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Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 185, February 2022
Clarkesworld is a Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each month we bring you a mix of fiction, articles, interviews and art. Our February 2022 issue (#185)
142 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Neil Clarke
417 books407 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 11, 2022
Onwards with Clarkesworld Magazine issue #185 (February, 2022). You can read the stories online or listen to the podcast, hosted and narrated by the lovely Kate Baker
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prio...
Consider supporting them on Patreon.
I didn’t pick and chose, just dove in blind and read all of them, and I wasn’t disappointed! On offer where:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse by Isabel J. Kim
The Plasticity of Youth by Marissa Lingen
You’re Not the Only One by Octavia Cade
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic by Sarah Pauling
The Old Moon by John McNeil
The Direction of Clocks by Jess Levine
and Babirusa by Arula Ratnakar
All stories were exceptional and very diverse, but if I have to pick just one favorite it will be The Direction of Clocks by Jess Levine.
(I didn’t read the three non-fiction offerings).
Themes: sci-fi, fantasy, space opera, dystopian, AI, aliens.
4 Stars
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prio...
Consider supporting them on Patreon.
I didn’t pick and chose, just dove in blind and read all of them, and I wasn’t disappointed! On offer where:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse by Isabel J. Kim
The Plasticity of Youth by Marissa Lingen
You’re Not the Only One by Octavia Cade
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic by Sarah Pauling
The Old Moon by John McNeil
The Direction of Clocks by Jess Levine
and Babirusa by Arula Ratnakar
All stories were exceptional and very diverse, but if I have to pick just one favorite it will be The Direction of Clocks by Jess Levine.
(I didn’t read the three non-fiction offerings).
Themes: sci-fi, fantasy, space opera, dystopian, AI, aliens.
4 Stars
May 21, 2022
This is the February 2022 issue of SF/Fantasy magazine Clarkesworld, #185. this is the second issue I’ve read cover to cover, the first I reviewed here. I liked fiction in this issue much more than the last.
The issue contains 7 fiction pieces, 2 interviews, and an editorial. Here is the breakdown:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse short story by Isabel J. Kim a weird story set in South Korea. Kim Jinah works at the Munjeong Road bathhouse scraping other women’s skin. This scrapping те only clears skin, but allows to take of scales. The scales are invisible to anyone but the massager and they are the calcification of choices, so by removing them people get more possibilities. Jinah is a single mother with a young (preschool) daughter an her life is hard. She gets a proposal hard to refuse, but she isn’t sure that taking off own scales will be worth it. 3*
The Plasticity of Youth short story by Marissa Lingen Jess is pregnant and had a scheduled visit to her doctor, but her car has a destroyed tire. She sees as a raven rips and eats shreds of the tire. Fast forward a few months, she gave birth to a daughter but once catches the baby that tries to eat moss hat invaded plastics. They run to a doctor, but seems that not only ravens evolved. In the 1940s-50s there were quite a few SF stories about the next evolutionary step and this is a nice homage while being actual as well. 3*
You're Not the Only One short story by Octavia Cade the author of quite strong novella The Stone Wētā mostly writes cli-fi. In this grim near future story, a protagonist-narrator is pregnant even despite she knows that her daughter will be alive for mere hours after birth – but she won’t be in pain and her organs will be transplanted to other kids, who need them. Her friend Marcus was meant to be going to the moon but carbon budgeting put space programs to a halt. The idea is strong, but maybe too strong. 3.5*
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic short story by Sarah Pauling a log of conversations of a stuttering technician with two patients coded Blue and Red and a Sponsor. The Sponsor is a rich husband who wants his trophy wife [Blue] to get into a body of a formerly famous actress [Red], even if the procedure is dangerous. 2.5*
The Old Moon short story by John McNeil the most SF piece in the issue. A protagonist-narrator robot/AI TwoAlpha serves a sentient plant named Viburn on a space station. It seems that people are no more and sentient robots created religion and adhere to it, much to Viburn’s dislike, for it is a teacher and is sure that there is only matter and energy but no supernatural. There are no humans, but there are banks and loans that force robots to lives of servitude. 4*
The Direction of Clocks novelette by Jess Levine Cameron volunteered on a mission to go alone in a one-person ship flying near the speed of light beyond explored space. She had personal reasons to leave everyone on Earth (a failed love affair), but as she stops on a way station (3 years passed for her and over nine decades on Earth) to learn that all further flights outward are banned and she can only return to Earth (and her misery, even if her girlfriend is long dead). I disliked the story not only because the main character is pushy and thinks everyone owes her, but mainly because we don’t get any info on why and what for she had been sent on a mission, only her problems… 1*
Babirusa novella by Arula Ratnakar a weird dream-like SF story, with several plot lines [1] a woman and a girl, named Charm and Down (I guess referencing quarks) in a strange room with six walls and painting that can change and even turn to portals. [2] a teen boy Kabir receives a message from his older sister Roop, who committed a crime and now should use Babirusa, a neuropharmacology program named after an extinct animal that had growing a tusk that would, if not constantly ground down, eventually curl back and puncture its own skull and brain, killing itself. The Babirusa program, installed in person’s brain can change the weights that certain memories, instincts, personality traits, et cetera have for the biological consciousness by adjusting the likelihood of their occurrence, so potentially it can “cure” criminals by changing their behavior. A very interesting concept but the story was a bit heavy for me. 3*
COVID-19 and the Mental Health Crisis essay by Douglas F. Dluzen a non-fic about the growing mental issues caused by the pandemics and lack of mental health care health professionals in the USA.
Community and Story: A Conversation with Zoraida Córdova interview of Zoraida Córdova the interviewee recently edited the first SFF anthology of Afro-Latinx authors Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space
Staying Loose: A Conversation with Max Gladstone interview of Max Gladstone the author of acclaimed Craft Sequence series started with Three Parts Dead in 2012 has his new book out, Last Exit. Adding to my TBR
Editor's Desk: 2021 Reader's Poll Finalists essay by Neil Clarke a list of 2021 finalists.
The issue contains 7 fiction pieces, 2 interviews, and an editorial. Here is the breakdown:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse short story by Isabel J. Kim a weird story set in South Korea. Kim Jinah works at the Munjeong Road bathhouse scraping other women’s skin. This scrapping те only clears skin, but allows to take of scales. The scales are invisible to anyone but the massager and they are the calcification of choices, so by removing them people get more possibilities. Jinah is a single mother with a young (preschool) daughter an her life is hard. She gets a proposal hard to refuse, but she isn’t sure that taking off own scales will be worth it. 3*
The Plasticity of Youth short story by Marissa Lingen Jess is pregnant and had a scheduled visit to her doctor, but her car has a destroyed tire. She sees as a raven rips and eats shreds of the tire. Fast forward a few months, she gave birth to a daughter but once catches the baby that tries to eat moss hat invaded plastics. They run to a doctor, but seems that not only ravens evolved. In the 1940s-50s there were quite a few SF stories about the next evolutionary step and this is a nice homage while being actual as well. 3*
You're Not the Only One short story by Octavia Cade the author of quite strong novella The Stone Wētā mostly writes cli-fi. In this grim near future story, a protagonist-narrator is pregnant even despite she knows that her daughter will be alive for mere hours after birth – but she won’t be in pain and her organs will be transplanted to other kids, who need them. Her friend Marcus was meant to be going to the moon but carbon budgeting put space programs to a halt. The idea is strong, but maybe too strong. 3.5*
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic short story by Sarah Pauling a log of conversations of a stuttering technician with two patients coded Blue and Red and a Sponsor. The Sponsor is a rich husband who wants his trophy wife [Blue] to get into a body of a formerly famous actress [Red], even if the procedure is dangerous. 2.5*
The Old Moon short story by John McNeil the most SF piece in the issue. A protagonist-narrator robot/AI TwoAlpha serves a sentient plant named Viburn on a space station. It seems that people are no more and sentient robots created religion and adhere to it, much to Viburn’s dislike, for it is a teacher and is sure that there is only matter and energy but no supernatural. There are no humans, but there are banks and loans that force robots to lives of servitude. 4*
The Direction of Clocks novelette by Jess Levine Cameron volunteered on a mission to go alone in a one-person ship flying near the speed of light beyond explored space. She had personal reasons to leave everyone on Earth (a failed love affair), but as she stops on a way station (3 years passed for her and over nine decades on Earth) to learn that all further flights outward are banned and she can only return to Earth (and her misery, even if her girlfriend is long dead). I disliked the story not only because the main character is pushy and thinks everyone owes her, but mainly because we don’t get any info on why and what for she had been sent on a mission, only her problems… 1*
Babirusa novella by Arula Ratnakar a weird dream-like SF story, with several plot lines [1] a woman and a girl, named Charm and Down (I guess referencing quarks) in a strange room with six walls and painting that can change and even turn to portals. [2] a teen boy Kabir receives a message from his older sister Roop, who committed a crime and now should use Babirusa, a neuropharmacology program named after an extinct animal that had growing a tusk that would, if not constantly ground down, eventually curl back and puncture its own skull and brain, killing itself. The Babirusa program, installed in person’s brain can change the weights that certain memories, instincts, personality traits, et cetera have for the biological consciousness by adjusting the likelihood of their occurrence, so potentially it can “cure” criminals by changing their behavior. A very interesting concept but the story was a bit heavy for me. 3*
COVID-19 and the Mental Health Crisis essay by Douglas F. Dluzen a non-fic about the growing mental issues caused by the pandemics and lack of mental health care health professionals in the USA.
Community and Story: A Conversation with Zoraida Córdova interview of Zoraida Córdova the interviewee recently edited the first SFF anthology of Afro-Latinx authors Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space
Staying Loose: A Conversation with Max Gladstone interview of Max Gladstone the author of acclaimed Craft Sequence series started with Three Parts Dead in 2012 has his new book out, Last Exit. Adding to my TBR
Editor's Desk: 2021 Reader's Poll Finalists essay by Neil Clarke a list of 2021 finalists.
May 12, 2022
Isabel J. Kim “The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse” **
Marissa Lingen “The Plasticity of Youth” ***
Octavia Cade “You’re Not the Only One” ***
Sarah Pauling “Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic” **
John McNeil “The Old Moon” ****
Jess Levine “The Direction of Clocks” ***
Arula Ratnakar “Babirusa” **
Marissa Lingen “The Plasticity of Youth” ***
Octavia Cade “You’re Not the Only One” ***
Sarah Pauling “Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic” **
John McNeil “The Old Moon” ****
Jess Levine “The Direction of Clocks” ***
Arula Ratnakar “Babirusa” **
February 12, 2022
This issue has some really great stories, but the standout by far IMO is Babirusa by Arula Ratnakar. I'm a sucker for stories with alternating narratives, one of which is happening inside the head of a character from the other narrative (this is a trope I swear, I can name at least 2 other books that do the same thing) and this one is a doozy. It also incorporates some really fascinating neuroscience and math concepts into its narrative that made my head spin in all the good ways. Highly recommended. You can read it online here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ratn...
April 2, 2023
Rating only for Isabel J. Kim's story 'Massage Lady at Monjeong Road Bathhouse'
March 5, 2022
The Massage Lady At Munjeong Road Bathhouse - Isabel J Kim ****
A thoughtful story about a working mother trying to do her best for her daughter but also herself. A really nice take on how our decisions build up over our lives and fix us on certain paths, but also the possibility of scraping them away and making new choices - for better and worse.
The Plasticity Of Youth - Marissa Lingen ***
You're Not The Only One - Octavia Cade *****
A heart-wrenching story about compassion and community in the face of grief and disappointment as two people bond over their individual and shared losses. Fantastic.
Informed Consent Logs From The Soul Swap Clinic - Sarah Pauling ***
The Old Moon - John McNeil ***
The Direction Of Clocks - Jess Levine ***
Babirusa - Arula Ratnakar ***
Probably the most interesting story here, about a procedure to isolate certain memories from the mind of someone who has committed a crime, in order to change their brain in a way that means they would not do it again. The philosophical side of "curing/rescuing" someone who has undergone the procedure is fascinating - the isolated elements being consciousnesses themselves by that point - but the story got a little bogged down in the science.
A thoughtful story about a working mother trying to do her best for her daughter but also herself. A really nice take on how our decisions build up over our lives and fix us on certain paths, but also the possibility of scraping them away and making new choices - for better and worse.
The Plasticity Of Youth - Marissa Lingen ***
You're Not The Only One - Octavia Cade *****
A heart-wrenching story about compassion and community in the face of grief and disappointment as two people bond over their individual and shared losses. Fantastic.
Informed Consent Logs From The Soul Swap Clinic - Sarah Pauling ***
The Old Moon - John McNeil ***
The Direction Of Clocks - Jess Levine ***
Babirusa - Arula Ratnakar ***
Probably the most interesting story here, about a procedure to isolate certain memories from the mind of someone who has committed a crime, in order to change their brain in a way that means they would not do it again. The philosophical side of "curing/rescuing" someone who has undergone the procedure is fascinating - the isolated elements being consciousnesses themselves by that point - but the story got a little bogged down in the science.
April 11, 2023
I only read “The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse" by Isabel J. Kim - and she has tremendous range, it is really quite amazing how diverse and how consistently good the stories she has published in the space of a year, year and a bit are. Really well written magical realism story about choices and ambition and motherhood. But I do not particularly like or "click" with magical realism, and there was an elusiveness here, the magical realism mixed with the pragmatic taking of hard physical jobs one does not like for survival and my feelings remained relatively uninvolved. Interesting ending anyway.
March 3, 2022
Great issue of Clarkesworld for February and I love the cover!
I really liked:
Babirusa by Arula Ratnakar
The Direction of Clocks by Arula Ratnakar
You're Not the Only One by Octavia Cade
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse by Isabel J. Kim
Informed Consent Logs From the Soul Swap Clinic by Sarah Pauling
The Plasticity of Youth by Marissa Lingen
The Old Moon by John McNeil just went over my head though.
I really liked:
Babirusa by Arula Ratnakar
The Direction of Clocks by Arula Ratnakar
You're Not the Only One by Octavia Cade
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse by Isabel J. Kim
Informed Consent Logs From the Soul Swap Clinic by Sarah Pauling
The Plasticity of Youth by Marissa Lingen
The Old Moon by John McNeil just went over my head though.
March 1, 2022
Strong issue. A lot of the stories have grief of disappointment as a theme, with You're not the only one as best story
April 6, 2025
For Marissa Lingen's 'The Plasticity of Youth'
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews