Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 117, February 2020

by John Joseph Adams (Editor), Victor LaValle (Contributor), Brenda Peynado (Contributor)

CONTENTS

Science Fiction Stories
"Ark of Light" by Victor LaValle
"How We Burn" by Brenda Peynado
"Dying Light" by Maria Romasco-Moore
"The Gamecocks" by JT Petty

Fantasy Stories
"Noah’s Raven" by Kij Johnson
"A Statement in the Case" by Theodora Goss
"Toxic Destinations" by Alexander Weinstein
"A Stranger at the Bochinche" by Daniel José Older

EXCERPTS
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Science Fiction

ebook

First published January 31, 2020

About the author

John Joseph Adams is the series editor of BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY. He is also the bestselling editor of many other anthologies, such as ROBOT UPRISINGS, DEAD MAN'S HAND, BRAVE NEW WORLDS,WASTELANDS, and THE LIVING DEAD. Recent and forthcoming books include WHAT THE #@&% IS THAT?, OPERATION ARCANA, PRESS START TO PLAY, LOOSED UPON THE WORLD, and THE APOCALYPSE TRIPTYCH (consisting of THE END IS NIGH, THE END IS NOW, and THE END HAS COME). Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been nominated nine times), is a seven-time World Fantasy Award finalist, and served as a judge for the 2015 National Book Award. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazines LIGHTSPEED and NIGHTMARE, and is a producer for Wired's THE GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY podcast. You can find him online at www.johnjosephadams.com and on Twitter @JohnJosephAdams.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

WELCOME TO DECEMBER PROJECT!

this explanation/intro will be posted before each day’s short story. scroll down to get to the story-review.

this is the FIFTH year of me doing a short story advent calendar as my december project. for those of you new to me or this endeavor, here’s the skinny: every day in december, i will be reading a short story that is 1) available free somewhere on internet, and 2) listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity. there will be links provided for those of you who like to read (or listen to) short stories for free, and also for those of you who have wildly overestimated how many books you can read in a year and are freaking out about not meeting your 2020 reading-challenge goals. i have been gathering links all year when tasty little tales have popped into my feed, but i will also accept additional suggestions, as long as they meet my aforementioned 1), 2) standards, because i have not compiled as many as usual this year.

IN ADDITION, this may be the last year i do this project since GR has already deleted the pages for several of the stories i've read in previous years without warning, leaving me with a bunch of missing reviews and broken links, which makes me feel shitty. because i don't have a lot of time to waste, i'm not going to bother writing much in the way of reviews for these, in case gr decides to scrap 'em again. 2020 has left me utterly wrung out and i apologize for what's left of me. i am doing my best.

DECEMBER 8: A STATEMENT IN THE CASE - THEODORA GOSS

YEAH, I KNOW WHAT I SAID! rule number 2/2 = "listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity," and this one is NOT, but you gotta break some rules to make an omelet. or something. and since i know there's a good chance many of these short story advent calendar reviews won't make it to adulthood, being gobbled and shat out by GR's birds of prey, i'm gonna read this theodora goss story because i like her and i want just one small moment of happiness, is that okay with you, 2020?

not my favorite of hers, but i regret breaking my own rules not at all. she's great, and she's story number eight, and that's enough of that rhyming stuff!

read it free here

DECEMBER 1: PG - COURTNEY SUMMERS
DECEMBER 2: THE JUMPING MONKEY HILL - CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
DECEMBER 3: ORIGIN STORY - T. KINGFISHER
DECEMBER 4: THE GREAT SILENCE - TED CHIANG
DECEMBER 5: A CLEAN SWEEP WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS
DECEMBER 6: BORED WORLD - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 7: VAMPIRE - ROBERT COOVER
DECEMBER 9: STET - SARAH GAILEY
DECEMBER 10: MARGOT'S ROOM: EMILY CARROLL
DECEMBER 11: HORROR STORY - CARMEN MARIA MACHADO
DECEMBER 12: TERRAIN - GENEVIEVE VALENTINE
DECEMBER 13: IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN - ZEN CHO
DECEMBER 14: GHOUL - GEORGE SAUNDERS
DECEMBER 15: DURING THE DANCE - MARK LAWRENCE
DECEMBER 16: CLEARING THE BONES - CELESTE NG
DECEMBER 17: THE WAITER'S WIFE - ZADIE SMITH
DECEMBER 18: DEMOLITION - FIONA MCFARLANE
DECEMBER 19: NO PERIOD - HARRY TURTLEDOVE
DECEMBER 20: DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE - GG
DECEMBER 21: RUB-A-DUB-DUB - TONY MILLIONAIRE
DECEMBER 22: HANSA AND GRETYL AND PIECE OF SHIT - REBECCA CURTIS
DECEMBER 23: BRIDESICLE - WILL MCINTOSH
DECEMBER 24: I, CTHULHU, OR, WHAT'S A TENTACLE-FACED THING LIKE ME DOING IN A SUNKEN CITY LIKE THIS (LATITUDE 47° 9' S, LONGITUDE 126° 43' W)? - NEIL GAIMAN
DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS TALE - MARK LAWRENCE
DECEMBER 26: THE MONSTERS OF HEAVEN - NATHAN BALLINGRUD
DECEMBER 27: TWO DREAMS ON TRAINS - ELIZABETH BEAR
DECEMBER 28: THE MARTIANS CLAIM CANADA - MARGARET ATWOOD
DECEMBER 29: UNDER THE WAVE - LAUREN GROFF
DECEMBER 30: MR. SALARY - SALLY ROONEY
DECEMBER 31: A/S/L - EMMA CLINE

come to my blog!

[Fiona Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for Toxic Destinations, by Alexander Weinstein.

Every one of us has strayed close enough to the edge to know there’s a world far from sunlight out there. And night reveals that all cities are Russian dolls, their center a hidden place which closes around us with morning.

A guidebook update to some of the darker corners of the unknown world; I absolutely loved this, and I'll be looking for more from this author.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This rating and review is only for the short story Noah's Raven by Kij Johnson that is found in this volume.

This is the third story I’ve read by this author and my least favorite of the bunch. One of her stories, Ponies, has still, years later, haunted me and resonated with me. Whereas this one and the other of hers I’ve read, The Cat Who Walked a Thousand Miles, were both very very “meh,” failing to provide me with a point and have not resonated with me at all.

This is kind of an alternate history of the Bible Story of Noah’s Ark, from the point of view of a raven that Noah sends out to find land. Like The Cat Who Walked A Thousand Miles, it is about the background and quest of an animal which must just not interest me very much. Unlike cats, I have a love and affinity for ravens and crows, but that still couldn’t make me interested. I thought this story was boring and dry and I just didn’t find myself invested. It is well written, but I needed something deeper that this one just did not supply.
2 stars.

If this seems like your gig though, you can find and read it for FREE here:
https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi...

Day twenty-four of my November challenge where I try to read one science fiction or fantasy short story a day.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing super exciting here.

The stories I liked the most were:

Originals:
How We Burn by Brenda Paynado - 3 - she is becoming someone I look forward to reading

Reprints:
Dying Light by Maria Romasco Moore - 3.5
A Statement in the Case by Theodora Goss - 3.5

[Rebecca Crunden]

Extinction can be as global as all, or as personal as me.

I listened to the audiobook version of Noah's Raven by Kij Johnson, which was definitely unexpected. It's a take on Noah's Ark that, for me, brought to mind Snowpiercer (for reasons I won't spoil, though I'm still like WHAT ). Johnson's writing is undeniably captivating and there were several lines in the story that really stood out for me.

Will be coming back to this issue to check out the rest of the stories, for sure.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for A Statement in the Case by Theodora Goss and 3.5 for Noah’s Raven by Kij Johnson, both heard on the Lightspeed podcast.

[bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ark of Light by Victor Lavalle: 3/5
How We Burn by Brenda Peynado: 2/5
Dying Light by Maria Romasco-Moore: 3/5
The Gamecocks by J.T. Petty: 1/5
Noah's Raven by Kij Johnson: 2/5
A Statement in the Case by Theodora Goss: 3/5
Toxic Destinations by Alexander Weinstein: 2/5
A Stranger at the Cochinche by Daniel José Older: 2/5

Average rating: 2.25, rounded to 2/5

[Eric Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science fiction

Ark of Light (Victor Lavalle) - a bit of micro-fiction about using sci-fi to escape. Political of you consider when it was written. Potentially timeless otherwise. I thought it was a great example of what you can do in just a few pages.

How We Burn (Brenda Peynado) - this short story immediately made me think of China’s One Child policy taken to the extreme. It does a great job of showing the burden of being the only child with many prior generations depending on you.

Dying Light (Maria Romasco-Moore) - I've read so many short stories and novels that take place on generation ships or cryo ships, but this one went to a creatively interesting place. Very good.

The Gamecocks (JT Petty) - As I’ve said so many times when reading these short stories, this one seems more relevant today than when it was written a few years ago. We seem closer than ever to automating vast swaths of the economy without a true concern for what this will do to the populace. I know humanity has survived many disruptive technologies, but that doesn't’ mean that the interim period isn’t hard on people.

—----

Fantasy

Noah's Raven (Kij Johnson) - I love what Johnson does here where we get to see the Noah’s Ark story from the point of view of one of the key animals from the story. Kij does such an amazing job with their stories, especially when animals are involved. I recommend this to anyone.

A statement in the case (Theodora Goss) - I was wondering for a long time where the fantasy would come into the story. I love how things slowly unfold and the narrator doubles back on himself. It’s done so well.

Toxic Destinations (Alexander Weinstein) - This is a companion piece to one I read a while back. Both are using travel as metaphors/analogies for life and emotion. Both are written extremely well. In the author interview, the author mentions they have a many more concepts to explore along the same vein. I’ll be happy to keep reading them.

A Stranger at the Bochinche (Daniel José Older) - Lovecraft meets steampunk meets early 1900s adventure novels. It's a ton of fun.

—---

Non-Fiction

Excerpt: The Unspoken Name - The first chapter was included and this story intrigued me enough that I added it to my TBR list.

Book Reviews: Mazes of Power, Finna, and Parable of the Sower the Graphic Novel adaptation.

Media Review: The videogame Control

Author Spotlight: Nino Cipri (author of Finna) - Discussions of Finna, capitalism, Unions, and so forth. A good discussion.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar experience to the previous month. Some good, some mediocre. Unfortunately nothing really mind-blowing this time like there was previously. "Gamecocks" was clever and topical, but could have used some work to be sure. I was thoroughly impressed with "A Statement in the Case", and am looking forward to reading more from Goss. I think the second installment of the "Lost Traveler's Guide" was more engaging than the first, and I like the direction it is being taken in.

Overall this magazine continues to be worthwhile. Exposure to new authors and new styles is valuable, and I have yet to come away from it feeling like my time has been wasted in any way.

[Michael Whiteman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ark Of Light - Victor LaValle ***
Well written as expected from LaValle with humour and some pathos but it's little more than a vignette so hard to latch onto more. 

How We Burn - Brenda Peynado ***
Teenage rebellion in a world people are attempting to preserve by reducing the population via a one child policy. The heightened importance of each child combined with the outnumbering older generations intensifies the usual pressures. The friendship group is well drawn but the trajectory of the story jars: initially the kids come across as immature (which is fine - they're kids!) but my sympathy for them grew just as they seemed to come to understand the adults' feelings and "grow up". 

Dying Light - Maria Romasco-Moore ****
Passengers on a colony ship are kept stimulated in a virtual environment for the length of the journey, but one woman's wife regrets coming and begins killing her "light" self over and over. Lovely exploration of the limits of compromise in a stressed relationship and some excellent passages of prose and imagery. 

The Gamecocks - JT Petty **
Drivers put out of work by autonomous trucks begin to take direct action against the company. Everything is well presented but the conflict for me was, as much as I sympathised with a worker impoverished by exploitative employers, I don't want a tragic backstory for a confederate flag waving dope protesting their own poor treatment by killing innocent people.
 
Noah's Raven - Kij Johnson ***
The ark experience from the POV of one of the ravens aboard. Focuses on all the species lost to lack of care and effort by Noah/humanity. Enjoyable enough, and some evocative passages. 

A Statement In The Case - Theodora Goss ***
An old man relays his evidence in the case of his neighbour's shop burning down. The narrator is distinctively drawn and the crotchety rambling brings humour to it. Keeps the focus on his character and impressions of the suspect rather than solving a mystery. 

Toxic Destinations - Alexander Weinstein ***
A counterpart to the "Joy" piece in the last issue, here detailing all the places you don't want to go. As might be expected, it details all the reasons the writers pity the inhabitants of these places and then contrasts with its damning verdict on our own modern life.

A Stranger At The Bochinche - Daniel José Older ***
A group of regulars at the titular saloon are robbed, then track down and foil the culprit - a member of a Lovecraftian secret society. All very light adventure, some fun set pieces and good takes on traditional folk tales being appropriated into horrors. Would like to know more about the world here; on top of HPL tentacle monsters and "foul gods", there's a gaslight/steampunk New York with sauropods in the background. Could be fun, could be a bit much. 

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usual good selection of sf and fantasy short stories. Favorites this month were "Ark of Light" by Victor LaValle, "Dying Light" by Maria Romasco-Moore, "Noah's Raven" by Kij Johnson, and "A Stranger at the Bochinche" by Daniel Jose Older.