writing style AT ALL. It was so choppy and flat and awkward. There was no personality or flow to it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These sci fi stories were exactly what I was hoping for—they range from a fisherwoman who is stuck between times and jumps in and out of a time stream to a spaceship crew on its way to represent Earth to aliens. The titular story is definitely the highlight of the collection, fusing sci fi and history to tell a story about bodily autonomy and how long we’ve been fighting for it.

Not every story was a knock-out, but the collection was consistently clever, engaging, and creative. It touches a lot on family dynamics, parent-child relationships and women’s autonomy. I could not recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rare to read a piece so opinionated that had to little to say, with subtlety of prose comparable to a jackhammer.

Should've been an essay, and frankly it was halfway there. All tell, no show. Message definitely worth being said, but the major theme was fairly clear one page in and the text just kept rolling.

[Marcos Alonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es difícil hilar tan bien un texto que trata de hacer un repaso sobre el aborto a lo largo de la historia a través de historias personales, ficticias y reales. Este relato lo consigue con creces. Es muy explícita en su mensaje, deja poco a la imaginación, pero lo veo algo más que entendible dado también el contexto en el que se publica. Muy interesante de leer

[Luiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story about abortion in the near future has a timely and important message. It is powerfully written, delivering a gut punch similar to The Handmaiden's Tale. I particularly liked how the author interwove the story taking place in the future with anecdotes from the history of contraceptives and abortion, making it both informative and a warning.

[Nayade_marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivimos mirando una bomba de relojería mientras se llevan uno a uno nuestros derechos. Ya pasó antes y está pasando ahora.

El test de la coneja, con su aplicación y su control, podría ser nuestro futuro.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely learnt a lot from this but I think this would’ve worked much better as an essay or a piece of creative nonfiction. The characters and prose were nowhere near as compelling as the historical interludes.

Also, as always, I randomly reviewed a translated version because for some reason many English short stories only have their translated equivalents up on goodreads.

[Sacbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Excelente forma de contar cómo las mujeres de todas las épocas se enfrentan a los embarazos no deseados, siendo las únicas que enfrentan las consecuencias de morir o vivir encarceladas en una sociedad que hace ilegal la decisión sobre sus cuerpos.

[Bunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

My word, what a beautifully written heartbreak of a story and history that is fully non-fiction folded in a blanket of fiction to make sure it is read, heard, and understood. **Written while Sobbing**

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is 2022 and it isn’t over.

It is 2022 and it is never over.”

A stunningly woven story with such an important message. History, scifi, feelings, consequences, everything in less than 10,000 words. A real gut punch.

[Jackson Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understand why this short story on abortion across time won the below awards.

AWARD HONORS: HUGO AWARD WINNER- BEST SHORT STORY, LOCUS AWARD WINNER- BEST SHORT STORY, NEBULA AWARD WINNER- BEST SHORT STORY, THEODORE STURGEON MEMORIAL AWARD WINNER