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Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 36, September 2009
FICTION
"White Charles" by Sarah Monette
"Non-Zero Probabilities" by N.K. Jemisin
NON-FICTION
"All Of These Worlds Are Yours" by Paul McAuley
"Mammals Underfoot! An Interview with Emerging Writers" by Jeff VanderMeer
"September Contest: Free Books from Pyr and Wyrm" by Neil Clarke
"White Charles" by Sarah Monette
"Non-Zero Probabilities" by N.K. Jemisin
NON-FICTION
"All Of These Worlds Are Yours" by Paul McAuley
"Mammals Underfoot! An Interview with Emerging Writers" by Jeff VanderMeer
"September Contest: Free Books from Pyr and Wyrm" by Neil Clarke
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2009
149 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clarke
405 books397 followersNeil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning
Clarkesworld Magazine.
Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 4, 2024
It's a review only for the short story named 'non-zero probabilities'.
September 1, 2016
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
An interesting little bon-bon of a story from 2009, set in NYC.
Jemisin creates lovely, very short glimpses into alternate realities and this one is true to form for her short stories I've read thus far (2016): compellingly well-written and open-ended, feeling like a snippet from a potential larger work. Neat little brain treat!
Read or listen for free at:
Non-Zero Possibilities, Clarkesworld Magazine(print & audio versions)
Donate to Clarkesworld Magazine via Patreon.
An interesting little bon-bon of a story from 2009, set in NYC.
Jemisin creates lovely, very short glimpses into alternate realities and this one is true to form for her short stories I've read thus far (2016): compellingly well-written and open-ended, feeling like a snippet from a potential larger work. Neat little brain treat!
Read or listen for free at:
Non-Zero Possibilities, Clarkesworld Magazine(print & audio versions)
Donate to Clarkesworld Magazine via Patreon.
March 4, 2024
Review for "Non-Zero Probabilities": A fictional world where impossible becomes possible, but isn't always a good thing.
August 23, 2022
Not exactly my cup of tea, but a thrilling short story, I was honestly left wanting to know what happens
Merged review:
I'm a huge fan of Jemisin's writing, and this story is no exception.
Non-zero probabilities is an interesting exploration of the impossible and human belief. It borderlines science fiction and fantasy, bringing existential questions to the mind of the reader.
The podcast/audio version in Clarkesworld magazine was absolutely delightful as well (and free!).
Highly recommended!
Merged review:
I'm a huge fan of Jemisin's writing, and this story is no exception.
Non-zero probabilities is an interesting exploration of the impossible and human belief. It borderlines science fiction and fantasy, bringing existential questions to the mind of the reader.
The podcast/audio version in Clarkesworld magazine was absolutely delightful as well (and free!).
Highly recommended!
December 29, 2023
"Non-Zero Probabilities" by N.K. Jemisin
A quite interesting take on luck made manifest - how does it affect the world, how does it affect people and their behaviour? What does it mean for belief?
A quite interesting take on luck made manifest - how does it affect the world, how does it affect people and their behaviour? What does it mean for belief?
November 5, 2017
I listened to this short story on podcast, narrated by Kate Baker who did a great job. As usual with me and Jemisin there were things I liked and things that put me off. I can never quite fall in love with her stories. Based in New York, you meet characters coping with the aftermath of an unknown tragic event. Her description are vivid but certain concepts alienated me. Others may enjoy this one more than me.
August 13, 2024
Two stories about the supernatural intruding into our world.
"White Charles" by Sarah Monette is written in the tone of an old adventure story as it follows a museum archivist trying to deal with a golem that has taken residence. 3/5
"Non-Zero Probabilities" by N.K. Jemisin is a short, flavorful story about superstition and luck. 3/5
"White Charles" by Sarah Monette is written in the tone of an old adventure story as it follows a museum archivist trying to deal with a golem that has taken residence. 3/5
"Non-Zero Probabilities" by N.K. Jemisin is a short, flavorful story about superstition and luck. 3/5
February 16, 2024
Read “White Charles” by Sarah Monette in my pursuit of every Kyle Murchison Booth story. Another good entry in the collection.
February 22, 2024
Rated for Sarah Monette's White Charles, written in the style of an early 20th century horror story. 3.5 stars
Well-done!
Well-done!
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June 13, 2024Read “White Charles”
January 5, 2025
White Charles - Sarah Monette
September 1, 2015
Overall, I ended up liking this one, but not to the extent I thought I would considering the interesting plot. There was a lot of good, but also a bit I didn't like about the story too.
Things I liked:
Descriptions. "Like a beached aluminum whale", "yappy islands interrupting the sidewalk river's flow", are just a couple of the descriptions I really liked.
I liked the way the main character deals with emotions and justifies using certain ones instead of others, such as anger instead of horror because anger makes a better shield.
Also, I found it interesting how gestures of luck have actual weight in the world here, how crossed fingers could possibly alter the results of a dice throw. How far people take it--like if they're killing black cats and what not--I could totally see people doing that in real life. With the huge prayer gathering and doomsday prepping and all, people would likely take it to that level. I have no doubts.
The concept: I really liked the concept of the story, and I'm glad this is a short story and not a novel, as the novelty was already beginning to wear off by the end of the story. Even though I wish it were just slightly longer, if it went too much longer I would have gotten tired.
The characters: I liked the main character and her view of the world. If I were in her situation I would likely be just as cautious as she was. I'd likely never leave my house. I also liked her neighbor and I'm glad they got together, as he seemed like a nice guy. His "shit happens" speech was very interesting, and maybe my favorite part of the story. You can tell she takes the message to heart by the end too.
Things I didn't like: Parenthesis everywhere.
I didn't like that we don't get to see the big event or what happens after. I kind of understand why the author left it where she did, but it made me a bit upset that I couldn't see the aftermath.
Things I liked:
Descriptions. "Like a beached aluminum whale", "yappy islands interrupting the sidewalk river's flow", are just a couple of the descriptions I really liked.
I liked the way the main character deals with emotions and justifies using certain ones instead of others, such as anger instead of horror because anger makes a better shield.
Also, I found it interesting how gestures of luck have actual weight in the world here, how crossed fingers could possibly alter the results of a dice throw. How far people take it--like if they're killing black cats and what not--I could totally see people doing that in real life. With the huge prayer gathering and doomsday prepping and all, people would likely take it to that level. I have no doubts.
The concept: I really liked the concept of the story, and I'm glad this is a short story and not a novel, as the novelty was already beginning to wear off by the end of the story. Even though I wish it were just slightly longer, if it went too much longer I would have gotten tired.
The characters: I liked the main character and her view of the world. If I were in her situation I would likely be just as cautious as she was. I'd likely never leave my house. I also liked her neighbor and I'm glad they got together, as he seemed like a nice guy. His "shit happens" speech was very interesting, and maybe my favorite part of the story. You can tell she takes the message to heart by the end too.
Things I didn't like: Parenthesis everywhere.
I didn't like that we don't get to see the big event or what happens after. I kind of understand why the author left it where she did, but it made me a bit upset that I couldn't see the aftermath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 21, 2024Not leaving a star rating on this since I'm only using it to track the reread of one story, Monette's "White Charles", rather than having read the whole issue.
Which is another fantastic Booth story, and a complicated one I need to chew on a bit every time I read it. It's about Booth dealing with a constructed undead creature (something like frankenstein but also as far from frankenstein's creature as it can get) in a group adventure in the museum. It's also about Booth tackling the distance he's put between himself and other people in terms of unconscious classism and associated structural (/era-typical) racism by being a learned (white) man who works at the museum in an academic position, and starting to learn to deconstruct his subconscious refusal to really see the attending employees at the museum who do things like guard or tend the broiler. (Though of course, because it's Booth, even when he comes to see them, he flinches back from the thought of being seen himself). It's a convoluted web in this one but I do love it.
Which is another fantastic Booth story, and a complicated one I need to chew on a bit every time I read it. It's about Booth dealing with a constructed undead creature (something like frankenstein but also as far from frankenstein's creature as it can get) in a group adventure in the museum. It's also about Booth tackling the distance he's put between himself and other people in terms of unconscious classism and associated structural (/era-typical) racism by being a learned (white) man who works at the museum in an academic position, and starting to learn to deconstruct his subconscious refusal to really see the attending employees at the museum who do things like guard or tend the broiler. (Though of course, because it's Booth, even when he comes to see them, he flinches back from the thought of being seen himself). It's a convoluted web in this one but I do love it.
February 21, 2021
Teaching this for class in my 109H. Not that this doesn’t warrant more of a write-up because it’s a short story, but this is one of those that’s so short and so effective despite the nebulous ending that anyone who likes subtle scifi adjacent writing should check it out. I’m here for the light commentary on semiotics and faith in symbols of luck and ill-fortune. I especially like the fixation on food, a ritual that isn’t really event pointed to as a ritual in the story, but grounds it nevertheless in our own world.
January 17, 2023
My comments for short story:
Non-Zero Probabilities by N.K. Jemisin read 2020
A fine little story. Maybe more fantasy than science fiction? I enjoyed the Clarkesworld Magazine podcast version of the story with the editors comments.
Non-Zero Probabilities by N.K. Jemisin read 2020
A fine little story. Maybe more fantasy than science fiction? I enjoyed the Clarkesworld Magazine podcast version of the story with the editors comments.
December 13, 2014
I especially enjoyed the article on the Cassini probe by Paul J. McAuley. The short stories in this issue were not particularly interesting to me.
May 23, 2020
Listened to it on the Clarkesworld podcast, very enjoyable listen!
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February 3, 2018** Marking read for the short story that was printed in this issue by N.K. Jemisin. This was read for the module: Writing Genre Fiction. **
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews