The Fate of Mice

by Susan Palwick

Gathering together the most outstanding short stories of Susan Palwick's twenty-year literary career, The Fate of Mice is a powerful collection from an extraordinary fantasist. These unflinching tales, including three original pieces, consider a woman born with her heart exposed and the heartless killer who protects her; a wolf who is willingly ensnared by a devious academic; a businessman resurrected to play at politics; and an ingenious mouse dreaming beyond the laboratory.

With the perceptiveness of Joyce Carol Oates, the inventiveness of Ray Bradbury, and the emotional resonance of Alice Sebold, The Fate of Mice is a meditation on the very art of storytelling: mythic, beautiful, and often brutal, filled with authentic compassion.

 

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction Fantasy, Collections

218 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2007

About the author

Susan Palwick is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she teaches writing and literature.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Palwick attended Princeton University, where she studied fiction writing with novelist Stephen Koch, and she holds a doctoral degree from Yale. In the 1980s, she was an editor of The Little Magazine and then helped found The New York Review of Science Fiction, to which she contributed several reviews and essays.

Palwick's work has received multiple awards, including the Rhysling Award (in 1985) for her poem "The Neighbor's Wife." She won the Crawford Award for best first novel with Flying in Place in 1993, and The Alex Award in 2006 for her second novel, The Necessary Beggar. Her third novel, Shelter, was published by Tor in 2007. Another book, The Fate of Mice (a collection of short stories), has also been published by Tachyon Publications.

Susan Palwick is a practicing Episcopalian and lay hospital chaplain.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This emotional anthology of stories spun webs of fantasy, horror, and character-driven fiction, all of which grappled with the inevitable assurance of mortality. At times horrific and heartbreaking, then hopeful and joyous, these brief fictions remind the reader of the fragility of existence while celebrating the wonder and beauty of the journey.

Of particular excellence...

Going After Bobo
Beautiful Stuff
GI Jesus

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing about The Fate of Mice is, every story cuts deep. These stories cut to the bone. They hurt, and they hurt because they are true. These are the thing of stories you read when you want to be brutally honest, when you want to understand human nature, when you want to face up to nature of things. They are gorgeous and sharp and scary and true.

“The Fate of Mice” shocked me. I wasn’t expecting it to move me so quickly, to make me care so fast. “Gestella” was heartbreaking; I read it twice in a row. “Ever After” is gorgeous and shivery and makes so much damn sense.

All the stories in this volume are highly worthwhile. Read this book if you like excellent short stories, if you enjoy literature that makes you feel. Just read it.

[Meran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such strong writing! If these stories don't touch your soul, you don't have one. This is one of the most compelling books I have EVER read. These stories make you think, make you appreciate what you have, see everything with new eyes, to See through the Dross to Find the Important. Recommended for everyone still looking for "more" AND those who think they're doing just fine where they are, thank you.

I will read everything this lady writes, gladly.

There are 11 stories. I've listed them separately below.

Lessons in Mortality - essay, introduction by Paul DI Filippo, ingesting essay on Death and facing (or living with) the guaranteed passing ("the one true prophecy") of each and every one of us. He says that Palwick deals with the question "How does one live boldly in the face of looming personal extinction?" "...none of us are in this fix alone." her stories bring us "inward, to confront the Minotaur of Desth, embrace him, and dance." Well done, Mr di Filippo!

The Fate of Mice - "You have taught me language, and my profit on it so I know how to fear." - Rodney the rodent. Wow. Wow. Such a simple story. Such a powerful story. We can let the fear of death be our cage, or escape and live our lives as full as possible. Wow. - I'm giving this one SIX stars out of five.

Gestella - I've read this one before and it's just as impressive on the second read. The story is from the view point of a female werewolf but it's not like ANY werewolf story you've ever read.its really about the trust between man and woman, the aging question (she ages 7 yrs for every one, so she grows older, faster), and him abandoning her for a younger woman. Still made me cry. Hard. Dog lovers will understand this one, all too well. - 5 stars

The Old World - An instant evolutionary change causes people to see how humans have been selfish and destroying the world and themselves. To do better. A BIG change. I wish this story were true. And yes, I think the author knows people like me well. ;) - 4 stars

Jo's Hair - A reselling of Jo's life, from Little Woman, in a nutshell, how adventurous Jo doesn't get to live her dreams. But it's also the story of the chestnut colored hair she had shorn for her father's sake, which gets much of the adventures Jo could have had or written about, all the world. Bittersweet. - 5 stars

Going After Bobo - A complicated story about a boy and his lost cat, his mother, brother, and dead father, the boxes people get put in, and how there's no real escape; and finally, maybe acceptance of one's fate or path in life. I'm still thinking of how to quantify this one. - 4.5 stars

Beautiful Stuff - Through the voice of a "revived" mass murder victim, we hear what's simply, very simply, the most important part of living. GREAT message, written 3 years after 9/11. - 5 stars

Elephant - A woman's doubts about motherhood, being pregnant, and having had an abusive childhood, whether to keep the child, and wondering if it's even real. Not a life affirming story. - 4 stars

Ever After - A version of the Cinderella story I've never heard, never thought of. In this one, the Godmother is known, teaches her young charge how to be charming, how to live looking for love at rich people's balls. The desired result is NOT marriage to a prince though. - 5 stars

Stormdusk - Another fairy tale type story, this one of a young girl who cares so much for her mother that she seeks a treatment for her mother's unusual illness: she almost dies in summers, yet is perfectly hale just after the first snow. A tale of need. - 4 stars

Sorrel's Heart - I'll never be able to hear the phrase "wears her heart on her sleeve" again without thinking of this tale. Fear has met Cruelty; they travel together, become lovers, cancel each other's vice out. She helps him immensely but at a great price. He learns to care for his own heart through her. - 5 stars

GI Jesus - GI in this case stands for "gastrointestinal". A young woman is shunned by her family and community when her pregnancy shows her sin. Because of their actions, she leaves it all without telling anyone where she has gone. Her sister and friend invent stories of the good lives they imagine for her, thereby salving their own guilt. In the meantime, their dreams for their own lives go into the trash; they become different people from who they were, harder, regretful. Guilt changes us; not for the better either. And how we treat others is important. Forgiveness is important. Speaking the forgiveness out loud and to whom it needs to be said, is important. - 5 stars

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. How come I never heard of Susan Palwick before? How come she hasn't been on the Tiptree Award lists? How come how come?

I really liked all of the stories in this collection. My favorite might be the first one, "The Fate of Mice", about a smart, talking mouse and the girl who tells him stories.

Then again, "Ever After" is pretty cool too. And I didn't even get what was going on with the godmother until most of the way through.

And it was "Jo's Hair" that I read in an anthology that made me seek out more of her stuff, so that must be pretty good too.

I wonder how much she realizes she has a pregnancy theme going on here. There's at least 4 in here you could read as being about that.

I'm very glad I skipped Paul di Fillipo's introduction until after I'd read the book. Not only do introductions like that tend to spoil the stories, but he completely missed a major point. He gives passing reference to her 'feminist concerns' in a paranthetical. I don't think he grasps how almost all of the stories are about women. No matter if the protagonist is male. No matter if it's a mouse.

I've borrowed more Palwick from the library. They're high on my to-read list.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best short story collections I've read in years. The title story is very powerful, while the concluding novella, "GI Jesus," made me laugh and cry in quick succession. The quality of the writing is remarkably consistent for a collection. Highly recommended.

[Melissa Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever before read a collection of short stories in which every story is so thought provoking and emotionally wrenching. I’m startled that I hadn’t heard of them before; they are excellent example of clear, thoughtful, poignant writing.

[M— · Rating 5 out of 5]

/review to come
Introduction (The Fate of Mice) • (2007) • essay by Paul Di Filippo
Did I bother to read this?

The Fate of Mice • (2005)
Fabulous. Perfect.

Gestella • (2001)
Oh god, oh my god. First read this in YBFH; first Palwick ever and didn't realize it until after I read her best novel and another short.

The Old World • (2007)
Interesting take on dystopia but a bit sad.

Jo's Hair • (1995)
Eh. I might have cared about this story if I cared for Little Women, but I in fact loathe and despise Little Woman and thus do not care about this story at all.

Going After Bobo • (2000)
Confusing. Spectacular. I want to reread this one in particular, but I've return the book already to the library.

Beautiful Stuff • (2004)
Incredible, incredible story, best ever take on zombies and 9/11 ever. Top two or three or maybe four; maybe the best one in this book. I read this in that one Zombie anthology, and almost bought the anthology just for that one story.

Elephant • (1986)
….what was this one?

Ever After • (1987)
Vampire as Cinderella.

Stormdusk • (2007)
…what was this one?

Sorrel's Heart
Oh, loved. Creepy, twisted, beautiful.

GI Jesus • (1996)
Crap, I forgot this one.

[Joe Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to write more of a review later.

(And, actually, not totally finished.) (So keep your eyes peeled!--as if someone reading this...)

But it's okay if I'm not finished. It's a book of short stories. So I can comment on the parts I have read.

I guess she's a little science fictiony / fantastic.

The first, title, short story is pretty great. Just the concept is great.

Well...Kind of like "Flowers for Algernon"--teaching a rat. But a nice twist: the rat learns about fairy tales.

Then, the point is: mice appear in stories like Cinderella--but they're such bit parts. It makes a rat sad to think, not worth much to humanity.

So, pretty fun.

Then, someone told me the next story was better--the important one. (Gestella?)

It is kind of fun. About a female werewolf, married to a professor.

The problem is they age differently! (Dog years.) So, at first, at faculty parties, she's always young and beautiful. She doesn't age.

Then, she does age--and...a little sad.

I liked it!


So: so far, so good.

(Although: I read one later in book, a little slow.)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story collection with weight, where magical realism used to explore the human condition. The tales are thought-provoking and resonant, touching on myth and magic.

Some of the offerings: A self-aware, existential mouse ponders his own mortality in a lab. A werewolf married to a human realizes how troublesome a relationship can be when you age in dog years. A politician learns never to trust a reanimated corpse to stay on message. The dark reality of Cinderella’s godmother’s true identity is revealed.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantasy/fable type short-story collection (a bit like Kelly Link), with morals and everything. I liked these and would read something else by her, though I wasn't a big fan of "GI Jesus", which was nominated for the World Fantasy Award.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of great feminist fiction out there but I'll be honest - a great deal of the stuff which focuses on the 'battle of the sexes' or interpersonal inequality aspect leaves me cold. It's probably a cop-out but more and more I fail to see myself in the cold, manipulative and hypocritical agents of the patriarchy who stand in for my entire gender in this kind of writing. (Often poorly written, too.) And as I get older and less patient, I feel less inclined to be flexible at all and say "well maybe I could be this way or perceived to be this way given the right circumstances". If a character like that doesn't ring true and they clearly are supposed to - it ruins the story for me.

'Gestella' by Susan Palwick, which I read in 'Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology', really stood out for me. Because I wasn't able to dismiss it easily - I felt at that time of my life that Palwick had really nailed us men, in general. It left me with chills and it's still a remarkably effective piece of writing. In it, Gestella, a non-specifically-European young werewolf, is taken from her home at a very young age by the charming academic Jonathan, an American who treats her as a girlfriend when she's on two legs and a pet when she's on four legs. But Gestella, as a part-wolf, ages faster than a normal human, and over time the selfish Jonathan gets tired of her. Of course, things don't end well. It felt like a very incisive comment on differing attitudes to ageing in society and also the kind of bad behaviour men are allowed to get away with.

Well, that was probably about ten years ago when I first read that story. Having re-read it here, in the context of some of Palwick's other work... I think the themes I took from it are there, but it's not so much a feminist text as one concerned with animal cruelty. And I am sad to say that made me less impressed with it. Recommended for those who are more affected by that kind of thing, I guess, but that's not me. Still, as I said before - the writing is great.

The book is a little uneven, as short story collections often are. Standouts were the nasty slice of gothic horror 'Sorrel's Heart', the sweet 'Going After Bobo' and 'G.I. Jesus', and 'Gestella' of course. I didn't really enjoy 'Jo's Hair', Palwick's fanfic expansion of what happened to the hair of Jo March (of Little Women) after she sold it to get money for the March girls' father. A critical review of Louisa May Alcott's book may have been more suited for Palwick's working through of her obvious issues with that narrative.

A few of these are not particularly SF at all - 'Going After Bobo' is an account of a young man devastated by his inability to go rescue the beloved cat he can track via microchip but can't reach due to bad weather. (Were it given a little more ironic distance and moved a good way south-east, it could be a Mark Poirier story.) 'G.I. Jesus' is a very mildly fantastical, but mostly quite realistic, story of a woman observing the familial break-up and reconciliation of her friend in a judgmental small town. Those which do stick closer to the SF genre are still morality tales. Palwick's sharp but good-natured little parables mostly worked ('Beautiful Stuff') but when they didn't ('The Old World') I felt annoyed and condescended to.

There are a few dips into more fantastical fiction here. 'Ever After' and 'Stormdusk' feel influenced by fairy stories, with Palwick putting her own more modernist spin on the kind of thing that shapes children's morality. Yet neither really worked well for me, perhaps too brief to really build much on their themes. I don't think Palwick's writing is as suited to the more formal / stuffy kind of fantasy she's emulating here.

Palwick has been an Episcopalian preacher and hospital chaplain, and her stories go right up to the edge of being Bible-thumping preachy - it's not always a good fit, Protestantism and SF, but for Palwick it sort of works. (G.I. Jesus does seem to make it clear she has little regard for Catholicism; Going After Bobo gives grace to sex workers but casts their clients into the fiery pit. Most stories do make me think she feels cruelty to animals is a far greater crime than cruelty to humans.)

I do want to read one of Palwick's novels still, but I'm not sure her short fiction is for me. Still, I recommend fans of SF read 'Gestella'.

6/10

[Jarezal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cada vez me gusta más Susan Palwick. La descubrí por casualidad con Shelter y desde entonces todo lo que he leído de ella me ha dejado huella. En esta ocasión The Fate of Mice se trata de una colección de historias cortas y creo que me van a acompañar en la cabeza durante un tiempo.

Las historias de Palwick suelen ser duras, personajes dañados, con problemas y traumas y tratando de vivir un día más entre tanta adversidad. Las de esta colección confirman las impresiones que me había hecho de ella con Shelter y Flying in Place. Quizás sea la situación personal al leerlos o simplemente la técnica de la autora pero alguna de estas historias me ha hecho detenerme mientras las leía para recuperarme del puñetazo emocional que estaba recibiendo y calmarme un poco para continuar. Going after Bobo, te miro a ti especialmente…

La colección de historias de The Fate of Mice son muy variadas y salvo un par de ellas completamente realistas el resto tienen algún elemento de ciencia ficción o fantasía. Ratones que hablan, mujeres lobo, zombies o el cuento de cenicienta desde una perspectiva menos infantil. Aun así todas tienen en común el tema común de la muerte, envejecer, perder a alguien o afrontar que el tiempo va corriendo y pasando factura.

Una colección de historias de esas que nos recuerdan que no siempre leemos por evadirnos sino que a veces abrimos libros que nos provocan reacciones emocionales, historias que duelen porque sabes que son ciertas.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories was phenomenal. I found so many of them touching or incredibly intriguing. Each one meditates on what it means to be human in some way, even if a character may not be fully human. Plenty of these will stick with you. They deal with growing old, life’s changes and death, things that are described in a way that makes them much more relatable despite fantasy or sci-fi elements.

I would list my favorite stories, the ones that resonated most with me, but I can’t just list half the stories. The last story, GI Jesus, is probably my least favorite for a few reasons. Thematically it deals with religion, one topic I rarely enjoy in literature (whether pro or against), and I didn’t connect with the main character. The ending also left a sour taste in my mouth, as it’s the only happy ending in the collection and perhaps the most undeserving story to earn one (especially with how it comes about).

Yes, there are plenty of depressing endings and stories. So many people seem to be touched by so many important deaths. That does make the stories resonate more. If you’re willing to contemplate on these (and maybe shed a tear) I would definitely recommend this collecrtion.

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this. They weren't happy stories (far from it!) but they managed to keep my interest. The only story that I obstinately didn't like (and disliked enough to lower the entire score of the book!) was "GI Jesus", the novella at the end. I understand the message that Palwick was trying to convey, but I thought that she handled it all wrong. The point is that sometimes we forget to love the sinner, because we're so caught up in the sin, but they might as well have described the priest character as some sort of ogre! He turned out terribly, and as a Catholic, I hated how the narrator, Cece talked about the Eucharist. SO disrespectful! And I still think even after all that, Cece still misses the point! Great way to wrap up a book--with some sacrilegious tripe, spouted from the mouth of the only "righteous" character in the story. Give me a break.

Other than that, the other stories were great. Really interesting and creative. Sad that the book had to end on such a low, low, LOW note.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author before. This ebook came in a Storybundle, and I started reading it because why not? I was in the mood for some short stories before I go to bed.

I was very pleasantly surprised. Palwick's prose is smooth and literary without being affected, and every story had something that made it worth getting to the end. Most were in the "speculative fiction" category, with elements of science fiction or fantasy. There was a dystopian zombie story and a fairy tale do-over, and the title story which was obviously influenced by Flowers for Algernon. But there were also a few that were more litfic, but still with an interesting twist.

Basically, I felt like every story had something to say and wasn't just a writing professor exercising a prompt or trying to score a (meager) short story paycheck. Most short story collections are varying in quality with maybe a few gems and a lot of chaff that was thrown in as padding, but this one was solid all the way through. I will look for more books by Palwick.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, all by the same author. Usually trending towards fantasy/fable.

Which is not really my favorite type of stories, to be honest, but the author does a good job with them. I can't remember any stories that I just hated, although there's plenty that I just don't remember very well a couple weeks after reading them. There were a few standouts, including an interesting take on Cinderella the blends it with another type of story, and what I think was my favorite of the collection, "The Old World", set some time after a mysterious event's left humanity as a whole much less selfish, although that doesn't work for everybody.

I'd probably give it 3 stars, just because there weren't as many stories that were my type of thing... if there were, it could easily have been 4.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff. 4 stars only because there were 2 stories I didn't like.

Gestella -Cruelty to pets, domestic violence. The Jerk has young (very) pretty then loses interest as she ages. The main reason I bought this book.

The Old World - An instant evolutionary change causes people to become compassionate - except for a few. I've read this before...not the same author, not quite the same tale either but pretty much similar. 3 times now. Wishful thinking on the various authors part? And a damn good idea.

Jo's Hair - Meh

Going After Bobo - A story about a boy and his lost cat. Quite good

Beautiful Stuff -

Elephant - Creepy.

Sorrel's Heart - yuk is all I can say.

Ever After - Cinderella as a vampire.

Stormdusk - Another fairy tale.

GI Jesus - DNF

The Mouse story, weird at first but improves with the scientists daughter and a good ending. Go girl!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/17

So, this year my true goal was to read 120 books, and although reading goals are stupid, arbitrary things, I'm snowed in and I thought, shit, let's do this.

I've been reading these stories off and on for a couple months, and I thought they were really enjoyable, in fact Sorrell's Heart was great, but there were a few too many missteps for me to exuberantly sing this books praises. But definitely good, and I've bought one other book by the author, so kudos.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had previously read Gestella, which is one of my favorite short stories of all time, and so I wanted to read more from this author. Unfortunately, besides it and the titular story, the rest of the stories in this collection were not very enjoyable for me. However, Gestella seems to get better every time I read it, so the book is worth getting just for it!

[Benjamin Wallin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palwick is brilliant. Her stories will rip your heart out. Beautiful Stuff is probably my favorite zombie story. Whenever I feel myself not living present, I think of that story. Also Giselda is the best story of forced domestication that I have ever read. Why do more people not know this writer? Why aren't her stories being taught in high school? I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great short stories, and some so-so.

[Valeria G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likely one of the best short story collections I'd ever read. Each one resonated with me on a different level - there is a bit of everything, clever and funny and profound.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent stories, a bit on the dark side, but that's not a bad thing. Worth the time.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of stories, many sad but all hopeful. Enjoyed this book quite a lot.

[Eugene Vinitsky]

DNF.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this. A collection of really snappy short stories, both dark and occasionally funny, and I devoured each one.

[Matt Braymiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a short fiction kick of late, and this collection rises to the top of the anthologies I've read. Most of the stories in this book were very enjoyable to read.

The title story, melding as it does with Flowers for Algernon, sets the bar pretty high for the stories that follow. It was meaty and nerdy and ended just right.

Gestella was one of those stories where you can see the train wreck coming and all you can do is sit and watch, helplessly, as the main character has to deal with what is coming.

The Old World is a dystopian tale in reverse, a cautionary story asking, “What if everyone were suddenly nice to everyone else?”

Jo's Hair was so much fun to read. I can't really say more without spoiling it.

Going After Bobo – What a painful, dysfunctional story, heart-wrenching and unsatisfying in such a satisfying way.

Beautiful Stuff was one of my favorite stories in the collection. It had the most unique take on the reanimated dead that I've ever read. It also has a good message.

Elephant is the author's take on the last line of a Carlos Drummond de Arnade poem: “Tomorrow I begin Again.” It was quite strange, really.

Ever After is a fun take on Cinderella, bleak and grim as you read about the loss of innocence.

Stormdusk is a revision of an old fairy tale from a fantasy world, and was very enjoyable.

Sorrel's Heart . . . is the self-confessed villain the real villain, or are the “normal” people the true evil in the tale?

GI Jesus is the only one that did not hold my interest.

Taken as a whole, this is a really enjoyable collection of lessons in mortality, as pointed out in the introduction by Paul di Filippo. These stories make me want to seek out Palwick's novels and read them. That should be recommendation enough.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful array of original stories, often taking a remarkably radical new take on fantasy standards such as werewolves and the Cinderella fairy tale. Deeply human stories, often with humor though usually of a dark sort. If you enjoy intense dark fantasy, suspense and horror with detailed characters, this is for you!

I met Susan Palwick at a science-fiction club meeting just as her first book was coming out and sat next to her afterward at the diner, talking about her involvement with starting a graduate-students' union at Yale (where she was a master's candidate in English at the time) and about life in general. I liked her instinctively and while I never read the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her The Necessary Beggar--amazingly original and rich science fiction--and the few short stories I've read by her. This anthology shows she hasn't lost her touch.

Side note: the preface, which is by SF author Paul di Filippo, has an awesome phrase: "unless and until some uper-techonogical 'Rapture of the Nerds' rewrites the fatal certainties of the entirety of human existence..."
(I'm waiting for that Rapture!)

[Thistle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complaint I often have about books is that the writer doesn't trust their readers. One of the reasons I love Susan Palwick's writing so much is that she fully trusts us. Each of the book's short stories ended at the perfect point: She leads us right up to the ending, there's no doubt how the story will turn out, but she ends it a moment too soon. Every time a story ended, I had that "Arg! Wait no! That can't be the ending! It can't stop here!" reaction. And yet every story was a complete story -- you knew how it ended, but leaving it open like that made it delicious.

While each of these short stories was sci fi, it's really interesting because they were a lot more than that. Each of the stories was actually about something normal or mundane, the sci fi was just window dressing. But it really, really worked. A short story about how some men stop loving women as the women get older and less beautiful? BORING! I'd never ever read that! But couch it in the framework of a werewolf story? And I loved it!

Review of each individual story at my main review blog: http://thistle-chaser.livejournal.com...

[Jeffrey Paris [was Infinite Tasks] · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But mostly I was sad, listening to her, because I felt like everyone I knew had died somehow, changed into other people when I wasn't looking." Susan Palwick's collection of stories is chock full of changings, people who transform into other things, for better or for worse. An intelligence enhanced mouse, freaks born with insides on their outsides, fairy tale vampires, quick-aging werewolves, frost demon wives, truth-telling zombies, and more. There's no "normal," here. But the stories have uncanny emotional resonance, and some are on the level of must-reads, including "The Fate of Mice" and "The Old World."

A bit like the last Tachyon collection I read, the order of stories feels erratic. There is a huge difference in the quality of Palwick's later stories compared to the earlier ones, but they are mixed together with little apparent rhyme or reason. Moreso than Eileen Gunn's collection, Palwick's themes are more sustained and even substantial. It is this sustained meditation on themes of human alterity that makes the collection work, and I will recommend it highly.