Chris Roberts Chris North Claire by August Harry of Lives Fifteen First The from art Slipcase

interesting, you’re not wrong and insightful criticism.” “If your takeaway…is that $5.00 X h iall Harrison, N 2018 XVol. 1 8.No. QUARTERLY A LITERARY A The Guardian The The Cascadia Subduction Zone Subduction Cascadia The

—

it’s awonderful journal filledwiththoughtful , May 12, 2016 sounds really

IN THIS ISSUE by Shawl Nisi by Yolen Jane EmeraldThe Circus Mondal Mimi edited by Alex Pierce and Luminescent Threads edited Phillips by Gary Obama InheritanceThe by Pflug Ursula Mountain by Seanan McGuire by Maya Chhabra Pushkin’s “Arion” a response to Alexander Singers of Deep the by Graham Neile by Jennifer Stevenson Science, by Evelyn Fox Keller Reflections Genderon and Practiced So Awkwardly Suite of Poems Genius Communitas The WaywardThe Children series ScienceWhy Is G er randmoth F B e atured Chris Roberts ook P E R o ssay ems

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Managing Editor Arrate Hidalgo Reviews Editor Nisi Shawl Vol. 8 No. 1 — 2018 Features Editor Essay L. Timmel Duchamp Genius Communitas h Arts Editor by Nisi Shawl 1 Kath Wilham Poems $5.00 Suite of Poems by Neile Graham h 6 Singers of the Deep a response to Alexander Pushkin’s “Arion” by Maya Chhabra h 26

Grandmother Magma Why Science Is Practiced So Awkwardly Reflections on Gender and Science, by Evelyn Fox Keller by Jennifer Stevenson h 10

Book Reviews The Wayward Children series, by Seanan McGuire reviewed by Arley Sorg h 14 Mountain, by Ursula Pflug reviewed by Joanne Rixon h 17 The Obama Inheritance, edited by Gary Phillips reviewed by Cynthia Ward h 19 Luminescent Threads, edited by Alex Pierce and Mimi Mondal reviewed by Ayana Jamieson h 21 The Emerald Circus, by Jane Yolen reviewed by Kristin King h 24

Featured Artist Chris Roberts h 28

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Cover banner collagraph of the Cascadia subduction zone by Marilyn Liden Bode

n

- root classically less a use to Or bringers. most proficient person in any particular particular any in person proficient most

Cont. on p. 2 p. on Cont.

Geniuses can be thought of as fire- as of thought be can Geniuses Genius does not consist of being the the being of consist not does Genius

ing of my talk’s title, Genius Communitas. Genius title, talk’s my of ing . Katmandu

- mean the is This genius. lonely a of tion whenever he made an MJ-style move. In In move. MJ-style an made he whenever

- no popular the to counter directly runs “Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson!” Jackson!” Michael Jackson! “Michael

a community, of a nation. This meaning meaning This nation. a of community, a in Katmandu. People there shouted shouted there People Katmandu. in

sort of spirit of sort the spirit of a people, of of people, a of spirit the — professionally, who traveled to perform perform to traveled who professionally,

Geniuses may also embody another another embody also may Geniuses the beyond. I have a friend who dances dances who friend a have I beyond. the

ushers it in and ushers us into that time. that into us ushers and in it ushers the erotic, the impossible, the dreaming, dreaming, the impossible, the erotic, the

that genius genius that because comes which age an people all over the world with the divine: divine: the with world the over all people

resistance: community. resistance:

embody the spirit of an age to come, come, to age an of spirit the embody MJ brought the fire. He connected connected He fire. the brought MJ us the path of best best of path the us

Joanna Russ or Octavia E. Butler, they they Butler, E. Octavia or Russ Joanna said. think she also showed showed also she think

sort of spirit as well. Sometimes, as with with as Sometimes, well. as spirit of sort important.... Take care of the planet,” he he planet,” the of care Take important.... Presidentrump. I like to to like I Presidentrump.

too, and geniuses often embody this this embody often geniuses and too, alas, the ascendance of of ascendance the alas, the world, remind the world that love is is love that world the remind world, the

books she predicted, predicted, she books place. We speak of the spirit of a time, time, a of spirit the of speak We place. very next month, to “bring love back into into back love “bring to month, next very

to do.… In her Parable Parable her In do.… to call geniuses may embody the spirit of a a of spirit the embody may geniuses call show he expected to take on the road the the road the on take to expected he show

that she had much more more much had she that ,” or “spirit of place.” Those we we Those place.” of “spirit or ,” loci genius “ of 2009 he told the crew and cast of the the of cast and crew the told he 2009 of

Octavia’s death, still, is is still, death, Octavia’s

less in use these days than previously: previously: than days these use in less also wanted to save the world. In June June In world. the save to wanted also

What hurts about about hurts What

Genius means spirit. There is a term term a is There spirit. means Genius Michael Jackson, believe it or not, not, or it believe Jackson, Michael

are divine treasures. divine are constructs using desire and love. and desire using constructs

ings, and that those meanings change, change, meanings those that and ings, enemies with the help of a family she she family a of help the with enemies

- mean those share we that things, mean takes on centuries-old, well-established well-established centuries-old, on takes

All words are miracles are words All that they they that — black female, childlike in appearance, appearance, in childlike female, black

mind in the six years since. years six the in mind haps her finest. In it, a deceptively slight slight deceptively a it, In finest. her haps

with you now, plus what’s come to my my to come what’s plus now, you with - per was book, last Octavia’s , Fledgling

I want to share some of what I said then then said I what of some share to want I best resistance: community. resistance: best 1

at WisCon, and it’s compelling enough enough compelling it’s and WisCon, at

to think she also showed us the path of of path the us showed also she think to

i

my 2011 Guest of Honor speech given given speech Honor of Guest 2011 my the ascendance of Presidentrump. I like like I Presidentrump. of ascendance the

ticular: genius. Genius was the topic of of topic the was Genius genius. ticular: In her Parable books she predicted, alas, alas, predicted, she books Parable her In

- par in word one about speak to want I lieved was innate in the human psyche. psyche. human the in innate was lieved

here. A miracle of words. of miracle A here. - be she destructiveness the from it save

of words and miracles. It’s a miracle I’m I’m miracle a It’s miracles. and words of wanted her work to change the world, to to world, the change to work her wanted

, the owner owner the , Eshu to particularly most and is that she had much more to do. Octavia Octavia do. to more much had she that is

who brought me here, to all the orisha, orisha, the all to here, me brought who What hurts about Octavia’s death, still, still, death, Octavia’s about hurts What

tions. I’m grateful to all the good spirits spirits good the all to grateful I’m tions. I’ll be 62. be I’ll

into that time. that into - rela our All ancestors. my all elements, both. I’m 61, and in a very short while while short very a in and 61, I’m both.

ushers it in and ushers us us ushers and in it ushers of living connects to this land: all the the all land: this to connects living of chael Jackson was 50. I’ve outlived them them outlived I’ve 50. was Jackson chael

that genius genius that because comes own entirety, and to everything the web web the everything to and entirety, own - Mi died. she when 58 was Octavia

age to come, an age which which age an come, to age

the future. My thanks to this land in its its in land this to thanks My future. the son. OEB and MJ. and OEB son.

embody the spirit of an an of spirit the embody

the past the and those who will live here in in here live will who those and — tavia Estelle Butler and Michael Jack Michael and Butler Estelle tavia -

Octavia E. Butler, they they Butler, E. Octavia

live here now and who have lived here in in here lived have who and now here live have a couple of examples in mind: Oc mind: in examples of couple a have -

as with Joanna Russ or or Russ Joanna with as

ful to the humans and nonhumans who who nonhumans and humans the to ful How does one become a genius? I I genius? a become one does How

a place.… Sometimes, Sometimes, place.… a

who’ve made me who I am. I’m grate I’m am. I who me made who’ve - world. I can do it with you. with it do can I world.

may embody the spirit of of spirit the embody may

to my family and my friends, to all those those all to friends, my and family my to What I want to do is change the the change is do to want I What Those we call geniuses geniuses call we Those

I’m fortunate enough to have with me, me, with have to enough fortunate I’m nius. The genius of your love. your of genius The nius. spirit.… means Genius

my ancestors, and to my mother, who who mother, my to and ancestors, my genius, the genius of my people, your ge your people, my of genius the genius, -

invited me here. I’m grateful to my my to grateful I’m here. me invited , , egun be a lonely genius. I want to be a beloved beloved a be to want I genius. lonely a be

those of you attending, and to those who who those to and attending, you of those I want to be a genius. I don’t want to to want don’t I genius. a be to want I

you at this institution, and especially to to especially and institution, this at you cords with an infinite number of sockets. of number infinite an with cords

ed term, as extension cords. Extension Extension cords. extension as term, ed First, know that I’m grateful to all of of all to grateful I’m that know First,

Speech given by Nisi Shawl on Monday, October 16, 2017, at the University of Alabama Huntsville. Alabama of University the at 2017, 16, October Monday, on Shawl Nisi by given Speech

Genius Communitas Genius y Genius Communitas area. Michael Jackson was not a flaw- Her beauty and power don’t lessen the (Cont. from p. 1) less entertainer, and Octavia was not a beauty and power of her surroundings, flawless writer. Sandy Denny was not they increase them. Those near her aren’t a flawless singer. A genius experiences, made more mundane by contrast. The and manifests to others, an essence, a Last Unicorn imbues everyone in her truth, that would not otherwise be made presence with her magic. manifest. And nobody needs to be per- That’s sort of what I want to do. With fect to do that. magic, with genius, and love. Yeah. I practice a West African tradition As I said earlier, words are miracles. known as Ifa. Ifa embraces many con- They make stories. They make magic. An cepts: alignment and balance, the ubiqui- interviewer once asked me if I thought tous divine, interconnectedness, destiny writing fiction was a good way to change and choice. Ifa’s deities derive from both the world, and I replied that I thought A genius experiences, natural forces and historical figures; in it was probably the only way one could and manifests to others, time a person will become a spirit. The change the world, actually. an essence, a truth, that spirit reflects the way this person lived, Here’s my reasoning: we are all stories, would not otherwise the examples they set, the dreams they and stories are our world. Stories are how be made manifest. And followed themselves and found and in- we make sense of what our senses tell us. nobody needs to be perfect to do that. stilled in others. The fire they brought Stories are more than what we live by; the world. Their genius. stories are what we live: stories within In his novel Engine Summer, John stories, stories surrounded by stories. If I Crowley presents another approach to ge- change the stories I tell, if I change the nius. His protagonist, Rush that Speaks, stories others are able to hear, I change wants to be a saint. Not a Christian saint, how these others experience the world. but a saint of the post-Apocalyptic world I change their worlds. Their worlds in which he lives. Saints, an elder informs change other worlds, more worlds, the H him, do their best to become transparent. worlds of others. Change ripples out, Transparent saints are able to let their fire story to story, world to world. 2 shine through and through and through. We are all stories. If I change how you Often geniuses are said to know in tell your own story, I change how oth- childhood how they want to devote ers hear who you are. If I change how their lives. Michael Jackson’s mother you tell “the other’s” story, I change how reports that as a toddler he danced to you hear those stories and your own, the rhythms of the family’s washing ma- how others hear their story from you, chine. Octavia, known as Junie back in through you, how the story of “the oth- elementary school, filled notebook after er” can now be heard. Stories are more than notebook with horse stories. In kinder- Changing stories changes everything: what we live by; stories garten, I got asked what I wanted to be tale and teller and what is to be told. are what we live: stories when I grew up. I answered unhesitat- Can you tell how passionately I care within stories, stories ingly, “A magician. A real one.” about doing this? How I really, really, re- surrounded by stories. If I change the stories I tell, Mirroring is how I learn to be a ge- ally want to do it? If I am ever able to be if I change the stories nius, how I learn to be a magician. Being a genius, this is how I’ll pull it off. others are able to hear, I edited by the great L. Timmel Duchamp If. Because I have to say, there are forc- change how these others teaches me how to edit others. Walking es arrayed against me. Against us. Against experience the world. through sand dunes has taught me how our genius. Tremendously harmful forces. to dance. Mirroring. It’s how I breathe Forces that could do us huge harm. Harm genius and magic in and out. You make like no one has ever seen before. Very, me a genius. I make you magic. I make very, very bigly harm. you a genius. You make me magic. I bet you know what I’m talking about. Peter S. Beagle wrote a book that Here’s an example in case you don’t. helped me through my adolescence. It’s Since January 2011 I’ve co-edited a called The Last Unicorn. The protago- magazine called The Cascadia Subduc-

nist, a unicorn, is magical in a way that tion Zone. CSZ, as we call it for short —

makes those around her magical as well. because Cascadia Subduction Zone is a n

n

I’ve been an “emerging” author for over over for author “emerging” an been I’ve porters when he won his second term, term, second his won he when porters

Cont. on p. 4 p. on Cont.

finished my first story at the age of 15. 15. of age the at story first my finished - sup opposition’s Obama’s of faces the

— — started only I those counting not we’re since the November 2016 election on on election 2016 November the since

— — Almost 62. I finished my first story first my finished I 62. Almost I saw the same distress I’ve experienced experienced I’ve distress same the saw I

for decades now. I’m 61. 61. I’m now. decades for — what you will you what Here’s another reason I’m not proud: proud: not I’m reason another Here’s

fantasy, horror, magical realism, call it it call realism, magical horror, fantasy, process in a minute. a in process

science fiction, fiction, science — ing. It is. I’ll talk more about this healing healing this about more talk I’ll is. It ing. of one sort or another or sort one of

- heal of midst the in That’s belonging? I’ve been writing speculative fiction fiction speculative writing been I’ve

worthy. And what about our sense of of sense our about what And worthy. bit to explain the importance of. importance the explain to bit

- untrust proven has proprioception Our tions. Which I maybe need to back up a a up back to need maybe I Which tions.

aged. Our balance has been disturbed. disturbed. been has balance Our aged. - invita Anthology invitations? Which put in charge. in put

- dam been have hearts our now And invitations. head of state had been been had state of head

that somebody else’s ideal ideal else’s somebody that around here. here. around had been put in charge. Then came the the came Then charge. in put been had

true with the awareness awareness the with true heart. So what? That’s the way we roll roll we way the That’s what? So heart. that somebody else’s ideal head of state state of head ideal else’s somebody that

sense got wrenched out of of out wrenched got sense because of that, either. I write with my my with write I either. that, of because wrenched out of true with the awareness awareness the with true of out wrenched

sense of belonging? That That belonging? of sense

I’m not claiming I’m anyone special special anyone I’m claiming not I’m the sense of belonging? That sense got got sense That belonging? of sense the

my writers’ toolkit: the the toolkit: writers’ my

bears repeating: I write with my heart. heart. my with write I repeating: bears about as part of my writers’ toolkit: toolkit: writers’ my of part as about

I talked about as part of of part as about talked I

with my heart. And that’s true enough it it enough true that’s And heart. my with Remember that one sense I talked talked I sense one that Remember

Remember that one sense sense one that Remember

I told Elizabeth Bear once that I write write I that once Bear Elizabeth told I good company. good

My sense of belonging. of sense My of this: in my devastation, I have lots of of lots have I devastation, my in this: of

where you are and how you’re moving. moving. you’re how and are you where be I ought to be just a little bit proud proud bit little a just be to ought I be

ception, which is the sense of knowing knowing of sense the is which ception, - May circle. big pretty a is it However,

- Proprio balance. of sense my senses: place, the place I call “The Loser’s Circle.” Loser’s “The call I place the place,

touch, taste, and scent, yes. Also other other Also yes. scent, and taste, touch, ridiculous to me when they were in my my in were they when me to ridiculous

senses turned up to eleven. Sight, sound, sound, Sight, eleven. to up turned senses pear to those people who appeared so so appeared who people those to pear

process of writing: I write with all my my all with write I writing: of process - ap must I how of proud not I’m No,

3

as a wound. Sensitivity is vital to the the to vital is Sensitivity wound. a as and mine. and

i from, though, sensitivity is a tool as well well as tool a is sensitivity though, from, lapses as every bit as valid as those of me me of those as valid as bit every as lapses

seen as being vulnerable. Where I come come I Where vulnerable. being as seen - col emotional their view didn’t weepers

on the regular. Because being sensitive is is sensitive being Because regular. the on couldn’t have accepted that these silly silly these that accepted have couldn’t

behaving like that gets you sneered at at sneered you gets that like behaving emotional collapse, that doesn’t mean I I mean doesn’t that collapse, emotional

I’m not proud of that time, because because time, that of proud not I’m nal reason for my own people’s recent recent people’s own my for reason nal

the highest office in this country. this in office highest the - ratio every have I because just But

the wake of Donald Trump’s election to to election Trump’s Donald of wake the ance coverage, for instance. for coverage, ance

midst of healing. of midst admitting how devastated they were in in were they devastated how admitting - insur health my shredding and States;

belonging? That’s in the the in That’s belonging? writers I admire, whose work I adore, adore, I work whose admire, I writers leaving, and re-entering the United United the re-entering and leaving,

what about our sense of of sense our about what

of the literary community, editors and and editors community, literary the of cal and legal barriers to freely entering, entering, freely to barriers legal and cal

untrustworthy. And And untrustworthy.

spots. And I’ve heard of other members members other of heard I’ve And spots. - physi building promises: campaign god

proprioception has proven proven has proprioception

tive was ensconced in similar safe hiding hiding safe similar in ensconced was tive election’s victor enacting his honest-to- his enacting victor election’s

been disturbed. Our Our disturbed. been

I was. Safe to bet the rest of our collec our of rest the bet to Safe was. I - Whereas I was frightened of the 2016 2016 the of frightened was I Whereas

Our balance has has balance Our

curled up under blankets shivering. Or Or shivering. blankets under up curled tremely unlikely bereavements. unlikely tremely

have been damaged. damaged. been have

the U.S. presidential election. We were were We election. presidential U.S. the These folks mourned in advance for ex for advance in mourned folks These - And now our hearts hearts our now And

2017 issue. That was still too soon after after soon too still was That issue. 2017 far from reality these fantasies strayed. strayed. fantasies these reality from far roll around here. here. around roll

we weren’t able to produce our January January our produce to able weren’t we record should have demonstrated how how demonstrated have should record what? That’s the way we we way the That’s what?

I write with my heart. So So heart. my with write I 2012. Six years. Twenty-five issues. But But issues. Twenty-five years. Six 2012. ia law. Common sense and Obama’s past past Obama’s and sense Common law. ia

an extra issue thrown in for lagniappe in in lagniappe for in thrown issue extra an end of elections, the imposition of Shar of imposition the elections, of end -

with with — at least it did 2011 through 2016 through 2011 did it least at to be: the seizure of their firearms, the the firearms, their of seizure the be: to

magazine comes out four times a year. Or Or year. a times four out comes magazine President had vowed would never come come never would vowed had President

quarterly, which means that our little little our that means which quarterly, ened of ridiculous eventualities that the the that eventualities ridiculous of ened

of feminist science fiction. It’s a literary literary a It’s fiction. science feminist of were they Okay, silly. They were fright were They silly. -

reviews of books of interest to readers readers to interest of books of reviews thought how silly they were. they silly how thought

etry, short short stories, art, essays, and and essays, art, stories, short short etry, ing helplessly over Romney’s loss and and loss Romney’s over helplessly ing

is a journal featuring po featuring journal a is — - tence or so or tence Zilch. I watched grown women weep women grown watched I Zilch. -

- sen every spitting be to mouthful hecka and I felt zero sympathy for them. Zip. Zip. them. for sympathy zero felt I and Genius Communitas 40 years, and I’ve got the event flyers to taining different, longer stories appeared (Cont. from p. 3) prove it. Not long ago, I segued from from Book View Café. That one has sending magazines and anthologies my Vonda N. McIntyre and Brenda Clough unsolicited stories to writing them at on the Table of Contents and it, too, editors’ requests. These days I write very looks full of fun and defiance. little “on spec,” that is, without having Yet another pro-resistance anthology a fairly sure shot at publication because came out this year, The Obama Inheri- someone asked me for it. tance, edited by Gary Phillips. This was Immediately after Trump’s 2016 elec- a chance to play with mad right-wing tion came the invitations to anti-Trump theories on Number 44 in the company anthologies. At first in a trickle, then in a of Walter Mosley and the former At- nice, steady stream. Henry Wessel want- torney General of Maine. My fictional ed me to contribute to a book of poetry conspirators could stop time and scratch Immediately after Trump’s 2016 election came the he was putting together — by November it like a DJ, make it run fast or slow, invitations to anti-Trump 17. That was way too soon. Really, at that but I had to spend whole actual weeks anthologies. At first in point, all I could have written was — ed- plotting out how Ruth Bader Ginsberg a trickle, then in a nice, ited for obscenity, by the way — “Are you could clone herself and keep the U.S. steady stream. kidding me? Are you freakin kidding Supreme Court from kicking over into me? You have got to be kidding me!” I a conservative majority. I got it done. I could have filled up a whole page writ- got it in on time, and it’s out now, with ing like that. And that was just about all a very favorable review featured on Fresh I could have done. Air. But I had other chances. The next was But I can’t participate in every project when Ben H. Winters invited me to be I’m invited to — not enough oomph in part of online magazine Slate’s special me, even if there were hours in the day, Trump Story Project, along with himself, days in the month, months in the year H Saladin Ahmed, Lauren Beukes, and six sufficient to encompass all that waits other cool kids. Our joint assignment was to be done. Nice to know, though, that 4 to produce stories about what life would there is a community of creative writers be like under the Trump presidency. By in action, a loose gang of hand-holding January I’d finished “Slippernet,” a tale workers-with-words who pride ourselves of street-level antifa action using wea- on our abilities and our imaginations. ponized empathy with a biotech boost. Our genius. It was duly published on February 22, In each of the projects this commu- part of a series I heartily recommend for nity has undertaken, my vision has been those who need heartening. deliberately optimistic. It still is. And I …to paraphrase the lyrics of James Brown’s “Hot Two weeks before “Slippernet’s” pub- had help. Whose help? Your help. Your Pants,” we got to use just lication, Elizabeth Warren gave a speech help. Yes, your help. You make a differ- what we got, to get just on Jeff Sessions’ confirmation in defi- ence. You make our community wider what we want. ance of Senate leader Mitch McConnell. and fuller of meaning. You make it Basically, what we have Republican McConnell’s explanation your own community, the community is us. of his efforts to muzzle Warren — “She of booklovers, readers, writers, talkers, was warned. She was given an explana- thinkers, singers, dancers, actors, artists tion. Nevertheless, she persisted,” — be- of all sorts. You create and shelter our came a rallying cry for her supporters genius. and inspired more than one anthology. Of course, of course, of course, we’d I was invited to Tor.com’s version of rather have a world in which the forests Nevertheless, She Persisted, which also were not literally burning to the ground, featured flash fiction from Amal El- islands were not literally being pounded Mohtar, Catherynne M. Valente, Char- to pieces by climate-change-fostered lie Jane Anders, Seanan McGuire, and hurricanes, and so on. But to paraphrase several more women writers. Our work the lyrics of James Brown’s “Hot Pants,”

was published March 8. On August 8 an we got to use just what we got, to get just

anthology with the same title but con- what we want. n

n

yourself to receive and feel and and feel and receive to yourself

practicing it by asking you to allow allow to you asking by it practicing

practice. I’m practicing it now. I’m I’m now. it practicing I’m practice.

This is sometimes difficult. It takes takes It difficult. sometimes is This

To breathe it in and breathe it out. out. it breathe and in it breathe To

yourself to express your own genius. genius. own your express to yourself

allow allow — self your into genius Admit •

•

nity, in our selves. our in nity,

- commu our in evident it’s air, the

it’s in in it’s — ambient is genius Admit •

•

when you see it. see you when

Admit genius exists. Recognize it it Recognize exists. genius Admit •

out from Tor in September 2016. September in Tor from out •

came came Everfair novel steampunk First, ADMIT. First,

. Her Belgian Congo Congo Belgian Her . Approach

help.

Writing the Other: A Practical Practical A Other: the Writing of

Three ways. Here are three ways to to ways three are Here ways. Three Jr. Award in 2009. She is coauthor coauthor is She 2009. in Award Jr.

Yeah? Okay? Okay. Okay? Yeah? co-won the James Tiptree, Tiptree, James the co-won House

Will you help me? help you Will Filter Filter collection story Shawl’s Nisi

x All of us. Let’s live in love. Thank you. Thank love. in live Let’s us. of All

“We live in love.” in live “We

them.”

tell, and important ways of telling telling of ways important and tell,

“We have important stories to to stories important have “We 5

Do it! Do it! Do it! Do

i We’re getting there.” getting We’re

times I wanna kiss myself.” myself.” kiss wanna I times “We belong where we’re going. going. we’re where belong “We

- “Some “Superbad”: hit his in sang nius,

every right to glory in our beauty.” our in glory to right every

- ge another Brown, James you. In me. In

“We are beautiful, and we have have we and beautiful, are “We

whenever you find it, wherever that is. is. that wherever it, find you whenever

rise and say them with me: with them say and rise genius. Bring it flowers. Kiss it, kiss it it kiss it, Kiss flowers. it Bring genius.

us of now. Here they are. I hope you’ll you’ll hope I are. they Here now. of us genius! Dance with genius. Sing with with Sing genius. with Dance genius!

for the us of this moment in history. The The history. in moment this of us the for what it is. Embrace it. Throw money at at money Throw it. Embrace is. it what

nity, I’ve created four affirmations for us, us, for affirmations four created I’ve nity, Name genius when you see it. Call it it Call it. see you when genius Name

- commu our of that into genius her fold

Third, APPLAUD Third,

follow in her footsteps, then, and to en to and then, footsteps, her in follow -

somehow be able to meet. In order to to order In meet. to able be somehow

you say it. say you

lieve in, goals she determined she would would she determined she goals in, lieve

world with what you say and how how and say you what with world

of them of dreams she told herself to be to herself told she dreams — - Shape them. Change and shape the the shape and Change them. Shape

Huntington there are pages and pages pages and pages are there Huntington

Listen to yours. Change them. them. Change yours. to Listen the more I have. I more the

Octavia used affirmations. A lot. At the the At lot. A affirmations. used Octavia

them your own. Listen to mine. mine. to Listen own. your them game. The more you get, get, you more The game.

One thing I note in my letter is that that is letter my in note I thing One

Address all stories’ ideas. Make Make ideas. stories’ all Address • Genius is not a zero-sum zero-sum a not is Genius

•

to learn from her, now and always. and now her, from learn to

them seriously! them

loved her. Love her still. There’s so much much so There’s still. her Love her. loved

Address the stories we tell. Take Take tell. we stories the Address •

• friend and model genius, Octavia. Oh, I I Oh, Octavia. genius, model and friend

Second, ADDRESS Second, ters written as if to my darling, departed departed darling, my to if as written ters

- let and about essays collects book This

more you get, the more I have. I more the get, you more

, from Twelfth Planet Press. Press. Planet Twelfth from , Butler E. via

Genius is not a zero-sum game. The The game. zero-sum a not is Genius

- Octa to Connections Threads: Luminescent

volved in is a nonfiction anthology called called anthology nonfiction a is in volved world.

Another project I’ve been recently in recently been I’ve project Another - own conduit to the heart of the the of heart the to conduit own

understand your own genius, your your genius, own your understand Basically, what we have is us. is have we what Basically, y Poems by Neile Graham

The Goddess of Grace

Dusk shudders slowly, heavily over the water, settling more firmly moment by moment with the moon breaking ever starker through the clouds. This is the scene she sets, her boat sliding over the water, wind-like, gull-like, not at all the sharp genteel promise of an early spring. She knows she should be lurching her way home, but not today. Today is the moment between battles, between storms. The news has all been winter upon winter, etched branches, the north wind cracking down trees strong but not strong enough to hide News of hill-snows too deep to open doors. She shudders. This moment should not be so tame. She feels mountain lions pace around her, but even the heavy pad of their paws speaks of the quiet between gusts of rain, a pause H for breath. She’s on the water, between land, 6 between mountains, there and there, between the slate clouds and slate waters, gazing with sudden hunger at the thin salmon line the moon rides, the clarity the falling sun describes. Let the ones

she has loved and has hurt in her loving

forgive her. This is all that she needs. n

n

Cont. on p. 8 p. on Cont.

There is no god but our linked hands. linked our but god no is There

together. us but god no is there out on here From toward. step to

spring future a building together

other, each protect we for gales, battering the defy we Together

snapping storms, floods, bitter ice. ice. bitter floods, storms, snapping

winds, biting the to ha! Say bulwarked. and bound loosely

palms mittened freshly linking

storms, the against outside step labours, our with warm And

hats, scarves, and blankets we’re so rich with. with. rich so we’re blankets and scarves, hats,

sweaters, the forged, have we candles the out share winter, for

homes ready still can we but late It’s

hands. clever our breath, and pulse our of garments composing

to newly gather, weaving and knitting, knitting, and weaving gather, newly to

Began stand. to began we one by one before breath our catch to

huddled we alone, Cold, feet. naked our under

shifting ground raw, us left It storm. bewildering a in away tore

7

each night came earlier. But then the leaves leaves the then But earlier. came night each

gradually how missed we days warm long the In stories. like i

Then we had time to rinse, to comb, to spin fibers fibers spin to comb, to rinse, to time had we Then

becks? clear-tumbling the stones, known the hollows, familiar the to

To recover their lambs and set out into the fells fells the into out set and lambs their recover To

grasses? summer-calm the tear to free ewes the set hands

from fleece. Did we see how our lanolined lanolined our how see we Did fleece. from

our arms afire. Then washing all the dirt, the shit, picking straw straw picking shit, the dirt, the all washing Then afire. arms our

more and more sheep to bring in, hold and trim, trim, and hold in, bring to sheep more and more

aching, beyond Backs sheering. the then But good. and right was

what knew we Only thrived. we because elsewhere

scavengers the send could We Ha! ravens. disappointing magpies,

fleshed out, to watch the lilting lambs startling startling lambs lilting the watch to out, fleshed

grasses the as argue, to needle, to time had we Afterwards,

alive. fed, perfect, wanted we creatures new

birthing ewes, the tending waiting, hard work, hard such lambing

annoyingly blithe. We were learning, though: learning, were We blithe. annoyingly

safe, certain, were we spring last Just sheep? of clouds these

raising been we have else Why cold. long the

We can keep ourselves into the next spring. We can hold off off hold can We spring. next the into ourselves keep can We The Midwinter Gods Midwinter The Poems by Neile Graham (Cont. from p. 7)

The Goddess of Broken Things

Her broad hands cup a vessel, a bowl nearly round. Rough-glazed, absorbent to capture all that broken things leak, matte and homely in the homey way. Inside it, she is nothing shattered into edges, jagged chunks and a scattering of crumbs that she idly might pick up with her fingertip, examine, then absently lick or flick into the bowl, the ragged edges all of it leaking. Gather herself up and put her there. That is not glue — there is no gluing — but containment. Let her hold herself. Let all her bits lie H one on the other in the bowl of her arms. 8 There is rest in that. Rest, but no way to vacate herself, no vacation, only an intermission before those fingers distractedly reach down inside and begin shifting and lifting and stirring her about. Live, she says. Step out. Be

yourself brave. How else to be whole, but to be

broken again? n

n

spoken word CD. word spoken

y, and a a and y, Memor Blood and Vision

pells for Clear Clear for pells S include collections

their workshop director. Her poetry poetry Her director. workshop their

Workshop, she currently serves as as serves currently she Workshop,

of the Clarion West Writers Writers West Clarion the of

writing and writers. A graduate graduate A writers. and writing

Neile Graham’s life is full of of full is life Graham’s Neile

a different glory. glory. different a

flourish, weeds and vertebrae

weather with awash

that fissures walls. Take me: Take walls. fissures that

all rain, of frost, of

agonies long the

by time. By ivy’s weight, ivy’s By time. by

give yourself away like a prayer a like away yourself give

battles, by overcome

you sacred and blessed till

build, can hands what to

you over spell easy her

Imagine me. A monument monument A me. Imagine

9 let her settle, let her curl curl her let settle, her let

lives. Imagine wreckage. in

thighs your into sleep-sands her

live They fall. i

knead her let lap, your onto

the walls do not exactly not do walls the

let the silky cat pour herself herself pour cat silky the let

And dust. to

dark and velvet red, soft

cracks Mortar clamber. not Do

curtain’s the instead See

Do not trespass. trespass. not Do

scratching raw. scratching

ruin. dangerous Warning: here.

been you’ve demands daily

once was what of speaks

itching the and

weather. What I am am I What weather.

sink a veil between you between veil a sink

all to Open shelter.

slowly curtain internal the let

not now But bred. and

eyes, restless too-bright your Close

inside me folk breathed breathed folk me inside

inhabited, gracious, and

The Goddess of Naps of Goddess The

whole Once story. my

Fragmented walls speak speak walls Fragmented

spark. my foundation, my

spine: my Stone

Tower or folly. or Tower

monument. Ancient ahead.

viewpoint signs: the Read What I Mean When I Talk About Ruins About Talk I When Mean I What y Why Science Is Practiced So Awkwardly Reflections on Gender and Science by Evelyn Fox Keller, Yale University Press, 1985, 178 pp., $18. by Jennifer Stevenson

Keller holds out hope on “The aim of these essays...is the recla- humble, and better socialized scientists, two fronts: that theories mation, from within science, of science both male and female. about how science as a human instead of a masculine proj- Plato, considered the father of sci- should work or should be ect, and the renunciation of the division ence at its earliest and most respectable conducted and by whom of emotional and intellectual labor that root, was obsessed with hierarchy and have never matched all maintains science as a male preserve.” with sexuality in his quest for unity with actual practices by all This modest proposal is how Evelyn Fox the ideal universe, which was realer and actual scientists, and that Keller sums up her powerful book about science itself has taken a truer than the palpable universe. (Tell- the history of gender in science. There is turn away from the models ingly, the Greek word sumeimi translates that comforted age-old far too much excellent scholarship, too as unity and also as sexual intercourse.) masculine anxieties…. much even-handed and nonjudgmental This unity is accessible only via intel- argument in these nine articles to re- lect fueled by the correct kind of sexual capitulate thoroughly here. I can only love: the love an adult male philosopher summarize in broad sweeps the arc of feels for a boy. He prescribed the proper Keller’s reading in the history of science boy-love-object’s social class, the desir- and its parents, philosophy and magic, able degree and order of attaining en- tracing the roots of masculine anxieties lightenment appropriate to each, even about self and maternal power as they the ideal sex positions for this dyad of have become embedded in our language, truth seekers. We still speak of Plato in especially our language about science. our schoolrooms, of his fiery hierarchi- Briefly, Keller’s nine articles come in cal ideal universe, always above and more three parts: a history of gender in early H perfect than our own. We don’t mention scientific thought, an analysis of how his sex life much. 10 ideas about masculinity become en- Some of Plato’s ideas were further meshed with ideas about science in early pursued in the work of medieval think- childhood development, and the exten- ers, who called themselves magicians sion of these understandings to a view and scientists interchangeably. Students of how three thousand years of gendered of the history of science are more famil- discourse are expressed in very modern masculine anxieties. She shows how this iar with the medieval notion that nature discourse self-selects for the modern was a vast, unknowable goddess who stereotype of the ideal scientist, follows could confer knowledge and ultimately the process of how that stereotype ex- power upon a magician who performed cludes women from science, and illus- the right alchemical rituals, visualized trates that process with a case study of a the right sexually charged imagery in his famous and highly honored woman sci- primitive laboratory, and purified himself entist whose work was at first ignored, sexually and spiritually with the right then suppressed in favor of more mas- prayers, abstinence, and diet. Modern culine scientific models, then ultimately students are less aware that these medi- vindicated. eval and early Renaissance thinkers re- Keller holds out hope on two fronts: vered nature, humbled themselves before that theories about how science should her indomitable power, expressed grati- work or should be conducted and by tude for her bounty, viewed themselves as whom have never matched all actual the submissive wooers of divine nature, practices by all actual scientists, and and conceived at least in theory an eter- that science itself has taken a turn away nal equality between male and female.

Grandmother Magma from the models that comforted age-old Francis Bacon is hailed in the history

masculine anxieties and toward broader, of science as the man who codified a

less gendered because less anxious, more movement in the late sixteenth and early n

n

nature, which was was which nature, above and of outside

subject, objectifying all around him. around all objectifying subject, Cont. on p. 12 p. on Cont.

ous magic, arguing that only by staying staying by only that arguing magic, ous embodying in his sense of self the role of of role the self of sense his in embodying

- danger politically and old-fashioned seeks validation for his masculinity by by masculinity his for validation seeks

tivity, taking a polarized position against against position polarized a taking tivity, power, the male child going forward forward going child male the power,

- objec invented also Bacon man. to and to reject maternal connectedness and and connectedness maternal reject to

rior in every way to masculine properties properties masculine to way every in rior he comes to identify with his father and and father his with identify to comes he

- infe such, as and, feminine as identified his autonomy. From the point at which which at point the From autonomy. his

ful marriage. All her properties were were properties her All marriage. ful trust, emotion, intimacy) is a threat to to threat a is intimacy) emotion, trust,

- law and chaste in subdue to possess, to any form of connectedness (softness, (softness, connectedness of form any

man, a chattel for him lawfully to plow, plow, to lawfully him for chattel a man,

he is always subject to the anxiety that that anxiety the to subject always is he

sphere of child-rearing. of sphere

speechless, weak; she was God’s gift to to gift God’s was she weak; speechless,

is severed completely from his mother, mother, his from completely severed is

been removed from the the from removed been

moted nature: she was mindless, soulless, soulless, mindless, was she nature: moted

rare male child who severs himself or or himself severs who child male rare

telling for Keller) men had had men Keller) for telling

- de He battle. this in sides took Bacon

nectedness, and since it is a statistically statistically a is it since and nectedness, earlier levels, and (most (most and levels, earlier

larized every level of society. of level every larized

had been reduced from from reduced been had - con for exchange in autonomy fered

- po sexes the between battle The courts.

aspect of women’s rights rights women’s of aspect - of are they indeed, connectedness; of

and popes down to lawmakers and the the and lawmakers to down popes and

waiting to happen, every every happen, to waiting omy from their mothers at the expense expense the at mothers their from omy

to bear by forces ranging from kings kings from ranging forces by bear to nature was a colony colony a was nature

- auton develop children Male mothers.

seventeenth century, century, seventeenth nations...sound familiar?) was brought brought was familiar?) nations...sound

isolating child-rearing in the hands of of hands the in child-rearing isolating

By the end of the the of end the By subject peoples, and enemy religions and and religions enemy and peoples, subject

are perpetuated today by the practice of of practice the by today perpetuated are

tionary pushback against women (and (and women against pushback tionary

The masculine anxieties of Bacon’s era era Bacon’s of anxieties masculine The

- reac Tremendous highs. new hit power,

many other aspects of our culture.) our of aspects other many

line anxiety, particularly among those in in those among particularly anxiety, line

course recognize these consequences in in consequences these recognize course

- Mascu fast. too changing was world

language of modern science. (One can of of can (One science. modern of language

a suddenly universal phenomenon. The The phenomenon. universal suddenly a

of Baconian thought as it survives in the the in survives it as thought Baconian of

tantly, the dissemination of information, information, of dissemination the tantly,

covers the psychological consequences consequences psychological the covers

- impor more and, education made press

11

The second group of three articles articles three of group second The

ing jobs available to all, and the printing printing the and all, to available jobs ing

from here. from i - manufactur and cash made trading sea

nine essays. We proceed more briskly briskly more proceed We essays. nine

created and fostered by intercontinental intercontinental by fostered and created

I’ve only covered the first third of the the of third first the covered only I’ve

the war, the burgeoning credit economy economy credit burgeoning the war, the

child-rearing. child-rearing.

ing steadily laid waste by war. In spite of of spite In war. by waste laid steadily ing

had been removed from the sphere of of sphere the from removed been had

- be world a in vocal highly were they and

els, and (most telling for Keller) men men Keller) for telling (most and els,

shops and land and even factory jobs, jobs, factory even and land and shops

- lev earlier from reduced been had

educated, had money and trades and and trades and money had educated,

happen, every aspect of women’s rights rights women’s of aspect every happen,

meek, illiterate housewives. They were were They housewives. illiterate meek,

century, nature was a colony waiting to to waiting colony a was nature century,

beginning of Bacon’s era were far from from far were era Bacon’s of beginning

things female under a bus. a under female things

to come. By the end of the seventeenth seventeenth the of end the By come. to

and upper-class European women at the the at women European upper-class and

God, and by throwing all all throwing by and God,

things deemed feminine, for centuries centuries for feminine, deemed things

centuries, takes sharp notice. Middle- Middle- notice. sharp takes centuries,

chattel gifted to man by by man to gifted chattel

of Renaissance woman’s power, and of all all of and power, woman’s Renaissance of

habits of oppressors down through the the through down oppressors of habits

goddess to a mindless mindless a to goddess

scientists from burning, but at the cost cost the at but burning, from scientists

nist historian, tracing the ideologies and and ideologies the tracing historian, nist nature from all-powerful all-powerful from nature

and temporal power saved science and and science saved power temporal and

The latter is of course where a femi a where course of is latter The - mentioned: by reducing reducing by mentioned:

ence on the side of entrenched clerical clerical entrenched of side the on ence this day and the other not not other the and day this all things female under a bus. a under female things all

- sci of positioning political Bacon’s ways, one celebrated to to celebrated one ways, gifted to man by God, and by throwing throwing by and God, by man to gifted

and domination. and from the bonfire in two two in bonfire the from powerful goddess to a mindless chattel chattel mindless a to goddess powerful

the practice of science science of practice the justifying man’s God-granted ownership ownership God-granted man’s justifying mentioned: by reducing nature from all- from nature reducing by mentioned:

Bacon’s reasoning rescued rescued reasoning Bacon’s

to colonized nations and peoples, thus thus peoples, and nations colonized to celebrated to this day and the other not not other the and day this to celebrated

Her properties were attributed likewise likewise attributed were properties Her science from the bonfire in two ways, one one ways, two in bonfire the from science

powerful, lofty, enlightened, masculine enlightened, lofty, powerful, . con’s reasoning rescued the practice of of practice the rescued reasoning con’s

tent subject: intellectual, cold, pure, hard, hard, pure, cold, intellectual, subject: tent and heretics died in their thousands. Ba thousands. their in died heretics and -

was the eternal object, he the omnipo the he object, eternal the was - On both sides of the war, witches burned burned witches war, the of sides both On

full knowledge and power over her. She She her. over power and knowledge full nally at war, Protestant against Catholic. Catholic. against Protestant war, at nally

imperfect, could man hope to obtain obtain to hope man could imperfect, especially anxious time. Europe was eter was Europe time. anxious especially -

stupid, dirty, dark, female, tainted, and and tainted, female, dark, dirty, stupid, al concerns from scientific ones. It was an an was It ones. scientific from concerns al

seventeenth centuries to separate spiritu separate to centuries seventeenth - low, emotional, hot, moist, weak, soft, soft, weak, moist, hot, emotional, low, Why Science… On a hopeful note, Keller again points Listen to the material. out that masculine anxiety is not the rul- (Cont. from p. 11) Develop a feeling for the organism ing reality for all men — but it embodies and observe your feeling as well as an ideal held up to all men, especially the organism. to certain kinds of men, and especially to scientists. Similarly she acknowl- Approach the data humbly. edges that science as practiced by scien- “In my vision of science,” she adds in tists in the real world does not adhere her own words, “it is not the taming of 100% to Bacon’s ideal. She explores first nature that is sought, but the taming of the impact of quantum physics and its hegemony.” And finally, also in her own uncertainties upon other sciences, and words, near the book’s end, Keller de- points out how Baconian/Newtonian scribes the heart of her approach to sci- Keller…points out that physicists of today have struggled to entific philosophy: hold onto their determinism, even while masculine anxiety is not “Difference is more than they try to accommodate and incorpo- the ruling reality for all contaminated data; it is a signpost, rate quantum mechanics into it. She men — but it embodies an invitation to understanding.” an ideal held up to all discusses the career of Barbara Mc- men,…and especially to Clintock, biogenetics pioneer and No- There’s an enormous amount of meat scientists. bel prizewinner. McClintock and her in Keller’s essays. I can’t fully describe work stand on the edge of the scientific how valuable this book is without quot- revolution. She doggedly worked to her ing it in toto, but my hope is that I’ve own values and goals, scantily funded for intrigued you enough to buy the book decades, survived the Crick and Watson and give it a look. era of “master molecule” genetics theory Reflections on Gender and Science is (which opposed and temporarily silenced widely available in a tenth anniversary her more global, less masculine model), H paperback edition and in the original edi- and emerged triumphant on what is still, tion from used book dealers everywhere. 12 decades later, a threshold of change. Keller hopes for a new kind of science and scientific language that is open to all the data, not just data that fits into the experimenter’s model, that respects and accepts multiplicity, that seeks to under- stand all factors of how nature works rather than driving toward domination and control. She suggests that a more dynamic form of autonomy — more tol- erant of the inevitably ambiguous bound- Jennifer Stevenson is the author of She urges scientists not ary between subject and object, wisely 17 published novels and 22 short to fear and deny their more cognizant of and accounting for stories. She’s a founding member of emotional responses to the the observer’s unavoidable biases and Book View Café, the world’s oldest, data but to notice them, their influence upon the observed — can largest, most prestigious author- and to interrogate them as save science, and is indeed in the process owned publishing collective. She deeply as they interrogate writes about gender, class, age, race, of doing so. She urges scientists not to the data. and religion in fluffy, funny, sugar- fear and deny their emotional responses coated genre novels. Find her at to the data but to notice them, and to in- http://jenniferstevenson.com. terrogate them as deeply as they inter- rogate the data. Here are a few of Keller’s principles, gleaned from McClintock and other pioneers, for a new approach to science:

Anything you can think of you will

find in nature. n

n

featured artist, Chris Roberts Chris artist, featured

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August Harry of Lives Fifteen First The

Altered Portraits from Portraits Altered

13

i y The Road to Where You Belong The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire: Every Heart a Doorway, Tor.com, April 2016, 176 pp, $17.99; Down among the Sticks and Bones, Tor.com, June 2017, 192 pp, $17.99; Beneath the Sugar Sky, Tor.com, January 2018, 176 pp., $17.99. reviewed by Arley Sorg

At a glance, the Wayward Children se- (believing she was kidnapped) and enroll ries is about “portal” stories: tales where in- her in the Home as a last resort, hoping dividuals, often children, wander through it will fix everything. From Nancy’s per- a mysterious doorway (literally or figura- spective, she has spent years in an Un- These adventures are tively) to have an adventure in a strange derworld where quiet and stillness are marked by wonder and land. These adventures are marked by exalted. Her hair has turned white with danger. wonder and danger. Well-known classic black streaks, and she is even more out examples include Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s of place in the “real” world than she had Adventures in Wonderland, The Chronicles been before she left. The Underworld is of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, even The Won- the only place she feels at home. derful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Remember those introductory words, and J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy. Neil “At a glance”? Gaiman’s Coraline and Tim Burton’s The While it’s true that Nancy feels out of Nightmare Before Christmas carried on place in the “real” world, she immediately the trope, and the tradition continues meets other residents of the Home — with the works of authors such as V.E. children and adolescents — who feel out Schwab (the Shades of Magic series), of place not only in the “real” world, but Maria Dahvana Headley (Magonia and who, like her, also grew up feeling out of H Aerie), and Catherynne M. Valente (the place in society in general. Though each Fairyland series). has had a different sort of adventure in a 14 In classic portal stories, wandering different kind of world, they are brought children inevitably come home. Dorothy, together by a commonality of strange- while yearning to leave her small town ness, by the oddness of their lives and the at the outset of The Wonderful Wizard of sense of being at odds with people who Oz, eventually discovers that “There’s no just don’t get them. place like home,” and by the story’s end, Nancy is assigned to room with Sumi, all she wants to do is be back amongst who is as exuberant as Nancy is reserved; the familiar with her family. and who — fittingly — went to a nonsen- Not all children return from adven- sical sort of fairyland, one vastly differ- tures with the same sentiment. ent from Nancy’s. Nancy makes friends The first installment of the Wayward with a few other notable students, and Children series, Every Heart a Door- soon after that, students start dying. The way, explores the lives of children after plot develops as a murder mystery with their portal adventures have ended and light horror tones, and Nancy and her their magical worlds have coughed them new friends must work together to both back into the “real” world, slamming the survive and solve the mystery. door shut behind them. In this series, The heart of Every Heart is diverse the luckiest of these kids are admitted representation, and feeling like an out- to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward cast, and even feeling like an outcast Children, a boarding school designed for within a community of outcasts. The returnees who yearn to go back to their people in the story and the truths of portal worlds. their social lives are among the greatest Nancy Whitman is an adolescent who strengths of the piece. As a metaphor

Reviews returned from such a portal world for- for life within “misfit” communities (sci-

ever changed. Her parents dismiss the ence fiction conventions for example,

possibility of an actual fantasy adventure or gaming groups), the story brilliantly n

n

grandmother left behind. They open the the open They behind. left grandmother beforehand.

Cont. on p. 16 p. on Cont.

One day, they find a trunk their their trunk a find they day, One sibilities of all the tensions set in place place in set tensions the all of sibilities

the roles the parents planned for them. for planned parents the roles the - pos the out laying finally and rolling,

grandmother away, locking the kids into into kids the locking away, grandmother - un everything emotions, built-up and

to be. The parents find out and send the the send and out find parents The be. to quences, the culmination of decisions decisions of culmination the quences,

death is inevitable. is death

them that they can be however they want want they however be can they that them - conse in exercise riveting a becomes

monsters are real and and real are monsters

had expected, and she surreptitiously tells tells surreptitiously she and expected, had

The last third of this story, however, however, story, this of third last The

where villagers know know villagers where

children is not quite what their parents parents their what quite not is children

them or handed to them. to handed or them

with atmosphere, a setting setting a atmosphere, with

Louise raises them for a time, as having having as time, a for them raises Louise

ements of the story are either forced on on forced either are story the of ements

fairy tale gothic, filled filled gothic, tale fairy

a doll on display. The twins’ grandmother grandmother twins’ The display. on doll a

- el key but Nancy, than decision-makers is a a is Bones and Sticks

herself with playing. She lives the life of of life the lives She playing. with herself

scope: Jack and Jill are bigger actors and and actors bigger are Jill and Jack scope:

maculate princess, taught to fear dirtying dirtying fear to taught princess, maculate

itself falling into a pattern of limited limited of pattern a into falling itself

- im an as raised is Jacqueline not. or to

fascination with the landscape, the plot plot the landscape, the with fascination

told to do so, whether she really wants wants really she whether so, do to told

The book’s story relies heavily on a a on heavily relies story book’s The

and play and jump in the mud, and is is and mud, the in jump and play and

vironment that restricts them. restricts that vironment

father who’d wanted a son. She can run run can She son. a wanted who’d father

- en an in be than themselves be can they

ents. Jillian is raised as a tomboy by a a by tomboy a as raised is Jillian ents.

rather live in a nightmare world where where world nightmare a in live rather

- par their by roles gender-specific into

ment is sewn into the plot: some would would some plot: the into sewn is ment

Jacqueline and Jillian are twins, pushed pushed twins, are Jillian and Jacqueline

- argu clear fairly A inevitable. is death

is offered as a meal. a as offered is Heart Every

villagers know monsters are real and and real are monsters know villagers

one of the glittering morsels glimpsed in in glimpsed morsels glittering the of one

filled with atmosphere, a setting where where setting a atmosphere, with filled

, Jacqueline and Jillian. Here Here Jillian. and Jacqueline , Heart Every

is a fairy tale gothic, gothic, tale fairy a is Bones and Sticks

tures of two important characters from from characters important two of tures

of their new world. new their of

- adven portal-world the detailing prequel

posed upon them by the rules (and ruler) ruler) (and rules the by them upon posed

is a a is Bones and Sticks the Among Down

- im situations about choices make must

15 unearned and a bit unsatisfying. bit a and unearned

into bloody conflict with each other, and and other, each with conflict bloody into

and major players, and resolutions feel feel resolutions and players, major and

i

to miss each other. Until they are cast cast are they Until other. each miss to

fold out of the hands of the protagonist protagonist the of hands the of out fold

about each other change, and they grow grow they and change, other each about

- un events significant Nonetheless, ences.

relationships develop, their thoughts thoughts their develop, relationships

- experi character’s her with consistent be

In their separation, their lives and and lives their separation, their In

a few precise lines. precise few a inactivity within the plot might might plot the within inactivity — virtue

they have longed. have they

crafted within the span of of span the within crafted she has been in a land where stillness is a a is stillness where land a in been has she

glimpse a glittering lure, lure, glittering a glimpse of home in taking on the roles for which which for roles the on taking in home of

perience wonder. One might argue that that argue might One wonder. perience

tantalizing imagery, each each imagery, tantalizing

enmity and envies, they feel a deep sense sense deep a feel they envies, and enmity

- ex to Home the into reader the brings

the reader fixated on on fixated reader the

work of a magical world). Despite their their Despite world). magical a of work

she is a fairly inactive protagonist who who protagonist inactive fairly a is she

between students leave leave students between

- frame the (within science about learns

tions. Nancy functions in a similar way: way: similar a in functions Nancy tions.

told mostly in exchanges exchanges in mostly told

works with her hands, gets dirty, and and dirty, gets hands, her with works

- ac their of consequences the facing and Glimpses of adventures adventures of Glimpses

scientist” who opposes the vampire. Jack Jack vampire. the opposes who scientist” er than making well-defined decisions decisions well-defined making than er

comes Jack and apprentices to the “mad “mad the to apprentices and Jack comes may be carried on the tide of events, rath events, of tide the on carried be may -

father squeezed her into. Jacqueline be Jacqueline into. her squeezed father - The protagonist of classic portal stories stories portal classic of protagonist The

out of the “masculine” standards that her her that standards “masculine” the of out precise lines. precise

ostensible ruler of the land, she breaks breaks she land, the of ruler ostensible ing lure, crafted within the span of a few few a of span the within crafted lure, ing

to become a princess. Joining the the Joining princess. a become to — heir - glitter a glimpse each imagery, talizing

the chance to become his daughter and and daughter his become to chance the students leave the reader fixated on tan on fixated reader the leave students -

a vampire lord’s protégé and offered offered and protégé lord’s vampire a tures told mostly in exchanges between between exchanges in mostly told tures

frilly dress and be pretty, is adopted as as adopted is pretty, be and dress frilly - adven of Glimpses returned. has child

Jillian, who always wanted to have a a have to wanted always who Jillian, are the portal worlds from which each each which from worlds portal the are

Arguably the stars of the first book book first the of stars the Arguably which all other moors had been derived.” been had moors other all which

their backgrounds, and their emotions. emotions. their and backgrounds, their Moor, “the single platonic ideal from from ideal platonic single “the Moor,

memorable, each detailed in their desires, desires, their in detailed each memorable, a grim horror-style landscape called the the called landscape horror-style grim a

brush strokes. Characters are specific and and specific are Characters strokes. brush take the stairs and enter a portal world: world: portal a enter and stairs the take

ship, and tension in efficient but colorful colorful but efficient in tension and ship, stairs winding down into the dark. They They dark. the into down winding stairs

depicts varying degrees of relief, kin relief, of degrees varying depicts - trunk and discover, impossibly, wooden wooden impossibly, discover, and trunk The Road to Beneath the Sugar Sky, the third in the find the Baker, who uses the First Oven Where You Belong Wayward Children series, is nothing less in a demigod-like capacity to keep the than an exciting portal world crossover world running. (Cont. from p. 15) story. This may not sound logical, but I Beneath opens with lyrical, poetic lan- think of it in terms of Superman vs. The guage, and is well stocked in ideas and Amazing Spider-Man, JLA/Avengers… images. Cora’s development as a person Alien vs. Predator! is moving, and her relatability is marvel- From the outset, there Imagine if Dorothy and Alice met af- ous. Relationships shift, talents are test- is a shimmering, playful ter their adventures were done. Maybe ed, and the characters grow. feminism, exemplified in they become friends, maybe not. But In a slight twist on the Wizard of exchanges such as a scene they have to go to Fantasia (from The Oz theme, Cora longs to return to the where Kade offers Rini NeverEnding Story) and work together oceans of her own adventures, but as far clothes: to rescue Peter Pan…. as other worlds are concerned, adventure “Why?” asked Rini Months after the events of Every takes its toll: peevishly. “Are you Heart, a mysterious girl with candy corn insulted by my vagina, Quests were a lot like dogs, Cora too? Do people in this eyes falls into a turtle pond at the Home. thought. They were much more world not have them?” Her finery, made of sugar, quickly dis- attractive when seen from a solves. She is discovered by a new pro- distance, and not barking in the tagonist, Cora, and Cora’s friend Nadya, middle of the night or pooping all both enrolled in the Home after water over the house. adventures. The girl is Onishi Rini, a native of the As a whole, the series forms a complex world of Confection, a Nonsense world. plotline. Worlds are fascinating and rich Her human mother was killed in Every and endless, their foundations built from Heart before she could find her way back the familiar to make them easily acces- to Confection, despite a prophecy that sible, their expanses gilded with new H she was to return. In Rini’s original re- ideas. But movements in the books’ plots ality, her mother came back a few years often feel contrived to showcase these 16 later, decidedly not murdered, had Rini settings, and the world shown too long with a candy corn farmer, and lived hap- loses its luster. pily ever after. Due to the mother be- Each novella is told in a wandering ing murdered, Rini was never born and omniscient third person, and their nar- her existence begins to unravel from the ratives shift casually from semiformal to moment she splashes down. conversational. Clever moments bring Keep in mind that time does not nec- welcome levity to what could otherwise essarily operate in portal worlds in the be dark and brooding, without filing off same way that it operates in ours, espe- the teeth of the narrative’s biting social cially in a Nonsense world. commentary. Protagonists occasionally Cora and Nadya enlist the help of slip from primacy, and narratives border other characters from the first book, on ensemble pieces. A fitting device for such as Kade, who is being groomed to fairytales and portal adventures in some Clever moments bring ways, it also results in lengthy exposition, welcome levity to what take over the school. and occasionally mutes emotional affect could otherwise be dark From the outset, there is a shimmer- and brooding, without ing, playful feminism, exemplified in through distanced storytelling (simply filing off the teeth of the exchanges such as a scene where Kade telling the reader what’s what, rather narrative’s biting social offers Rini clothes: than letting characters discover, reveal, commentary. “Why?” asked Rini peevishly. “Are you or feel these same moments). insulted by my vagina, too? Do people in The Wayward Children series is a this world not have them?” fantastic exploration of perspectives and The group undertakes a quest to bring individuals, giving time and importance Rini’s dead parent back to life. Their to people who are often misrepresented, quest takes them first to an Underworld, missing, or at the least, misunderstood.

and then to Confection, where they But it’s not just that, it’s not simply put-

must challenge the Queen of Cakes and ting them on the page, it’s going a step n

n

gin with the question, “Have you ever ever you “Have question, the with gin the most basic, to find “a place you can can you place “a find to basic, most the

Cont. on p. 18 p. on Cont.

- be book the throughout conversations like?” Or they want to find healing, or at at or healing, find to want they Or like?”

if you had that power, what would it be be it would what power, that had you if sation about molestation, and multiple multiple and molestation, about sation

thing new? If you could create a world, world, a create could you If new? thing - conver a with begins It assault. sexual

- some create we do “How question: the is a utopian book about about book utopian a is Mountain reveals the violence. the reveals

People come to the Mountain to answer answer to Mountain the to come People snow and tents that collapse in the rain. rain. the in collapse that tents and snow melts the ice and slowly slowly and ice the melts

Pflug is a utopianist, is the thing. thing. the is utopianist, a is Pflug wet place, heavy with mud and lingering lingering and mud with heavy place, wet for eons. Global warming warming Global eons. for

bodies buried in glaciers glaciers in buried bodies row, and still it’s hard. it’s still and row, ture, each other, and their past lives. It’s a a It’s lives. past their and other, each ture,

again traumas surface like like surface traumas again know how each word will fall into its its into fall will word each how know - na with touch in get to California ern

been raped?” Again and and Again raped?” been And still it’s hard to write about. I I about. write to hard it’s still And - north of slopes sub-alpine the to come

question, “Have you ever ever you “Have question,

before I see it on my screen. my on it see I before ers displaced by the “Cli-Apocalypse” “Cli-Apocalypse” the by displaced ers

the book begin with the the with begin book the

predictable. The way I know each word word each know I way The predictable. - oth of crowd a and She mother. her by

conversations throughout throughout conversations

to me. The way every story is so fucking fucking so is story every way The me. to year-old girl who is left on the mountain mountain the on left is who girl year-old

molestation, and multiple multiple and molestation,

seconds later. It’s the sameness that gets gets that sameness the It’s later. seconds

the summer. The narrator is a sixteen- a is narrator The summer. the a conversation about about conversation a

clicked to read and then clicked out of of out clicked then and read to clicked hippies, and silly utopianists gather for for gather utopianists silly and hippies, assault. It begins with with begins It assault.

I haven’t remembered, whose stories I’ve I’ve stories whose remembered, haven’t I camp where drifters, lost children, old old children, lost drifters, where camp book about sexual sexual about book

Countless powerful men whose names names whose men powerful Countless Mountain is a utopian utopian a is Mountain an unnamed mountain, in a communal communal a in mountain, unnamed an

in print. Weinstein. Halperin. Spacey. Spacey. Halperin. Weinstein. print. in dian writer Ursula Pflug, takes place on on place takes Pflug, Ursula writer dian

whispered about have been set down down set been have about whispered - Cana from book sixth the , Mountain

This year many things that were only only were that things many year This about.

this. Some things are impossible to talk talk to impossible are things Some

I’m having a hard time writing about about writing time hard a having I’m about this book. book. this about

slowly reveals the violence. the reveals slowly express what I thought I what express — — felt I what —

eons. Global warming melts the ice and and ice the melts warming Global eons. To tell her I couldn’t find the words to to words the find couldn’t I her tell To

surface like bodies buried in glaciers for for glaciers in buried bodies like surface emailed my editor, twice, to tell her this. this. her tell to twice, editor, my emailed

17 been raped?” Again and again traumas traumas again and Again raped?” been I almost almost I book. this about write can’t I

i

eviewed by Joanne Rixon Joanne by eviewed r

by Ursula Pflug, Inanna Publications, May 2017, 104 pp., $18.95. pp., 104 2017, May Publications, Inanna Pflug, Ursula by Mountain

A Place You Can Come Can You Place A y

and hopes to launch more. launch to hopes and

short stories into orbit, orbit, into stories short

novel, has thrown a few few a thrown has novel, to not belong. not to West’s School West’s everyone who who everyone —

He’s soldering together a a together soldering He’s like you, who know what it is to long and and long to is it what know who you, like Everyone who wound up at Eleanor Eleanor at up wound who Everyone

. . Magazine Locus at editor there are others who are (more or less) less) or (more are who others are there

even at the cost of loss: of cost the at even

graduate, he’s an assistant assistant an he’s graduate,

It may not be your portal world, but but world, portal your be not may It

“home,” even at the cost of hardship, hardship, of cost the at even “home,”

Writing Workshop Workshop Writing

Home for you, a place where you belong. belong. you where place a you, for Home

liness, and a longing to belong, to find find to belong, to longing a and liness,

shops. A 2014 Odyssey Odyssey 2014 A shops.

if you’ve lost your portal world, there’s a a there’s world, portal your lost you’ve if

in the veins of characters, pain and lone and pain characters, of veins the in -

writes in local coffee coffee local in writes

Among these messages is the notion that that notion the is messages these Among

Pain pulses through these pages, trapped trapped pages, these through pulses Pain

Oakland, California and and California Oakland,

sage of hope; in fact, there are several. several. are there fact, in hope; of sage

vella is laced with heartbreaking truths. truths. heartbreaking with laced is vella Arley Sorg lives in in lives Sorg Arley

- mes a carry also stories these But emotions to the books’ readers. Each no Each readers. books’ the to emotions -

get out. get series and a courage in baring difficult difficult baring in courage a and series

bones, gnawing constantly, trying to to trying constantly, gnawing bones, ness throughout the Wayward Children Children Wayward the throughout ness truths. truths.

a need trapped somewhere in their their in somewhere trapped need a deft undeniable consistent, a is There - laced with heartbreaking heartbreaking with laced

that are relatable. are that were worse, but because they had had they because but worse, were readers. Each novella is is novella Each readers.

acters, and interpersonal complications complications interpersonal and acters, other people and not because they they because not and people other emotions to the books’ books’ the to emotions

courage in baring difficult difficult baring in courage - char sparkling of array this brutality, Not because they were better than than better were they because Not

Children series; and a a and series; Children storytelling is balanced by simplistic simplistic by balanced is storytelling wouldn’t necessarily understand. understand. necessarily wouldn’t

throughout the Wayward Wayward the throughout in their own shapes and colors. Fairytale Fairytale colors. and shapes own their in for something that other people people other that something for

undeniable deftness deftness undeniable

into these characters, letting them shine shine them letting characters, these into it was to spend a lifetime waiting waiting lifetime a spend to was it

There is a consistent, consistent, a is There

understood what what understood — pride infuses Children Wayward farther: found a door a found A Place You come.” But you can’t write about safety ironic detachment. The prose is simple Can Come without a conversation about why safety and lovely. The descriptions of life in a is so necessary, and maybe Pflug ran into transient camp feel authentic; conversely, (Cont. from p. 17) the same problem I’m having: it’s hard to though, the whiteness of the characters find the words. and of the overall aesthetic does not feel What would it be like to be safe? authentic at all, and is nearly unbearable. Where can a powerless person go to Mountain is structured as a personal di- be free of violence? ary, a strategy that only barely works. She can go to a hidden place. But the The “interview” chapters were previously Mountain isn’t a perfect retreat. As the published as short stories, and they read book slyly admits, though it’s ostensibly like it. There is a subtle hopefulness wo- an anarchist commune, the organizers ven throughout the book that I did find have filed “legion and complex” permit persuasive and moving. I don’t know if this is the paperwork. The absence of power and I could say: the ending ties everything book you need to read control is an illusion; at best the Moun- up too neatly. It’s a utopian thought, that in 2018. Maybe it isn’t. tain is practice to prepare for a time the evil men do will come to light and Maybe we’re finally moving when the state stops existing, an approx- then we will band together and break into an era where we imation. A guess. free. We will speak, and it will have been can ask for better than a Maybe safety looks like this: a four- one guy the whole time: The Villain. retreat from the world. person outhouse without walls between Maybe some people have actually had the seats because the anarcho-syndical- that experience; for those readers, this ists building it ran out of materials, and book might feel empowering. But in instead of searching for more planks my experience, in real life, it’s not just turned it into therapy, turned it into a one guy. In real life, you speak up, and place to communally release old injuries. the edifice of power shrugs and moves I don’t know if this is a good book, on. There isn’t just one Villain, there are H is what I’m trying to say. I don’t know many, everywhere, hiding in plain sight. if this is the book you need to read in Nowhere is safe. 18 2018. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe we’re finally But all of that is not — quite — what I moving into an era where we can ask want to say. What I want to say there are for better than a retreat from the world. no words for. For me, reading Mountain Maybe we can speak loudly and clearly, flooded me with a feeling like the sweet- and expect to be heard: This is the name ness of pressing on a bruise. This feeling of the man who hurt me. This is how he overflowed my whole chest, my heart did it, and when. and my lungs until I thought I might The descriptions of life Pflug would like putting things down choke, or drown. in a transient camp feel on paper to be the answer, I think, but authentic; conversely, can’t quite make herself believe it. It’s though, the whiteness of in the structure of the book: Mountain the characters and of the is less than a hundred pages long, and overall aesthetic does not the narrator switches between names feel authentic at all, and several times. Information is some- is nearly unbearable. times dropped into the text as a casual reference, as though it has been men- tioned before although in fact it has not. Throughout the main story, surrealist magical narratives are inserted as retell- Joanne Rixon lives in ings of stories told by minor characters. Seattle and has a BA People dissociate, speak vaguely, change in History from the the subject, and then mention that University of Washington. they’re talking around something with- Her fiction has appeared in out clarifying what it is no one is saying. Crossed Genres Magazine.

There are a few things I could say about

Mountain if I exercise a little of my own n

n

the most racist of the nonsensical claims claims nonsensical the of racist most the Skin.” A right-wing radio host named named host radio right-wing A Skin.”

Cont. on p. 20 p. on Cont.

Mosley tackles the oldest and arguably arguably and oldest the tackles Mosley is in noir novelist Eric Beetner’s “True “True Beetner’s Eric novelist noir in is

tion, “A Different Frame of Reference,” Reference,” of Frame Different “A tion, one turn on the book’s stage. The first first The stage. book’s the on turn one

- contribu his In fiction. science Futurist pulpish lizard-men take more than than more take lizard-men pulpish

­ Afro regarded highly of author an dumber conspiracy “theories,” the über- the “theories,” conspiracy dumber

African-American mystery series, and and series, mystery African-American While we’re on the subject of the the of subject the on we’re While

of the Easy Rawlins and other classic classic other and Rawlins Easy the of fans. Trek Star and pulp

that of Walter Mosley, legendary creator creator legendary Mosley, Walter of that changes, in ways that will please both both please will that ways in changes,

The biggest name in the anthology is is anthology the in name biggest The and the Vulkh’n’s character grows and and grows character Vulkh’n’s the and

rupted periodically, alas, by infodumps. by alas, periodically, rupted takes many humorous twists and turns, turns, and twists humorous many takes

- inter derring-do feminist undercover the United States. States. United the to save history. The fast-moving plot plot fast-moving The history. save to

that, you’ll read a rousing adventure of of adventure rousing a read you’ll that,

their tool as president of of president as tool their more emotional white physician, Biden, Biden, physician, white emotional more

American history. If you can get past past get can you If history. American secret conspirators to be be to conspirators secret

is sent back in time with the starship’s starship’s the with time in back sent is

in Kenya and groomed by by groomed and Kenya in and torture of black women throughout throughout women black of torture and

black Vulkh’n Science Officer Bah’rack Bah’rack Officer Science Vulkh’n black

Obama: that he was born born was he that Obama: disturbing resonances with the abuse abuse the with resonances disturbing

Continuing Mission,” the coolly logical logical coolly the Mission,” Continuing

claims about Barack Barack about claims

captive Mrs. Obama, creating strong, strong, creating Obama, Mrs. captive

sic pulp hero, the Green Lama. In “...The “...The In Lama. Green the hero, pulp sic

racist of the nonsensical nonsensical the of racist

evil white dude prepares to torture the the torture to prepares dude white evil

- clas a reviving for known best probably

and arguably the most most the arguably and

difficult start with its opening scene: an an scene: opening its with start difficult

tion from Adam Lance Garcia, a writer writer a Garcia, Lance Adam from tion Mosley tackles the oldest oldest the tackles Mosley

contribution gets the book off to a very very a to off book the gets contribution

- contribu the in bow second a takes esis

Kozak mystery novels. However, Flora’s Flora’s However, novels. mystery Kozak

- hypoth Obama Born-Elsewhere The

enjoyed the author’s Maine-set Thea Thea Maine-set author’s the enjoyed

seem mystical from some perspectives. some from mystical seem

surable, even persuasive idea, and I’ve I’ve and idea, persuasive even surable,

ence but New Age; and its ending may may ending its and Age; New but ence

- plea a is agent secret kickass as Lady

- Sci Weird isn’t vibe story’s the therewith,

of undercover operatives. The 44th First First 44th The operatives. undercover of

rock that makes a person crave oneness oneness crave person a makes that rock

Michelle Obama and her covert cadre cadre covert her and Obama Michelle

souls and an enlightenment-dispensing enlightenment-dispensing an and souls

fers an alternate (or secret?!?) history of of history secret?!?) (or alternate an fers

19

depictions of energy-melding inter-gene inter-gene energy-melding of depictions

- of Flora Kate writer suspense veteran

another planet. However, between the the between However, planet. another i volume. In “Michelle in Hot Water,” Water,” Hot in “Michelle In volume.

from another nation, but a brother from from brother a but nation, another from

Suitably, femmes fatales open the the open fatales femmes Suitably,

the truth: Obama is not merely an alien alien an merely not is Obama truth: the deliver pure pulp pleasure? pulp pure deliver

fied 99.9% Euro-derived) who learns learns who Euro-derived) 99.9% fied this prose anthology of political satire satire political of anthology prose this

- veri genetically members (its conspiracy thriller ride of pulpy goodness.” Does Does goodness.” pulpy of ride thriller

not-terribly-bright operative of a white white a of operative not-terribly-bright

over-the-top, transcendental psychedelic psychedelic transcendental over-the-top, undercover operatives. operatives. undercover

the United States. The protagonist is the the is protagonist The States. United the with its offer of “satirical works” and “an “an and works” “satirical of offer its with and her covert cadre of of cadre covert her and

spirators to be their tool as president of of president as tool their be to spirators forces the promise of comic-bookish fun fun comic-bookish of promise the forces history of Michelle Obama Obama Michelle of history

- con secret by groomed and Kenya in alternate (or secret?!?) secret?!?) (or alternate - rein copy back-cover The within. wait

Kate Flora offers an an offers Flora Kate about Barack Obama: that he was born born was he that Obama: Barack about science fiction, fantasy, and horror also also horror and fantasy, fiction, science

veteran suspense writer writer suspense veteran Lizard Men!!!”), suggesting comics-style comics-style suggesting Men!!!”), Lizard

“Michelle in Hot Water,” Water,” Hot in “Michelle

(“Femme Fatales [sic], Fake News Bots, Bots, News Fake [sic], Fatales (“Femme

open the volume. In In volume. the open

with its art, design, and come-ons come-ons and design, art, its with ence

Suitably, femmes fatales fatales femmes Suitably,

- Sci Weird and Crypt the From Tales like

pays homage to legendary EC comics comics EC legendary to homage pays

U.S. President Barack Obama. The cover cover The Obama. Barack President U.S.

conspiracy “theories” related to former former to related “theories” conspiracy

crime fiction on a theme of the ludicrous ludicrous the of theme a on fiction crime

promises suspense/mystery/ promises Noir spiracy

- Con of Stories Fifteen Inheritance: Obama

The The anthology new the of subtitle The

eviewed by Cynthia Ward Cynthia by eviewed r

October 2017, 324 pp., $19.95. $19.95. pp., 324 2017, October

The Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir, Conspiracy of Stories Fifteen Inheritance: Obama The edited by Gary Phillips, Three Rooms Press, Press, Rooms Three Phillips, Gary by edited

Mixed Message: The Obama Inheritance Obama The Message: Mixed y Mixed Message Russ (presumably based on Alex Jones, Also effective, if a stone bummer, is (Cont. from p. 19) though the name suggests Rush Lim- “Brother’s Keeper” by comedian/screen- baugh) spouts nutty nonsense about our writer/novelist Danny Gardner. Gen- secret reptilian overlords until he discov- erations of Presidents Trump have ers they’re real. Violence ensues. It’s true plunged the United States into an end- a pulp plot often arrives at a not-wholly- less dystopian nightmare, but one young unexpected ending, but its twists and man discovers the U.S. had an African- turns should offer surprises along the American president and leads his men- way. Alas, I was not much surprised. tally ill brother to the rumored promised The contribution ofCrime Factory land of said POTUS’s egalitarian Chi- magazine editor L. Scott Jose, “Give cago. This science fiction tale operates in Me Your Free, Your Brave, Your Proud not only the crushing dystopian tradition White oppressors merit Masses Yearning to Conquer,” tackles of George Orwell’s 1984 but also the old- satire, to be sure. But the reptilian conspiracy theory with a school prose-noir tradition of losers los- aiming satire at a poor, grimly satirical piece about — not to put ing. Given the main characters are mostly undereducated, perhaps too fine a point on it — a moronic white- lower-income African-Americans, this mentally ill addict of any trash closet-case. Lured by his seducer may leave a bad taste in some readers’ race leaves me not amused and right-wing nut-job guru into drug metaphorical mouths, yet it could leave but saddened. I favor addiction, Custer Kurtz spends years others satisfied that, amid the satirical satire that punches up. alone in a bunker, decoding secret mes- near-future touches, a reality of contem- sages in YouTube videos. Emerging, he porary America is faithfully reflected. finds a truth about reality (or experienc- The anthology’s editor, multi-media es a druggy hallucination?) that, though suspense author Gary Phillips, closes out surprising, will please almost no one the book with “Thus Strikes the Black across the American political spectrum. Pimpernel,” in which another Obama- White oppressors merit satire, to be sure. allied secret agent is involved in another H But aiming satire at a poor, underedu- ongoing guerrilla resistance. This agent 20 cated, perhaps mentally ill addict of any has an alias — the Black Pimpernel —that race leaves me not amused but saddened. evokes both Baroness Orczy’s French I favor satire that punches up. Revolutionary Era operative, the Scarlet Well-educated, well-off elites are ap- Pimpernel, and the South African free- parently the reason for the lone reprint, dom-fighter and president Nelson Man- the medium-near-future-set “At the dela. This is probably the most purely Conglomeroid Cocktail Party” (1982), pulp piece in the anthology, with plenty an excellent work from science fiction of action and mayhem to please aficiona- giant Robert Silverberg. Or perhaps the dos of the form. Albanian “Russians,” expatriate Wikileaker reason for its inclusion is the love in- Sometimes, however, the narrative Edward Snowden, and even terest, who may be viewed as a femme gets in its own way. The opening uses a Russian President Vladimir fatale. However, firmer connections to bunch of media-pundit talking heads to Putin are involved by the pulp fiction, conspiracies, the Obamas, set the scene — an approach that provides rather revolutionary end. the Trumps, the presidency, or political effective infodumps in the visual world of I’d be unsurprised to see satire are invisible. comics but confuses readers in the non- this fast-paced, humorous, It’s female undercover operative vs. fake- visual world of prose. And when the ac- twisty piece of noir pulp news-bot programmers in thriller-author­ tion kicks in, the language can leave the in a year’s-best anthology Lise McClendon’s “Forked Tongue” — no fight scenes difficult to decipher. More or two. reptilians, however, despite the title. Al- generally, the adventure feels like a com- banian “Russians,” expatriate Wikileak- ics script adapted to prose, and I hope it er Edward Snowden, and even Russian eventually does receive the comic book President Vladimir Putin are involved treatment it deserves. In fact, I’m hoping by the rather revolutionary end. I’d be for a series of graphic novels starring the unsurprised to see this fast-paced, hu- Black Pimpernel. Sequential art would

morous, twisty piece of noir pulp in a be the perfect medium for this kickass

year’s-best anthology or two. African-American hero. n

n

twisted together to form a vast vast a form to together twisted eight different sections. Each section section Each sections. different eight

Cont. on p. 22 p. on Cont.

they joined, where they coiled and and coiled they where joined, they text, the book is expertly curated into into curated expertly is book the text,

great cables. He could see where where see could He cables. great which set the tone for the rest of the the of rest the for tone the set which

into slender cords, into ropes, into into ropes, into cords, slender into Alexandra Pierce and Mimi Mondal, Mondal, Mimi and Pierce Alexandra

her passing. her

where the threads wound together together wound threads the where

Following introductions by editors editors by introductions Following

nearly a dozen years after after years dozen a nearly

luminescent threads. He could see see could He threads. luminescent

very public space. space. public very

will continue on from now, now, from on continue will

starlike points of light but as as but light of points starlike

relationship to Butler and her work in a a in work her and Butler to relationship

kinds of conversations that that conversations of kinds

members of the Pattern not as as not Pattern the of members

heirs to some bequest, discussing a private private a discussing bequest, some to heirs

community is and the the and is community

He was suddenly able to see the the see to able suddenly was He

moments when the authors feel they are are they feel authors the when moments how vast and varied that that varied and vast how

(1976): (1976): Patternmaster novel, published record record Threads Luminescent in entries the turned 70, is evidence of of evidence is 70, turned

beloved Butler would have have would Butler beloved comes from a passage in Butler’s first first Butler’s in passage a from comes flowing with gratitude. Indeed, many of of many Indeed, gratitude. with flowing

published the year the the year the published something letters, essays, and reprints reprints and essays, letters, something - over Butler, for reverences heartfelt and

Threads, Luminescent ­ fifty- these of collection the of title The Many of the entries are deeply personal personal deeply are entries the of Many

her passing. her themes reoccur in this timely collection. collection. timely this in reoccur themes

on from now, nearly a dozen years after after years dozen a nearly now, from on sion, persistence, and more. These same same These more. and persistence, sion,

kinds of conversations that will continue continue will that conversations of kinds - pas difference, survival, interdependence,

and varied that community is and the the and is community that varied and

berations like this with themes of power, power, of themes with this like berations another.

have turned 70, is evidence of how vast vast how of evidence is 70, turned have

- rever and overlaps, hints, echoes, are there E. Butler gave us one one us gave Butler E.

lished the year the beloved Butler would would Butler beloved the year the lished published novels, short stories, and essays, essays, and stories, short novels, published and influence, Octavia Octavia influence, and

- pub , Threads Luminescent absence. her addition to her writing writing her to addition with special abilities. Throughout Butler’s Butler’s Throughout abilities. special with

another because she existed and we feel feel we and existed she because another I often say that in in that say often I interdependent network of individuals individuals of network interdependent

be in dialog and community with one one with community and dialog in be to the Pattern in the future, a psionically psionically a future, the in Pattern the to

left behind after her passing are able to to able are passing her after behind left one of Mary’s descendants and an heir heir an and descendants Mary’s of one

Butler gave us one another. Those of us us of Those another. one us gave Butler “luminescent threads” is articulated by by articulated is threads” “luminescent

to her writing and influence, Octavia E. E. Octavia influence, and writing her to Patternmaster. This passage here with with here passage This Patternmaster.

. I often say that in addition addition in that say often I . Butler E. via

21 perspective of Mary, the Pattern’s first first Pattern’s the Mary, of perspective

- Octa to Connections Threads: Luminescent

ries, this description is familiar from the the from familiar is description this ries, i

call to more of her fans for inclusion in in inclusion for fans her of more to call

- se Patternist the of compilation Harvest

scholars, and readers, then opened the the opened then readers, and scholars,

Seed to to Seed the read has who anyone For

solicited entries from a list of writers, writers, of list a from entries solicited

, p. 748) p. , Harvest to Seed ( suns. and Mimi Mondal asked that question, question, that asked Mondal Mimi and

that was like a sun formed of many many of formed sun a like was that Octavia E. Butler? Alexandra Pierce Pierce Alexandra Butler? E. Octavia

What would you write in a letter to to letter a in write you would What sphere of brilliance, a core of light light of core a brilliance, of sphere

eviewed by Ayana Jamieson Ayana by eviewed r

and Mimi Mondal, Twelfth Planet Press, August 2017, 509 pp., $19.99. $19.99. pp., 509 2017, August Press, Planet Twelfth Mondal, Mimi and

, edited by Alexandra Pierce Pierce Alexandra by edited , Butler E. Octavia to Connections Threads: Luminescent

Formed of Many Suns Many of Formed y

want to encounter a relentlessly dystopic dystopic relentlessly a encounter to want

implication in this review.] this in implication anthology of “pulpy goodness” expect or or expect goodness” “pulpy of anthology

is not discussed directly or by by or directly discussed not is (Aqueduct Press). (Aqueduct

cover offers. Few readers opening an an opening readers Few offers. cover

Countess Incognita the of editor Nisi Shawl. Her contribution contribution Her Shawl. Nisi editor

more mystifying, given that’s what the the what that’s given mystifying, more

The Adventure Adventure The is novella reviews reviews CSZ by story a contains

The divergences from pulp fiction are are fiction pulp from divergences The

. Her recent recent Her . Approach Inheritance Obama The [Note:

line for contributors. for line

the Other: A Practical Practical A Other: the

leave many pulp fiction fans dissatisfied. fans fiction pulp many leave - dead tight mercilessly a mandating ly,

Writing Writing coauthored She

more mystifying. This lack of focus will will focus of lack This mystifying. more - quick released anthology topical a such

. . West Weird the of Tales

connected science fiction reprint is even even is reprint fiction science connected life. The publisher must have wanted wanted have must publisher The life. Lost Trails: Forgotten Forgotten Trails: Lost

- un thematically and literary Silverberg’s because political satire has a short shelf shelf short a has satire political because elsewhere. She edited edited She elsewhere.

or AfroFuturist fiction. The inclusion of of inclusion The fiction. AfroFuturist or variability in quality occurs, I suspect, suspect, I occurs, quality in variability , and and , Prism Shattered

Asimov’s SF, SF, Asimov’s to stories more sense in an anthology of New Age Age New of anthology an in sense more of both execution and expectation. The The expectation. and execution both of

Cynthia Ward has sold sold has Ward Cynthia excellent. Mosley’s satire would make make would satire Mosley’s excellent. offers an uneven experience in terms terms in experience uneven an offers

work like “Brother’s Keeper,” however however Keeper,” “Brother’s like work On the whole, whole, the On Inheritance Obama The Mixed Message covers a particular theme or represents at shaping a reality that is more in line (Cont. from p. 21) a particular category of entries and is ti- with the world we want. The process is tled with a memorable phrase from one slow but it is work I love. Through feed- of the section’s letters. For example, the ing people, through gathering them to- first section, “Your work is a river I come gether and growing our collective skills, home to,” contains letters by individu- we are trying to stave off the individual- als inspired by Butler in their lives and ism and loneliness that consumer capital- work more broadly. The second section’s ism has cultivated.” Bailey and Bolekaja authors focus on current political events each chronicle the collaborations, events, (though many other contributors also celebrations, and other opportunities Some of the letters to touch upon this topic), wondering what to enlarge the Pattern that exists in our Octavia the book collects Butler would think of the current state world through my work with the Octavia are more self-conscious of things. Another section is made up of E. Butler Legacy Network. than others. For example, Octavia E. Butler Scholars like Mondal, As Los Angeles-based artist Con- Rachel Swirsky writes who were awarded the Octavia E. But- to Butler, “This letter is nie Samaras notes, echoing Bailey, “I ler Memorial Scholarship administered doubt I’m the only one writing to you necessarily a performance. in Butler’s name by the Carl Brandon It is written between me now to say how profound your books Society (the scholarship provides tuition and an audience, framed remain with every reading. How they by the echo of you.” for Clarion and Clarion West Writers never seem dated but rather illuminate Workshops, where Butler herself got her the period they’re being read in. Vernac- start). There are other entries by Clarion ular histories outplay official renditions and Clarion West students who had But- of the past. The present converts into a ler as an instructor. Still other authors shared multi-dimensional commons that appear in other sections comprising love can never be fully understood. And the letters to the author and notable essays. future becomes something each of us can A 1996 interview of Butler by Stephen try to make.” Indeed, since the collec- W. Potts concludes the collection. H tion’s publication, the announcement has Some of the letters to Octavia the been made that Ava DuVernay, Victoria 22 book collects are more self-conscious than others. For example, Rachel Swir- Mahoney, Allen Bain, and Charles D. sky writes to Butler, “This letter is nec- King’s multimedia company Macro are essarily a performance. It is written attached to a television series based on between me and an audience, framed by Butler’s Dawn (1987). the echo of you.” Swirsky, who studied Many readers have had the kind of jar- at Clarion West with Butler the sum- ring and life-altering experiences that K. mer before her death in 2006, notes that Tempest Bradford relays: “The moment Many people have been Butler was, “the most important science I connected the name Octavia Butler messed up by Butler’s fiction writer of the twentieth century” with That Book That Messed Me Up In books to one degree or though she suspected that the famous Tenth Grade I knew I wanted to read another, whether this author didn’t care for her writing. Like the other books you’d written.” Many stems from confronting our many others, Butler is part of Swirsky’s people have been messed up by Butler’s own desires and needs or origin story as a writer. The compilation books to one degree or another, whether accepting the uncertainty beautifully traces the intellectual and this stems from confronting our own and complicated nature of desires and needs or accepting the un- being human. theoretical lineage from Butler and be- yond. As with many of us, for these writ- certainty and complicated nature of be- ers Butler’s fiction is the gateway to the ing human. In the essay “ ‘Let’s Dwell a speculative fiction of others. Little’: The Trickster Within Octavia E. A bit of my own origin story and re- Butler,” feminist science fiction scholar lationship to her work is also outlined Rebecca Holden writes, “I would sug- very graciously in Luminescent Threads by gest that the more time a reader spends Moya Bailey and Lisa Bennett Bolekaja, with Butler, the more that reader sees whose paths have overlapped mine be- the ambiguities, the more unsettling

cause of Octavia E. Butler. Bailey writes, and thought-provoking the stories be-

“Building community is our best chance come.” This essay in particular stood out n

n

voices to keep readers engaged with new new with engaged readers keep to voices ler is described as “an invariably gracious, gracious, invariably “an as described is ler

Cont. on p. 24 p. on Cont.

- But discomfort. or embarrassment them over; however, there are enough different different enough are there however, over;

called interactions that could have caused caused have could that interactions called Butler texts are mentioned over and and over mentioned are texts Butler

- re Many me. to fascinating were students collection do get repetitive as the same same the as repetitive get do collection

The advice and recollections of Butler’s Butler’s of recollections and advice The reader. Some of the sentiments in the the in sentiments the of Some reader.

are also headed to television.) to headed also are Death felt, not every letter will appeal to each each to appeal will letter every not felt,

Fears Who Okorafor’s Nnedi and Season - heart and unique is letter every While

The Fifth Fifth The award-winning Jemisin’s ( day.” draws readers to explore Butler’s work. work. Butler’s explore to readers draws

ture. Our numbers are growing day by by day growing are numbers Our ture. story, or biography, or television program program television or biography, or story,

- fu the writing are who women Black of that tide us over until the next unexpected unexpected next the until over us tide that

go on and on now. Links in the chain chain the in Links now. on and on go

hadi notes. This text will be one of those those of one be will text This notes. hadi

work. work. Butler’s

Alaya Dawn Johnson…and the list can can list the Johnson…and Dawn Alaya

- Abdul Rasha worker cultural as bridge” a

draws readers to explore explore to readers draws

Kiini Ibura Salaam, Nnedi Okorafor, Okorafor, Nnedi Salaam, Ibura Kiini

tistic descendants. “Sometimes loss makes makes loss “Sometimes descendants. tistic

or television program program television or

ston, Jennifer Marie Brissett, Ibi Zoboi, Zoboi, Ibi Brissett, Marie Jennifer ston,

- ar her and Butler to thanks print) in and story, or biography, biography, or story,

- Hair Andrea Burke, Chesya Kendall,

until the next unexpected unexpected next the until will have better representation (on screen screen (on representation better have will

Sofia Samatar, N. K. Jemisin, Mikki Mikki Jemisin, K. N. Samatar, Sofia

those that tide us over over us tide that those the world, though weary and uncertain, uncertain, and weary though world, the

Tempest Bradford, and from there came came there from and Bradford, Tempest

This text will be one of of one be will text This through at the Huntington Library, and and Library, Huntington the at through

Scriptures: “Nisi [Shawl] led me to K. K. to me led [Shawl] “Nisi Scriptures: Rasha Abdulhadi notes. notes. Abdulhadi Rasha

erary manuscripts are just being combed combed being just are manuscripts erary

tion of who begat whom in the Jewish Jewish the in whom begat who of tion bridge” as cultural worker worker cultural as bridge”

- lit Butler’s as beginning the only really is

“Sometimes loss makes a a makes loss “Sometimes

- recita a like is recounting Her teacher.

be contained by any single book. The end end The book. single any by contained be

come after Butler the writer, mentor, and and mentor, writer, the Butler after come

with more memories and stories than can can than stories and memories more with

small part of the lineage of authors that that authors of lineage the of part small

In the end, a profound absence is filled filled is absence profound a end, the In

these pages. Bolekaja documents just a a just documents Bolekaja pages. these

is what you must do. must you what is to be noteworthy are also contained in in contained also are noteworthy be to

to get that block of writing time. It It time. writing of block that get to come after Butler or who will continue continue will who or Butler after come

matter what, do what you have to do do to have you what do what, matter The names of many writers that have have that writers many of names The

23

whole summer, or a few months. No No months. few a or summer, whole financial support. financial

i means to attend the workshop without without workshop the attend to means sure you make the time. Take a a Take time. the make you sure

on students who would not have had the the had have not would who students on one of them, and that’s ok. So, make make So, ok. that’s and them, of one

we see in this Butler’s continuing impact impact continuing Butler’s this in see we can write every day, but you’re not not you’re but day, every write can

Butler Memorial Scholarship in 2012, 2012, in Scholarship Memorial Butler long blocks of time to write. Some Some write. to time of blocks long

who was also awarded the Octavia E. E. Octavia the awarded also was who You’re the type of writer who needs needs who writer of type the You’re

ego) at Octavia’s repeated insistence, and and insistence, repeated Octavia’s at ego)

instead:

- Di San (in Clarion to applied who kaja,

for many years, or to write each day, but, but, day, each write to or years, many for

- Bole Bennett Lisa Alongside 2012. in

up at four in the morning as Butler had had Butler as morning the in four at up

the Butler Scholarship for Clarion West West Clarion for Scholarship Butler the

to find time for writing, not by waking waking by not writing, for time find to

otry” concludes Indra Das, recipient of of recipient Das, Indra concludes otry”

really resonates with me. The advice was was advice The me. with resonates really

- big resisting fiercely books, publishing

space in her very full life for writing. It It writing. for life full very her in space

in interviews. They’re winning awards, awards, winning They’re interviews. in

Radcliffe got from Butler about making making about Butler from got Radcliffe

inspired others…. inspired bigots. They mention your name, often, often, name, your mention They bigots.

Most poignant is the advice Asata Asata advice the is poignant Most

force of nature who who nature of force despite the furious chest-thumping of of chest-thumping furious the despite

author’s psyche.” author’s

instigator and incendiary incendiary and instigator who are taking their place at the table table the at place their taking are who

see literary characters as fragments of the the of fragments as characters literary see letters as a fierce fierce a as letters

race, ethnicity, nationality, background, background, nationality, ethnicity, race,

thoughtful and deliberate deliberate and thoughtful muses that the character is part of him: “I “I him: of part is character the that muses

ers: “Authors of varied sexuality, genders, genders, sexuality, varied of “Authors ers:

rises out of many of the the of many of out rises

whether he does love his character and and character his love does he whether

diary force of nature who inspired oth inspired who nature of force diary -

The archetypal Octavia Octavia archetypal The

the first week of Clarion West, considers considers West, Clarion of week first the letters as a fierce instigator and incen and instigator fierce a as letters -

tagonist of a story of his critiqued during during critiqued his of story a of tagonist many of the thoughtful and deliberate deliberate and thoughtful the of many

ler whether he actually loved the pro the loved actually he whether ler - The archetypal Octavia rises out of of out rises Octavia archetypal The

urgency. Another student, asked by But by asked student, Another urgency. - co-edited by Holden and Nisi Shawl. Nisi and Holden by co-edited

warning, full of unspoken yet restrained restrained yet unspoken of full warning, American Voices and Octavia E. Butler, Butler, E. Octavia and Voices American

private conversation, a look of measured measured of look a conversation, private ings: Science Fiction, Feminism, African African Feminism, Fiction, Science ings:

describe a look that Octavia gave her in a a in her gave Octavia that look a describe earlier ideas collected in in collected ideas earlier - Mat Strange

Burgis, for example; she then goes on to to on goes then she example; for Burgis, Butler scholarship because it builds on on builds it because scholarship Butler

as a thoughtful entry into the canon of of canon the into entry thoughtful a as polite and kind” teacher by Stephanie Stephanie by teacher kind” and polite Mixed Message anecdotes, memories, and reflections to Works Cited make it a library addition to cherish. (Cont. from p. 23) Butler, Octavia E. Patternmaster. New [Note: Though Cascadia York: Warner, 1976. Ayana A. H. Jamieson, Subduction Zone’s Reviews Editor PhD, is the founder of the Nisi Shawl and Features Editor Butler, Octavia E. Seed to Harvest. New Octavia E. Butler Legacy L. Timmel Duchamp contributed York: Grand Central Publishing, Network. She teaches at to Luminescent Threads, this article 2007. Pasadena City College refrains from mentioning their and SUNY, Empire State pieces for reasons of professional College’s Center for ethics.] Distance Learning.

y The Power to Speak Truth The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen, Tachyon Publications LLC, 2016, 288 pp., $15.95. reviewed by Kristin King

This collection of fantasy short stories Some of Yolen’s stories are less suc- by Jane Yolen spans decades of her ca- cessful than others: if the original tale reer. It talks back to the literary tradition lacks meaning to the reader, then Yolen’s of the British Isles by riffing off every- fresh take must stand on its own, and thing from a well-known children’s story some of the magic fades. In compari- to an obscure historic fact. son to the rest of the stories, the result is Jane Yolen lives most of the year in disappointing. For instance, “The Quiet Massachusetts and four months in Scot- Monk” and “The Confession of Brother land, a place that has clearly captured Blaise” both delve into Arthurian legend, H her artistic imagination. She is the au- which has never captured my interest. 24 thor of more than 350 books, ranging Fans of medieval literature might en- from picture books to adult works, and joy these connections, but I found them has won several major literary awards. lacking in relevance. My first encounter with her was the pic- On the other hand, the best stories ture book How Do Dinosaurs Say Good steal brilliantly from the power of the Night? That book, deceptively simple, is original tales in the reader’s imagination, a mainstay for families because it reflects refashioning it to work brand new magic. This review explores three of the most an understanding of children’s primal Her expertise with potent stories: “Lost Girls,” “Blown needs both to be powerful and to con- children’s literature has Away,” and “Our Lady of the Green- clearly carried over to this tain that power. Her expertise with chil- wood.” These stories lead the reader collection, because Yolen dren’s literature has clearly carried over through the thickets of the original tales has a sly grasp of the lies to this collection, because Yolen has a sly (or, sometimes, the contemporary re- we tell children in our grasp of the lies we tell children in our stories, why we tell them, writes of the original tales) to discover and how to attack them stories, why we tell them, and how to at- what’s missing. Why did Wendy do all head-on. tack them head-on. the housework in Peter Pan? What kind The stories in The Emerald Circus dig of home did Dorothy have to go back into the truths hidden by traditional to? If Robin Hood was born and named, Anglo- ­Saxon tales, especially around who birthed him and who named him? power dynamics and self-determina- From there, she jolts the reader into sud- tion, and reflect a feminist perspective. den illumination. Most are set in the British Isles, either “Lost Girls” takes a new girl, Darla, in medieval or Victorian times. Some are into Neverland. Darla is a modern young based on well-known fairy tales, some woman with a feminist sensibility and a

pay homage to famous writers, and a few mother who works as a labor lawyer — on

take on mysterious historical incidents. the side of the workers. Peter and Wendy n

n

“Our Lady of the Greenwood,” is a fun, fun, a is Greenwood,” the of Lady “Our

The final story I’ll consider here, here, consider I’ll story final The kristinking.wordpress.com.

moving. moving. (2013). She blogs at at blogs She (2013).

It’s a haunting tale, melancholy and and melancholy tale, haunting a It’s Links and Secret Histories Histories Secret and Links

Missing Missing anthology the sleeping with the Bearded Lady. Lady. Bearded the with sleeping

and and XXII, Prize Pushcart years learning tightrope-walking and and tightrope-walking learning years

Horizons, Calyx, The The Calyx, Horizons, previous twister), and she spends seven seven spends she and twister), previous

Strange Strange in appeared has

Toto on wheels (he had been killed in a a in killed been had (he wheels on Toto

(2013). Her work work Her (2013). State

erald Circus, accompanied by a stuffed stuffed a by accompanied Circus, erald packs a delightful punch. delightful a packs

Misfits from the Beehive Beehive the from Misfits

- Em the to Dorothy carries it away, house of that lie in “Lost Girls” Girls” “Lost in lie that of

of the short story collection collection story short the of

traveling circus. When a twister blows the the blows twister a When circus. traveling hours a day. The exposure exposure The day. a hours

Kristin King is the author author the is King Kristin

wants to do it twenty-four twenty-four it do to wants well, actually it’s a a it’s actually well, — comparison, Oz is Oz comparison,

somebody else naturally naturally else somebody It’s a Kansas with few illusions left. In In left. illusions few with Kansas a It’s

and childcare because because childcare and caring for a dying mother. mother. dying a for caring

behind all the housework housework the all behind

the hired hand is running herself ragged ragged herself running is hand hired the

adventurer…can leave leave adventurer…can

their farms to the banks, and the wife of of wife the and banks, the to farms their Wonderland will never be the same. same. the be never will Wonderland

Peter Pan is that a real real a that is Pan Peter

old pea.” Meanwhile, relatives are losing losing are relatives Meanwhile, pea.” old are good, and others are brilliant. brilliant. are others and good, are

The lie in the original original the in lie The

hard that her heart is “as dried up as an an as up dried “as is heart her that hard that shed new light on old tales. Some Some tales. old on light new shed that

shares what love she can, she’s worked so so worked she’s can, she love what shares thoroughly researched, enjoyable reads reads enjoyable researched, thoroughly

only meager fare, and while Aunt Em Em Aunt while and fare, meager only All the stories in this collection are are collection this in stories the All

sitting on a lonely gray prairie, affords affords prairie, gray lonely a on sitting source of Robin Hood’s name. name. Hood’s Robin of source

and kids. But the farm in “Blown Away,” Away,” “Blown in farm the But kids. and punctuated by the surprise of the actual actual the of surprise the by punctuated

a heaping plate of love to the menfolk menfolk the to love of plate heaping a discoveries make for a pleasurable read, read, pleasurable a for make discoveries

cious food all the time and serving it with with it serving and time the all food cious the forest. The midwife’s actions and and actions midwife’s The forest. the

- deli cooking wife farm roly-poly a with ter all, she is the one and only queen of of queen only and one the is she all, ter

Aunt Em’s farm represents a lost Eden, Eden, lost a represents farm Em’s Aunt - Af appears. Mag Old and Greenwood”

25

To a contemporary U.S. audience, audience, U.S. contemporary a To

instead come out “Oh, my Lady of the the of Lady my “Oh, out come instead

i

that Dorothy left behind. behind. left Dorothy that of Heaven” to save the child, the words words the child, the save to Heaven” of

and the main focus isn’t Oz, but the farm farm the but Oz, isn’t focus main the and When she intends to ask the “Queen “Queen the ask to intends she When

from the point of view of a field hand, hand, field a of view of point the from between old, pagan gods, and new ones. ones. new and gods, pagan old, between

what’s missing. “Blown Away” is told told is Away” “Blown missing. what’s But the midwife is stuck in a struggle struggle a in stuck is midwife the But

to see see to — time this Oz of Wizard The revolves around Mother Mary). Mary). Mother around revolves

— — Away” delves into a well-known tale well-known a into delves Away” (a follower of a form of Christianity that that Christianity of form a of follower (a

Like “Lost Girls,” the story “Blown “Blown story the Girls,” “Lost Like tury BCE, Robin Hood was a Marianist Marianist a was Hood Robin BCE, tury

Girls” packs a delightful punch. punch. delightful a packs Girls” - cen 16th early the around ballads, Hood

a day. The exposure of that lie in “Lost “Lost in lie that of exposure The day. a out that as described in the early Robin Robin early the in described as that out

rally wants to do it twenty-four hours hours twenty-four it do to wants rally en. That’s an unusual phrase. It turns turns It phrase. unusual an That’s en.

- natu else somebody because childcare old words” to Mary, the Queen of Heav of Queen the Mary, to words” old -

can leave behind all the housework and and housework the all behind leave can bit, the midwife had been praying “the “the praying been had midwife the bit,

too hard about who’s allowed that role) role) that allowed who’s about hard too Who’s Old Mag? Well, to back up a a up back to Well, Mag? Old Who’s

brand new magic. magic. new brand

a real adventurer (and we won’t worry worry won’t we (and adventurer real a And Old Mag provides the name. name. the provides Mag Old And

refashioning it to work work to it refashioning

The lie in the original Peter Pan is that that is Pan Peter original the in lie The to the forest for an eerie, perilous ritual. ritual. perilous eerie, an for forest the to the reader’s imagination, imagination, reader’s the

sit-down strikes. strikes. sit-down in the birth and then takes the newborn newborn the takes then and birth the in of the original tales in in tales original the of

nately, Darla knows a thing or two about about two or thing a knows Darla nately, fairies will name it. The midwife assists assists midwife The it. name will fairies brilliantly from the power power the from brilliantly

cleaning up after the Lost Boys. Fortu Boys. Lost the after up cleaning - she’ll bear her husband a son, and the the and son, a husband her bear she’ll …the best stories steal steal stories best …the

outside and fight pirates, and are always always are and pirates, fight and outside with the fairies: in exchange for her life, life, her for exchange in fairies: the with

up in the Neverland tree, never get to go go to get never tree, Neverland the in up these jobs. Lady Margaret makes a deal deal a makes Margaret Lady jobs. these

their real names. The Wendys are shut shut are Wendys The names. real their In this story, three women carry out out carry women three story, this In

Peter can’t be bothered to remember remember to bothered be can’t Peter named. And given a start in life. life. in start a given And named.

girls known simply as “Wendys” because because “Wendys” as simply known girls specifically, they were birthed. And And birthed. were they specifically,

ery, and fear, the pair rule a group of lost lost of group a rule pair the fear, and ery, our ken, but they were once born. More More born. once were they but ken, our

- trick persuasion, Through management. like Robin Hood spring full-grown into into full-grown spring Hood Robin like

selves to be ancient, cold, and above all, all, above and cold, ancient, be to selves the hero story we usually forget. Heroes Heroes forget. usually we story hero the

seem kind at first, but soon reveal them reveal soon but first, at kind seem - spooky tale that delves into the part of of part the into delves that tale spooky Singers of the Deep a response to Alexander Pushkin’s “Arion” by Maya Chhabra

ARION

But what do you sing, when land gives way to storm-wracked sea and friend to unsure foe In one and the same person? To throw away my lyre and bail fruitlessly the shell the sea is gutting Were foul betrayal of self. You knew I was never your ally.

THE SAILOR

But what do you do, when frigid water numbs your knuckles and the daft and god-touched singer plays on? Let deadweight sink; here we struggle for life. It is no polluted murder that the water claims its own. And the gods could save, if only they wanted. They never do.

THE SHIP

Who cast us upon the waters, for augurs to read in our smashed timbers the future we never see? Our salt-soaked splintering curves can build nothing other than what we are. Whom we bear Concerns us not, only whither. H 26 THE SEA

Humans enjoy twisting the Fates and swift-spun Necessity to the blessing of their endeavors: They like to draw forth gods. Let them be reminded that we are sovereign and own no master, Least of all our subjects.

THE DOLPHINS

Not singly but as a family we come. Issuing notes of distress and succor, we tear the storm with our leaps. Past unsung wreckage, seeking our kin, we find the one who has been discarded because He is too much like us.

THE SHORE

Expiring upon my belly a cetacean Grace, unsalvageable. Crushed by itself it craves

The sea’s nearby relief, within the reach of the new Venus. He dries his robe, humming, and sings to the cliff.

Perhaps you were warned. n

n

New York City. York New

Than Three Press. She lives in in lives She Press. Three Than

is available from Less Less from available is Knives

Walking on on Walking novelette fairy-tale

. Her Her . Liminality and , Star*Line

Delirium, Through the Gate, Gate, the Through Delirium,

Mythic Mythic in forthcoming is or

whose work has appeared appeared has work whose

Maya Chhabra is a poet poet a is Chhabra Maya

27

Enter ARION, alone. ARION, Enter i

Beached on unfeeling shores. unfeeling on Beached

We alone do not say, “This was ill-done.” We only wait until their own weight crushes the creatures the crushes weight own their until wait only We ill-done.” was “This say, not do alone We

We are made to bear, not to judge. Good and evil are none of our concern. Amid the moans of our victims, our of moans the Amid concern. our of none are evil and Good judge. to not bear, to made are We

THE CROSS THE

Awake unbidden, crying like song for release. for song like crying unbidden, Awake

words then and now but other each suspect They sun. omnipresent hard, the to hatred speak they work, they While

here. safety is mutability — repurposed be can I face. dead my at chip masons Two

THE TOMB THE

Composed of a thousand realities, has none. has realities, thousand a of Composed

abstraction that many, The face. a has he Because gone. are you when you sing may who person Small

one but good demanding vast a Not soul. the exercise to good, do to time to time from well is It THE TYRANT THE I was elated. Over the freaking moon. Dead Clown Art — Chris Roberts All of it for me and all of it for FREE! I spent the entire next day going through Chris Roberts is Dead Clown Art. my dumpster spoils. Old photos. Family Maker of things that were most cer- photos. Holiday cards. Postcards. A let- tainly not here before. Mixed media. ter to Mother dated May 14, 1893. Worn Found stuff. Abandoned scraps. Detri- folds barely holding it together. Newspa- tus. Rubble. Nonsense. Shiny objects. per clippings about good and bad things. Crow wearing clothes. Typewritten communications from the That's all the third person I have to United Spanish War Veterans Official give. Headquarters. I created the artwork in this feature for the stellar UK press PS Publishing, A birth certificate. for the mind-bending novel The First A marriage certificate. Fifteen Lives of Harry August by the in- A death certificate. comparable Claire North. If you haven't A life. read it you really should. Right now. I'll wait… As the hours peeled away, my elation W turned to sadness. Somebody received I'm a process junkie. I love the mak- that precious collection of the papers ing of the artwork. I'm fairly rubbish at that follows us as we age. Somebody rough sketches because I'm never really gathered that precious collection into a sure how a piece is going to turn out. brown bag and box. Somebody threw it What I'll need to put into it. Not just all into the recycling dumpster. the lines and colors but the stuff. I'm What a horrible eulogy. What a shitty always surprised by the outcome. The epitaph. What does this sad story have to do H finished product is often a ghost of the with the 17 altered portraits I created for image I had in my head. Maybe the oth- 28 the Harry August novel? er way around. It's difficult to explain. Most of the base portraits I altered Obviously. for these collages came from some of I created a fair amount of artwork for the carelessly discarded photos in that Harry August. The bulk of it was a series brown bag and box. of 17 altered portraits, some of which are included in this issue. The novel is His name was Homer Dwiggins. about time and memory, choice and Photos of Homer as a child. consequence. Dig deep stuff for sure. I Photos of Homer as a young man. did my best to inject those concepts into Photos of Homer as an old man. the artwork I created for this marvelous book. But there's something else inside I spent a day with Homer. With the these portraits… papers that followed him throughout his W long life. The good stuff. The bad stuff. Imagine a dog. An everyday walk Beginnings. Middles. Ends. walked. A recycling dumpster that we Time. Memory. Choice. Consequence. pass to enter our apartment complex. I Those altered portraits I created, using don't always look inside that dumpster, various photos of Homer Dwiggins, are but I do rely on found stuffs for my art- certainly a more fitting tribute than the work, and that day I looked inside. bottom of a recycling dumpster. Certainly glad I did. Brown bag and At the very least, I recycled them. box filled with old letters, documents, Please visit deadclownart dot com to envelopes, and PHOTOS! see more of my work. And if you're feel-

Featured Artist Spoiler Alert: Remember in Goonies ing especially silly, follow my antics on

when they find the pirate ship filled with Twitter @deadclownart.

treasure? Exactly like that! n

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The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August Harry of Lives Fifteen First The

from Portraits Altered

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i $5.00 The Cascadia Subduction Zone PO Box 95787 Seattle, WA 98145-2787