Uncanny Magazine Issue 43: November/December 2021

Reviews/ratings for the individual stories. Going to start keeping this so I have a nice overview of which stories I liked for the hugos/nebulas/... :

The story isn't the story - 3.5

A gentle story that reminded me of some of Octavia Butler's work. Felt like more could've been done with, but still a decent story.

For want of milk - 3

Quick and fun one that feels like a fairytale turned into modern day story.

The stop after the last station - 4

A typical mid-20s something protagonist who's seemingly lost in life wants to travel to “the stop after the last station” in an attempt to regain a sense of purpose in life. Captivating.

Inas spark - 4

Haven't been the biggest fan of Kowals unfortunately but this was more than solid. A girl mage has to go on a quest with an unconventional companion. Will she pass the test and become one of the king's mages?

For all those who sheltered here - 4.5

Fantastic! We see the world through the eyes of a tree. Human rituals and actions are recontexualised from a new perspective. Great prose.

White rose, red rose - 3

Basically a man reflecting on fighting undead people. Not bad, I suppose, but didn't really do it for me.

The north pole workshops -3

Transcript of a north pole customer support call. Certainly didn't go where I was expecting it to.

Loving the old wounds -3.5

Funny and interesting essay on the failed Disney film The Black Cauldron.

Scenes from the apocalypse - 3.5

A sadly all too common tale of the increased racism towards Asians in the US since the pandemic.


Pro wrestling is fake - 3.5

Pro wrestler talks about why they think it's important for people to know it's all fake, and how masculine invincibility is slowly but finally dying off in the pro wrestling world. I'd never thought about this, I guess, so it's interesting enough juist because of that.

What you might have missed - 3

An essay on why inclusivity matters in fiction, as well as reading works from marginalised people, and different perspectives than your own.

The precarious now - 2

Not sure what to think of this. Basically a writer lamenting how hard it is to predict the near-future.

The matter of cloud -

A very in-depth interview with a mostly forgotten writer who has now luckily been brought to my attention. Very eloquent and fascinating. I skimmed some of it since it went in detail about some of the books, but this sounds like a writer worth checking out for sure.

Post massacre psyche evaluation

tl;dr ACAB! Appreciate the message but didn't like the execution.

The burning river

Cute!

Confessions of a spaceport ai - 4

Funny little poem. Always love Mary Soon Lee, her stuff is always simple yet never feels like Kaur-esque platitudes.

Between childroid + mother - 3

Decent!

Interview John wiswell