A lot of these early Short Stories of the Day are Hugo and Nebula winners, and Hao Jingfang's "Folding Beijing" is no exception. Ken Liu's 2015 translation won the Best Novelette Hugo, and the story is so enthralling that non-Chinese speakers will wish they could read the original. Why "Folding Beijing"? Many of us have … Continue reading Short Story of the Day #8: “Folding Beijing” by Hao Jingfang, trans. Ken Liu
It's baa-aack. I started the Short Story of the Day series in the spring of 2022, but was forced to discontinue it after our cat began her cancer treatment. But we're back in the new year with the fifth Short Story of the Day pick: Nnedi Okorafor's "Hello, Moto." Why "Hello, Moto"? Arthur C. Clarke's … Continue reading Short Story of the Day #5: “Hello, Moto” by Nnedi Okorafor
Hi hi, all. I've been woefully negligent about updating this blog this year, but there's been a lot going on. I've had to fight with my homeowner's insurance, weather a layoff, and come to terms with the progression of our senior cat's terminal illness. Nevertheless, I need to write up a quick awards eligibility post, … Continue reading Annual Awards Eligibility Post, 2022
Welcome to Short Story of the Day: a new series where I give you one short story—or novelette, or drabble—to read every morning. We're starting off with S.L. Huang's "As the Last I May Know," which won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 2020. Why Short Story of the Day? Since this is … Continue reading Short Story of the Day #1: “As the Last I May Know” by S.L. Huang
"Lesbian necromancers in space." It's one hell of a tagline, and it's exactly what it sounds like. The space-faring fantasy debut from Tamsyn Muir, Gideon the Ninth is a tale of intrigue, murder, greasepaint, and ... well ... Gideon. The premise in this trilogy-starter is far from simple. Eponymous heroine Gideon Nav is a foundling, … Continue reading Gideon the Ninth: A Review