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IN THIS ISSUE Lew Gilchrist by Karen Burnham by Alicia Cole by Angela Gorodischer by Julia Whicker Wonderblood by Wendy Rouse L. Self-Defense Movement of Origins Women’s the The Hero:Her Own by Beth Plutchak Liminal Spaces by Rowenna Miller by Toby MacNutt by Morgen Tell Feminist Fantasy Saint Roc Cemetery Guin Le Ursula K. Torn Short Fiction Reviews Trafalgar Somatic Market Willow G rand

F B eatured F I : AForgotten D Erika SteiskalErika n lash ook

M m ust other E P R em ssay m oe F L evi or A

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st a gm Kath WilhamKath Arts Editor TimmelL. Duchamp Features Editor Nisi Shawl Reviews Editor Arrate Hidalgo Managing Editor $5.00

In This Issue Cover banner collagraph of theCascadia subduction zone byMarilyn Liden Bode Electronic singleissue:$3 $10 peryear Electronic Subscription(PDF format): Print singleissue:$5 Print subscription:$16/yr; www.thecsz.com Subscriptions andsingleissuesonlineat: Her Own Hero: of Origins Her Women’s Own the The Self-Defense Movement Short Fiction Reviews Saint Roc Cemetery by Alicia Cole Somatic Market by Toby MacNutt reviewed by Nancy Moore Jane Willow reviewed by Cristina Jurado reviewed by Kate Schaefer reviewed by Tonya Liburd

Trafalgar reviewed by Arley Sorg Liminal Spaces by Beth Plutchak Wonderblood by Julia Whicker G V : AForgotten Feminist Fantasy Erika SteiskalErika Torn Torn by Wilham Kath by Morgen Tell rand by Nisi Shawl ol by Wendy Rouse L. Ursula K. Le Guin Le Ursula K. F by Angélica Gorodischer B eatured F . 8N

I by Rowenna Miller Lew Gilchrist D n lash ook M m ust by Karen Burnham other E P R em ssay o m oe F L . 2 evi or A i anes ct

add 9.5%salestax.] [Washington StateResidents Seattle, WA98145-2787 P.O. Box95787 Aqueduct Press To orderbycheck,payableto:

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convey. Like a bird of ice in July. Like Like July. in ice of bird a Like convey. tunate her run lasted as long as it did. did. it as long as lasted run her tunate

Cont. on p. 2 p. on Cont.

- for very We’re years. fifty than more truth. Truth is harder to capture and and capture to harder is Truth truth.

She did that for a nice long time. For For time. long nice a for that did She satisfaction rather than longing. Not like like Not longing. than rather satisfaction

crow about it as the occasion demanded. occasion the as it about crow Facts are good, but they fill you with with you fill they but good, are Facts

singing or squawking or croaking like a a like croaking or squawking or singing ally you’ll have enough. have you’ll ally

Then she shared with us what she saw, saw, she what us with shared she Then - Eventu want. you facts the all Get page.

sional glances at it over her folded wings. wings. folded her over it at glances sional com/UKL_info.html. Or her Wikipedia Wikipedia her Or com/UKL_info.html.

- occa stealing unknown, the into wards website at http://www.ursulakleguin. at website

- back ran She did. she what that’s And You want more? Visit Ursula’s official official Ursula’s Visit more? want You

snatch a glimpse,” Ursula said. Ursula glimpse,” a snatch Portland, Oregon. Portland,

see, unless you turn around and kind of of kind and around turn you unless see, born in Berkeley, California. She died in in died She California. Berkeley, in born

toes point. “The future is what you can’t can’t you what is future “The point. toes But all right. Two final facts: She was was She facts: final Two right. all But

but not, in this formulation, the way our our way the formulation, this in not, but facts. She wrote truth. wrote She facts.

— — looks. The future is where we’re going we’re where is future The looks. with factuality. Ursula didn’t just write write just didn’t Ursula factuality. with

direction in which my reverse-Sankofa reverse-Sankofa my which in direction down that list. I’m about out of patience patience of out about I’m list. that down

your back, over your shoulder.” That’s the the That’s shoulder.” your over back, your

notice I gave up counting entries midway midway entries counting up gave I notice

behind behind — contrast, “the future lies behind lies future “the contrast,

languages she didn’t even speak. You’ll You’ll speak. even didn’t she languages

it’s in front of you,” while, in in while, you,” of front in it’s — can see it see can

and essays, and texts she translated from from translated she texts and essays, and

because the past is what you know, you you know, you what is past the because

chapbooks, anthologies of others’ stories stories others’ of anthologies chapbooks,

tion of the Andes, she said, “figure that that “figure said, she Andes, the of tion

literature, several humorous and serious serious and humorous several literature,

- na indigenous That panel. Future” the

screenplay, assorted works of children’s children’s of works assorted screenplay,

1985 remarks on a “Science Fiction and and Fiction “Science a on remarks 1985

tion, seven books of poetry, an opera, a a opera, an poetry, of books seven tion,

the Qechua concept Ursula cited in her her in cited Ursula concept Qechua the

- nonfic of books six collections, story ten

Sankofa is an image I associate with with associate I image an is Sankofa

forth unto the Earth twenty-three novels, novels, twenty-three Earth the unto forth

describes is actually its exact opposite, opposite, exact its actually is describes

ferred abbreviation and spacing) brought brought spacing) and abbreviation ferred

moving on from it. Although what she she what Although it. from on moving

- pre name’s (her Guin Le K. Ursula writer,

it signifies remembering the past while while past the remembering signifies it 1

During her career as a professional professional a as career her During

back to look over its folded wings, and and wings, folded its over look to back

i reft admirers of her life and work. and life her of admirers reft

feet facing forward and its head turned turned head its and forward facing feet

- be of thousands and Theodore, son their

It looks like a bird. It’s drawn with its its with drawn It’s bird. a like looks It

their daughters Elizabeth and Caroline, Caroline, and Elizabeth daughters their

There’s an Akan image called Sankofa. Sankofa. called image Akan an There’s

vived by her husband Charles Le Guin, Guin, Le Charles husband her by vived

could do it they could too. could they it do could

- sur is She millennium. Another tury.

way was appropriate, because if Ursula Ursula if because appropriate, was way

- cen another was That 1929. 22, October

sit down, or dance, or behave in whatever whatever in behave or dance, or down, sit

time of her death, having been born on on born been having death, her of time

up for their principles when needed when principles their for up or or —

Guin died. She was 88 years old at the the at old years 88 was She died. Guin

the certainty that they, too, could stand stand could too, they, that certainty the

oeber Le Le oeber ­ Kr Ursula 2018, 22, January On

cooperation, she infected readers with with readers infected she cooperation,

First, the factual portion of the exercise. exercise. the of portion factual the First, perception of the anarchic harmonies of of harmonies anarchic the of perception

one. Get thee behind me, sadness. me, behind thee Get one. lives of people of color. Sharing her keen keen her Sharing color. of people of lives

subjects. I’m responsible for writing this this writing for responsible I’m subjects. ence fiction and her stories centering the the centering stories her and fiction ence

tion of the ephemeral excellence of their their of excellence ephemeral the of tion broke new ground with her feminist sci feminist her with ground new broke -

- apprecia in them read We them. read to neer, a dweller-in-times-yet-to-come. She She dweller-in-times-yet-to-come. a neer,

yet they must be written in order for us us for order in written be must they yet In others’ eyes, too, Ursula was a pio a was Ursula too, eyes, others’ In -

Obituaries don’t write themselves, and and themselves, write don’t Obituaries eller returns,” death. returns,” eller

sities like editorial revisions or vaccines. or revisions editorial like sities that country “from whose bourn no trav no bourn whose “from country that -

- neces unpleasant of speaking when used of age, and now she has set off ahead for for ahead off set has she now and age, of

of her matter-of-factness, that tone she she tone that matter-of-factness, her of lished authors before me, and the land land the and me, before authors lished

ticular I hear in the gruff, gravelly, voice voice gravelly, gruff, the in hear I ticular she did. She entered the realm of pub of realm the entered She did. she -

- par in sentence this but voices, of lot a because for me, in a very personal sense, sense, personal very a in me, for because

that, but I hear it in her voice. She had had She voice. her in it hear I but that, I say that Ursula lived in my future future my in lived Ursula that say I

I have no idea whether Ursula ever said said ever Ursula whether idea no have I she lived in mine. in lived she

the future, where Ursula lived. At least least At lived. Ursula where future, the “Obituaries don’t write themselves.” themselves.” write don’t “Obituaries

by Nisi Shawl Nisi by

y Gone She’s She’s Gone We grieve nonetheless. She gave us the Press’s Ursula festschrift. Brave Amy (cont. from p. 1) truth, and we want more. Thomson talked about how she started There will be others, but there’ve al- out by stalking Ursula, how she initially ready been a couple of memorial services wanted to be Ursula when she grew up, honoring Ursula. A small, private one for and gradually came to understand that family members was held in Portland. A this was impossible. That there was al- small public one was held in Seattle, at ways going to be only the one. which I and other Northwest SF writ- And yet there were many Ursulas, be- ers read selections from Ursula’s work cause she changed and grew throughout and spoke about her effect on us. Eileen her life. Even in the few years I knew Gunn read the first two sections of her her she was busy learning: learning from 1974 story “The Author of the Acacia others, and from her mistakes, and from Seeds,” and Cat Rambo read the third. experience. She was always becoming This was not planned. Nancy Kress read someone new. Revisiting her greatest an excerpt of “Nine Lives,” first pub- successes, the Earthsea books and The lished in Playboy in 1968. I read from Left Hand of Darkness, she found room “Solitude,” my favorite of her stories, for improvement in them. When an op- from 1994. Greg Bear read part of her portunity to make such an improvement scathingly funny essay “From Elfland presented itself — a television script or a to Poughkeepsie,” and Astrid Bear read sequel, say — she took it. She ran with it. part of her children’s book Catwings. She never stopped. She never got stuck in Audience members chimed in with pas- her own past. She kept going blindly into sages from “The Matter of Seggri” and the future, sneaking an occasional peek The Left Hand of Darkness. at it, writing down what she saw. She left What did we say in our own words plenty of reports. Reading them —again about hers? Me, I chickened out and or anew — is the best way to honor what took refuge in reading an essay I’d writ- she has given us. We’ll never get any more. H ten about “Solitude” for 80!, Aqueduct 2 y Lew Gilchrist — A Class Act by Kath Wilham Just a couple of days after the world we had any use for her skills. Did we ever! lost Ursula K. Le Guin, we lost another Timmi had been talking about starting incredible woman, a fabric artist, sf fan, a little quarterly that would focus on “Love doesn’t just sit there, and star in the firmament of prevention book reviews, primarily of feminist work, like a stone; it has to be research, Lew Gilchrist. Most Cascadia along with essays, etc. Lew was the per- made, like bread, remade Subduction Zone readers will only maybe fect fit for taking on the managing editor all the time, made new.” remember Lew as a name on our mast- role. Here we had a longtime academic Ursula K. Le Guin head, the first Managing Editor of the researcher, editor, administrator offering CSZ, one of those behind the scenes to help out. With Lew joining in, the critical actors in any endeavor. I want to CSZ would be in great hands for get- share my friend Lew with you now. ting procedures set up. Thus for the next “When we try to pick out I met Lew in 1996 when I began five years we worked together again and anything by itself, we find working at the University of Washington continued to laugh and cry a lot at the it hitched to everything School of Social Work. Soon after, she vagaries of our world. else in the Universe.” started serving as the Doctoral Program Here’s the Lew Gilchrist I want you John Muir Director (my staff job was managing the know about, a star both in her academic PhD Program), and we bonded over our field and to her students, friends, and mutual love of science fiction and weav- family. ing; thus began a friendship that even- Lew was a multifaceted woman, ex- tually brought Lew, after her retirement celling in whatever she undertook both from the UW, to help out in the planning professionally and personally. She wove stages and first five years of the CSZ. her varied roles together to create the During one of our lunch outings in tapestry of her legacy. She was a widely

2010, Lew wondered if there was a way respected researcher, mentor, and leader

she could volunteer at Aqueduct Press, if across her distinguished years on the n

n

celebration of Lew’s life on March 4.] March on life Lew’s of celebration

man shared during the UW memorial memorial UW the during shared man

- Hooy Nancy friend my words the from

Note: Much of the text herein came came herein text the of Much Note: [

but a down to earth and grounded one! one! grounded and earth to down a but

than the scrabbling trajectory in. trajectory scrabbling the than plants, animals, and art. and animals, plants,

out Lew in it. She was truly a class act class a truly was She it. in Lew out — —

sweeter, the all say some though

. She loves coffee, coffee, loves She . Pagans

- with bright less little a is world The

Witches & & Witches and Magazine

her two sons and five grandchildren. grandchildren. five and sons two her

is so much harder, much so is — some tell me tell some

Split Lip Lip Split in forthcoming

about different cultures; and her joy in in joy her and cultures; different about

God, Oh, — the last climb out climb last the

. Her work is is work Her . Magazine

her love of travel, the arts, and learning learning and arts, the travel, of love her And takers. the and makers, the

256 256 and , Journal Femspec

tions, particularly mothers and children; children; and mothers particularly tions,

, , Magazine Literary Fox

prowlers, the grave stalkers, grave the prowlers,

- popula vulnerable highly to mitment

Black Black for works and Press

midnight the howlers, the ones,

- com her knowledge; of pursuit lifelong

Priestess & Hierophant Hierophant & Priestess

unlucky the ones, lucky the of

fairness; her keen intellect, curiosity, and and curiosity, intellect, keen her fairness;

AL. She’s the editor of of editor the She’s AL.

laugh; her absolute integrity and sense of of sense and integrity absolute her laugh;

daylight also; always as one as always also; daylight

and artist in Huntsville, Huntsville, in artist and

quick, oftentimes dry wit and hearty hearty and wit dry oftentimes quick,

full during and sun, the before

Alicia Cole is a writer writer a is Cole Alicia

All of us who knew her will miss Lew’s Lew’s miss will her knew who us of All

leave all We Orleans. New over

brance are from that book.) book.) that from are brance

- remem this of beginning the at quotes like a breathing stone breathing a like

authors whose work inspired her art. (The (The art. her inspired work whose authors washing night the descent, long a

of fascinating images and quotes from from quotes and images fascinating of explaining; and Dead the to talking

shared her most recent sketch book, full full book, sketch recent most her shared

throat. It’s a long descent, long a It’s throat.

ing out Lew’s wild wit. Her family also also family Her wit. wild Lew’s out ing

own my with or me, with Comfort

- shout hilarious, absolutely others geous,

Southern the drunk have may

- gor are Some memorial. the at us with

the art pieces her family brought to share share to brought family her pieces art the

more caution, may not have, not may caution, more

marvelous textile art. I wish you could see see could you wish I art. textile marvelous

advised have may have, not may

3

tor students, publish widely publish students, tor she created created she —

laughed, have may game, the out

- men programs, administer grants, write i

the Dead say they may have blown have may they say Dead the Lew did not just run research projects, projects, research run just not did Lew

while shame, in head my hang I erous, generative, and always accessible. accessible. always and generative, erous,

notice. didn’t they say they Though in so many dimensions many so in - gen wise, kind, —

Our graduates refer to her as a role model model role a as her to refer graduates Our

like howling. Don’t burn flowers. burn Don’t howling. like

faculty member in the School’s history. history. School’s the in member faculty

always not do Dead the as

more doctoral students than any other other any than students doctoral more

peacefully, speak advice: My

is Lew the mentor, who worked with with worked who mentor, the Lew is

Interconnected with Lew the scholar scholar the Lew with Interconnected Yes, it’s as difficult as it looks. it as difficult as it’s Yes,

This woman took on big challenges. big on took woman This Dead? the to speak to crypts of

compass the prevention of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS. of prevention the compass stand a Climbing have. never I

- en to expanded research her 1990s, the

dying? — It’s as difficult as it looks it as difficult as It’s and pregnant teens ever conducted. In In conducted. ever teens pregnant and

straight up, up top of Saint Roc. Saint of top up up, straight

longest longitudinal studies of parenting parenting of studies longitudinal longest

and your body slowly climbing up, climbing slowly body your and

rations with colleagues led to one of the the of one to led colleagues with rations

the late 1970s, and in 1980s, her collabo her 1980s, in and 1970s, late the -

There will be handfuls of cement, of handfuls be will There

thinking. Her scholarly career began in in began career scholarly Her thinking.

panty line will be almost visible. almost be will line panty

ologies, and legendary for her big-picture big-picture her for legendary and ologies,

your short, so dress green a in

search questions, theories, and method and theories, questions, search -

she was always inquisitive about new re new about inquisitive always was she - long stretches of graves, and you and graves, of stretches long

enthusiasm for research was contagious; contagious; was research for enthusiasm be will silently. There lie to places

vention researcher is remarkable. Lew’s Lew’s remarkable. is researcher vention crypts, be will there arriving, After

ship as an internationally respected pre respected internationally an as ship -

hoisting your body over the gate. the over body your hoisting The breadth and depth of her scholar her of depth and breadth The -

reaching up to grasp barbed iron, barbed grasp to up reaching

Prevention Research Center. Research Prevention

— hardest the is step first The Program, and Director of the NIMH NIMH the of Director and Program,

for Research, Director of the Doctoral Doctoral the of Director Research, for

by Alicia Cole Alicia by mal roles as the first Associate Dean Dean Associate first the as roles mal

- for through e.g., faculty, UWSSW Cemetery Roc Saint y Willow: A Forgotten Feminist Fantasy by Morgen Tell Like all right-minded people, I love knows what you’re talking about. Willow! fantasy. No, that’s not quite true; I want How this movie isn’t a huge cult classic, to love fantasy. I want to love fantasy, but I’ll never know. Directed by Ron How- I need it to love me back — just a little. I ard, produced and co-written by George am always on the lookout for works in Lucas, you’d think this movie would be the fantasy genre that satisfy my tastes on everyone’s radar. But oh well. Let for adventure and magic without mak- me tell you why it should be on yours if ing me feel either left out or attacked, you’re a fantasy-loving feminist who oc- as a woman. They do exist, and they’re casionally wants to watch a movie. slowly becoming more prevalent, but The plot is pure High Fantasy; the what if I told you that one of my favor- only thing it doesn’t have is dragons ites was from 1988? (unless you count a certain two-­headed Like all right-minded people, I love wingless monstrosity in the second half movies. No, sorry, I can’t say that with of the film), but it ticks every other a straight face. I want to love movies, I box: halflings (here called “Nelwyns”) — wish I could love movies — who doesn’t check; fairies — check; a quest into the love the smell of cheap popcorn and fake mouth of evil, of course, magic galore, butter, the hush that falls over a crowded a prophecy — check; sorceresses — check; theater when the lights go down and swordfights — check; evil armies with the studio fanfare blares, the rush of vi- skull-faced helmets — check; castles — cariously fought battles watched from check; folk music — check; it’s all here. the comfort of a padded recliner? But This movie even has a halfling wizard who can stand the huge disparity be- (here called “the High Aldrin”), with H tween the numbers of male and female eyebrows to rival Gandalf ’s or Dumb- characters (according to a BBC report, ledore’s. And if you liked the scenery in 4 women made up 26% of movie casts in Peter Jackson’s Tolkien sextet, Willow 1913 and 28% in 2017, #progress #sar- was also filmed in that real-world fairy- casm), the degrading over-sexualization land, New Zealand (as well as Wales, of those women who do appear, and, of England, and California). course, the constant scenes of sexual as- “It was a time of dread” the open- sault, played for maximum titilization? ing title-card informs us. This beauti- The movies don’t love us back, and in a ful, magical world has been overrun by hundred years they haven’t really got- Queen Bavmorda, a powerful and fear- It requires care and ten any better about it. I wouldn’t blame some sorceress (played so charismati- discernment to be a you a bit if you have decided to termi- cally by Jean Marsh that “Bavmorda” is female-identifying person nate the relationship and go no-contact number 7 on my list of Someday Baby and find a movie that with Hollywood. But if you haven’t quite Names). But a prophecy has now warned won’t insult you to your managed to do that, if you still hold onto Queen Bavmorda that the one who will face, even in 2018. a spark of hope that our love of mov- destroy her is about to be born. Bavmor- ies isn’t totally unrequited, if you’re still da rounds up all the pregnant women in in a semi-toxic on-again-off-again rela- her empire and brings them to give birth tionship with Tinseltown, you’re not the in her dungeons so that she can check only one. each baby for the mark that will identify It requires care and discernment to her future killer. be a female-identifying person and find In a dank and muddy cell, by flick- a movie that won’t insult you to your ering torchlight, a child has just been face, even in 2018. So what is this fan- born. “Is the child a girl?” asks Sorsha, tasy movie that got it right in 1988, you Bavmorda’s daughter and most trusted ask? Maybe you’ve heard of it but never general (“Sorsha,” by the way, is number seen it, maybe you’ve never heard of it, 8). “It is” replies a guard. Sorsha rush-

or maybe, like me, you’ve seen it ten es off with a clank of armor to tell her

thousand times and can’t believe no one mother. (Note: the prophecy, as far as n

n

of any importance in them, the Queen, Queen, the them, in importance any of movie-goers. Directors might do well to to well do might Directors movie-goers.

Cont. on p. 6 p. on Cont.

opening scenes. First of all, everyone everyone all, of First scenes. opening grin, women are the slight majority of of majority slight the are women grin,

You’ll notice a few things from these these from things few a notice You’ll - cha its to reminded, occasionally is

day Hollywood would do well to revisit. revisit. to well do would Hollywood day by the way, is a myth. As Hollywood Hollywood As myth. a is way, the by

with a clarity and economy that present- that economy and clarity a with available. (The mostly male audience, audience, male mostly (The available.

ing credits are over. This movie moves moves movie This over. are credits ing Hollywood, if she could look sexually sexually look could she if Hollywood,

- open the before happens this of All for the mostly male audience, reasons reasons audience, male mostly the for

down within seconds. within down available moment of her life, it’d be nice nice be it’d life, her of moment available

and prepares to sell her life dear, but she’s she’s but dear, life her sell to prepares and to suggest. At perhaps the least sexually sexually least the perhaps At suggest. to

to face the hounds. She picks up her staff staff her up picks She hounds. the face to tion, as if to suggest, well, what they love love they what well, suggest, to if as tion,

bellian archetypes is showing) and turns turns and showing) is archetypes bellian - exhaus of expression languid a and dew

on her face. face. her on

- Camp of love Lucas’s (George stream fully painted face with just a spritz of of spritz a just with face painted fully

tends to focus attention attention focus to tends

pushes it and its precious cargo into the the into cargo precious its and it pushes - beauti her adorn to or perfect, picture

figure underneath, and and underneath, figure

dling the baby onto a reedy tussock, she she tussock, reedy a onto baby the dling birth but whose hair and make-up are are make-up and hair whose but birth

that doesn’t display the the display doesn’t that

- bun Quickly her. upon is end the and woman who has supposedly just given given just supposedly has who woman

too is clad in an outfit outfit an in clad is too

knows she has served her heroic purpose purpose heroic her served has she knows heard of for Hollywood to show us a a us show to Hollywood for of heard

Maleficent-types, but she she but Maleficent-types,

Bavmorda’s rat-boar-hounds, and she she and rat-boar-hounds, Bavmorda’s - un all at not is it mother, the for As

beautiful if you’re into into you’re if beautiful

She hears the blood-curdling howls of of howls blood-curdling the hears She handkerchief in the blood of the king. king. the of blood the in handkerchief

Bavmorda is quite quite is Bavmorda

washing diapers in a mountain stream. stream. mountain a in diapers washing her-time, peasant woman who dips her her dips who woman peasant her-time,

The midwife suddenly looks up from from up looks suddenly midwife The tion, the kind of unkempt, old-before- unkempt, of kind the tion,

be Evil Queen by being bad at the job. job. the at bad being by Queen Evil be - Revolu French the about documentary

close up. But Bavmorda didn’t get to to get didn’t Bavmorda But up. close like an extra in a guillotine scene from a a from scene guillotine a in extra an like

curly red hair the baby has in her next next her in has baby the hair red curly focus attention on her face. Ethna looks looks Ethna face. her on attention focus

to be months, judging by the amount of of amount the by judging months, be to play the figure underneath, and tends to to tends and underneath, figure the play

rugged mountainsides for what appears appears what for mountainsides rugged - dis doesn’t that outfit an in clad is too

Baby, hiking through forests and across across and forests through hiking Baby, if you’re into Maleficent-types, but she she but Maleficent-types, into you’re if

midwife running away with the Foretold Foretold the with away running midwife her cranium. Bavmorda is quite beautiful beautiful quite is Bavmorda cranium. her

5

Zealand landscapes shows us the brave brave the us shows landscapes Zealand spite of a helmet that genuinely protects protects genuinely that helmet a of spite

i Now a gorgeous montage of New New of montage gorgeous a Now in it and manages to deliver her lines in in lines her deliver to manages and it in

rasps Bavmorda to her guards. her to Bavmorda rasps already has. She also seems comfortable comfortable seems also She has. already

mother crows at Bavmorda. “Kill her” her” “Kill Bavmorda. at crows mother could actually save her life and probably probably and life her save actually could

you will die!” the red and disheveled disheveled and red the die!” will you like a wet tee shirt, and looks like it it like looks and shirt, tee wet a like

“You’ll never get her! She will live and and live will She her! get never “You’ll flesh than it reveals, doesn’t cling to her her to cling doesn’t reveals, it than flesh

bafflement as it falls apart in her hands. hands. her in apart falls it as bafflement armor, wonder of wonders, covers more more covers wonders, of wonder armor,

arms, and then she laughs at the queen’s queen’s the at laughs she then and arms, under all that armor and the helmet. Her Her helmet. the and armor that all under

the guards wrestle the bundle from her her from bundle the wrestle guards the “pretty” but you would scarcely notice it it notice scarcely would you but “pretty”

rags. “No,” she shrieks, as Bavmorda and and Bavmorda as shrieks, she “No,” rags. able. Sorsha later turns out to be very very be to out turns later Sorsha able.

holding onto a baby-shaped bundle of of bundle baby-shaped a onto holding - avail or attractive sexually as presented

mother in her cell. The mother is fiercely fiercely is mother The cell. her in mother noticed, that none of these women were were women these of none that noticed,

prohibitively difficult. difficult. prohibitively

Queen Bavmorda confronts the new new the confronts Bavmorda Queen at least a heterosexual man might have have might man heterosexual a least at

the Bechdel Test is not not is Test Bechdel the

unobtrusively out of the castle, while while castle, the of out unobtrusively Second, you might have noticed, or or noticed, have might you Second, Apparently passing passing Apparently

and the evil Queen herself. She hurries hurries She herself. Queen evil the and ficult. Interesting. ficult. its title yet. Interesting. Interesting. yet. title its

Queen Bavmorda’s arriving entourage entourage arriving Bavmorda’s Queen - dif prohibitively not is Test Bechdel the haven’t even been told told been even haven’t

her head down right past the guards and and guards the past right down head her title yet. Interesting. Apparently passing passing Apparently Interesting. yet. title the Bechdel Test, and we we and Test, Bechdel the

her basket of bloody rags and walks with with walks and rags bloody of basket her Test, and we haven’t even been told its its told been even haven’t we and Test, Yes, this movie has passed passed has movie this Yes,

springs into action. She hides the baby in in baby the hides She action. into springs Yes, this movie has passed the Bechdel Bechdel the passed has movie this Yes,

“Please, you must save her.” The midwife midwife The her.” save must you “Please, Young Things and are spoken to a man. man. a to spoken are and Things Young

completely heroic midwife Ethna, Ethna, midwife heroic completely all lines, and most of those go to Nubile Nubile to go those of most and lines, all

new mother to the dirty, middle-aged, middle-aged, dirty, the to mother new women usually get less than a third of of third a than less get usually women

dirty, sweaty, realistically-not-at-all-sexy realistically-not-at-all-sexy sweaty, dirty, by women. This in an industry where where industry an in This women. by

“She bears the mark,” whispers the the whispers mark,” the bears “She dialogue that furthers the plot is spoken spoken is plot the furthers that dialogue

that kind of world.) world.) of kind that guards says something, but all of the the of all but something, says guards

a woman could rival her. It appears to be be to appears It her. rival could woman a male. I’m pretty sure one of the male male the of one sure pretty I’m male.

Bavmorda has simply assumed that only only that assumed simply has Bavmorda myself to call Sorsha a princess) is fe is princess) a Sorsha call to myself -

Baby would be a girl. Evidently Queen Queen Evidently girl. a be would Baby Queen’s Daughter (I can’t quite bring bring quite can’t (I Daughter Queen’s

we know, didn’t specify that the Special Special the that specify didn’t know, we the Baby, the Midwife, the Mother, the the Mother, the Midwife, the Baby, the Willow represent our experiences to us in a way by Mims and Ranon, the daughter and (cont. from p. 5) resembling how we experience them.) son of our protagonist, Willow. Willow This new mother, though, is not at all and his wife Kaiya are farmers in dan- glamorized and is the polar opposite ger of being driven out of their home by of languid. Frankly, she looks like she their greedy landlord, Burglekutt. They smells bad, and I love it. are industrious, generous people, good Let’s take a moment for numbers and parents in a loving and supportive mar- context. By my count, there are twenty- riage. Willow seems to be the worrier of two memorable characters in this movie. the two, while Kaiya keeps her head on Some of them are unnamed, like the her shoulders. baby’s mother, and some of them can’t They immediately recognize that the really be said to further the plot, but baby is “not like us,” by which they mean perhaps I could say they all nourish it. that she is a Daikini, or “giant.” It’s al- Shout-out to the Of these twenty-two characters, ten are ways refreshing to flirt with the other- Greenfield sisters who female (and they are played by eleven ac- ing of the default group, so it’s nice to somehow managed to tresses, since the baby is played by twins, get a glimpse of tall people through the make a lineless role one Ruth and Kate Greenfield. Shout-out eyes of a society of little people. The of the most compelling to the Greenfield sisters who somehow movie doesn’t delve into it at all, but it and convincing in the film. managed to make a lineless role one of does make perfectly clear that the Nel- I’m not kidding either. the most compelling and convincing wyns don’t admire the Daikinis for their in the film. I’m not kidding either. You height or feel any undue fear of them. have to see it to believe how expressive Daikinis are just another kind of people, and intelligent this character comes off ). who happen to be grotesquely tall, and That means this movie beats the average probably have nasty barbaric ways. Kai- female-to-male ratio in movies by 17%, ya and the children instantly adopt the statistically significant certainly. No, fe- baby, in spite of Willow’s shrill protests, males aren’t the majority of memorable which they cheerfully ignore. H characters, only 45%, and no, they are Trouble comes in the form of one of not the majority onscreen, with most of Bavmorda’s rat-boar-hounds, which at- 6 the extras being male warriors. But it’s tacks during a Nelwyn festival and tears a well-known phenomenon that most up a cradle before the Nelwyn warrior people perceive women as outnumber- squad manages to spear it to death. The ing men when we make up only a third Nelwyns conclude that the beast was of a group, so you can watch this as a looking for a baby, and Willow and Kai- movie that feels like it has a female ma- ya realize that they will have to tell the jority, as practice for the day when we town council about their find. have a High Fantasy movie that actually It is decided by the council and the They immediately has a female majority. Otherwise that High Aldrin that the baby will have to be recognize that the baby experience, when it comes, might over- taken back to the Daikinis, for the good is “not like us,” by which whelm you. of the village. A group is chosen to un- they mean that she is a Another thing you might have no- dertake this potentially dangerous jour- Daikini, or “giant.” It’s ticed about these opening scenes is that ney: Willow, his best friend Meegosh, always refreshing to flirt two female characters have already been the odious and reluctant Burglekutt, as with the othering of the killed off. True enough, but I’m just glad well as Vohnkar, the head warrior and default group, so it’s nice they got to die while spitting in the a few of his men. Their goal is to reach to get a glimpse of tall face of evil, fearlessly and against over- the Daikini crossroads and then give the people through the eyes of whelming odds. Male characters get to baby to the first Daikini they meet. Wil- a society of little people. do that every day of the week, but how low by this time has grown attached to many actresses have had the opportunity the baby and serves as her nursemaid in to play that kind of supreme moment? I a way that makes it clear he has played honestly don’t know, as the gender sta- an active role in the care of his own chil- tistics for heroic death scenes haven’t dren. He knows when she needs to be been studied yet, but my gut feeling is burped, he knows how she sounds when that it’s nigh on unique. she needs her “rag” changed. His knowl-

The reedy tussock eventually comes to edge of babies even earns him a modicum

shore in Nelwyn country and is found of authority within the group, who have n

n

the fate of all the other characters hangs. hangs. characters other the all of fate the himself as “the greatest swordsman who who swordsman greatest “the as himself

Cont. on p. 8 p. on Cont.

none after it. It is the fight upon which which upon fight the is It it. after none Daikini sidekick, Madmartigan, who bills bills who Madmartigan, sidekick, Daikini

plenty of battles before it, but there are are there but it, before battles of plenty more than once gets the best of Willow’s Willow’s of best the gets once than more

it is the climactic fight. There have been been have There fight. climactic the is it petent warrior and leader of warriors. She She warriors. of leader and warrior petent

time she fights the climactic fight. And And fight. climactic the fights she time - com highly a Sorsha, there’s then And

she is more or less mummified by the the by mummified less or more is she beyond all possibility of reincarnation. reincarnation. of possibility all beyond

the stress of her impending doom, and and doom, impending her of stress the cated ritual which will banish her soul soul her banish will which ritual cated

throughout the movie, no doubt due to to due doubt no movie, the throughout - compli a perform must but Elora, kill

but the character has been rapidly aging aging rapidly been has character the but much that she is not content to simply simply to content not is she that much

Marsh) was actually only 54 at the time, time, the at 54 only actually was Marsh) her part. Certainly Bavmorda fears her so so her fears Bavmorda Certainly part. her

The actress who plays Bavmorda ( Jean Jean ( Bavmorda plays who actress The some sort of arcane steering of destiny on on destiny of steering arcane of sort some

cept that it is fought by two old women. women. old two by fought is it that cept in her favor in a way that could suggest suggest could that way a in favor her in

there”….

- ex there”) , Willow of ripping-off less helpless, but events do seem to conspire conspire to seem do events but helpless,

, , Willow of ripping-off

- shame pretty some is “that was thought

ter, I guess. She is, of course, physically physically course, of is, She guess. I ter,

is some pretty shameless shameless pretty some is

my first first my Ring, the of Fellowship The son’s - charac female powerful another that’s

my first thought was “that “that was thought first my

- Jack Peter in duel Saruman’s and dalf ranks the male protagonist, evidently, so so evidently, protagonist, male the ranks

, , Ring the of Fellowship

- Gan saw first I when fact, (in scene - out She has. baby the authority much

The The Jackson’s Peter in duel

It is exactly like any other magical fight fight magical other any like exactly is It this honor, which makes me wonder how how wonder me makes which honor, this

Gandalf and Saruman’s Saruman’s and Gandalf

most unusual fight scenes ever filmed. filmed. ever scenes fight unusual most helper. Willow is not allowed to decline decline to allowed not is Willow helper.

… when I first saw saw first I when …

What follows is surely one of the the of one surely is follows What the baby herself chose Willow to be her her be to Willow chose herself baby the

another word said on the topic. the on said word another baby’s name is Elora Danan, and that that and Danan, Elora is name baby’s

sleeves and prepares for battle without without battle for prepares and sleeves We learn from Cherlindria that the the that Cherlindria from learn We

has no time for that. She rolls up her her up rolls She that. for time no has ing her brief appearance. brief her ing

“I’m sorry,” says Willow, but Fin Raziel Raziel Fin but Willow, says sorry,” “I’m - dur authority great exercises Cherlindria

her (Patricia Hayes) was 79 at the time. time. the at 79 was Hayes) (Patricia her ly equal her in power, and a fairy named named fairy a and power, in her equal ly

sorceress’s age, but the actress who plays plays who actress the but age, sorceress’s - approximate to seems Raziel, Fin named

and she is now is she and well, it’s hard to tell a a tell to hard it’s well, —

banished rival, another great sorceress sorceress great another rival, banished

7

woman” when Bavmorda defeated her, her, defeated Bavmorda when woman”

that Bavmorda demonstrates. Bavmorda’s Bavmorda’s demonstrates. Bavmorda that

i her own words, “a young and beautiful beautiful and young “a words, own her ly never approaches the kinds of powers powers of kinds the approaches never ly

of her banishment. She was, according to to according was, She banishment. her of - certain it And slightly…incompetent. as

body has been aging during the decades decades the during aging been has body est men’s magic in this movie is presented presented is movie this in magic men’s est

Fin Raziel discovers that her original original her that discovers Raziel Fin - hon perfectly be to but apprentice, drin’s

When she is finally made human again, again, human made finally is she When - Al High the become to aspires Willow

pletely on his first two tries. two first his on pletely met the High Aldrin, and we know that that know we and Aldrin, High the met

- com up it messing times, multiple spell that men can wield magic, because we’ve we’ve because magic, wield can men that

has to be walked laboriously through the the through laboriously walked be to has powerful people are female. We know know We female. are people powerful

to be two or three sleight-of-hand tricks, tricks, sleight-of-hand three or two be to to say is that, in this world, all of the most most the of all world, this in that, is say to

low, whose entire stock of “magic” seems seems “magic” of stock entire whose low, powerful female characters. What I mean mean I What characters. female powerful

- Wil this, do to order In form. original Throughout the movie, he runs into into runs he movie, the Throughout

until Willow helps her return to her her to return her helps Willow until deepest strengths, and all that good stuff. good that all and strengths, deepest

authority the baby has. has. baby the authority enchantment and can’t use any magic magic any use can’t and enchantment face his worst fears and summon his his summon and fears worst his face

me wonder how much much how wonder me mountain lake, is also suffering under an an under suffering also is lake, mountain after turn, and Willow of course has to to has course of Willow and turn, after

this honor, which makes makes which honor, this being trapped on a tiny island in a huge huge a in island tiny a on trapped being along. After that, the movie takes turn turn takes movie the that, After along.

is not allowed to decline decline to allowed not is banished Fin Raziel. Fin Raziel, besides besides Raziel, Fin Raziel. Fin banished he is until an appropriate Daikini comes comes Daikini appropriate an until is he

to be her helper. Willow Willow helper. her be to world, and directs him to take it to the the to it take to him directs and world, low, who is determined to wait where where wait to determined is who low,

baby herself chose Willow Willow chose herself baby seems to be a famous object in this this in object famous a be to seems - Wil abandon and defect all Meegosh,

Elora Danan, and that the the that and Danan, Elora

also gives Willow her own wand, which which wand, own her Willow gives also The other Nelwyns, except for the loyal loyal the for except Nelwyns, other The

that the baby’s name is is name baby’s the that

and interpreting her will, Cherlindria Cherlindria will, her interpreting and baby, so Willow refuses to hand her over. over. her hand to refuses Willow so baby,

We learn from Cherlindria Cherlindria from learn We

Besides telling us the baby’s name name baby’s the us telling Besides seems in every way unsuitable to rear a a rear to unsuitable way every in seems

smooching him good and fierce. and good him smooching find a Daikini at the crossroads. He He crossroads. the at Daikini a find

guy she likes in the middle of a battle and and battle a of middle the in likes she guy more about the plot. The Nelwyns do do Nelwyns The plot. the about more

not just a kissee, but a kisser, grabbing the the grabbing kisser, a but kissee, a just not Anyway, I don’t want to say too much much too say to want don’t I Anyway,

find it trite. She quickly proves that she is is she that proves quickly She trite. it find movie, wouldn’t you say? I like it. like I say? you wouldn’t movie,

stances are unusual enough that I didn’t didn’t I that enough unusual are stances a ­ action- an in recognition gain dventure dventure

someone’s love-interest, but the circum the but love-interest, someone’s - Meegosh. That’s a weird way for a man to to man a for way weird a That’s Meegosh.

ever lived.” She does wind up playing playing up wind does She lived.” ever been disposed to look down on him and and him on down look to disposed been Willow And it is fought in deadly earnest, with only queens and democracies), and in- (cont. from p. 7) no hint at all that we should view it as a stead of Tolkien’s 4.5 to 1 male to female semi-comical “cat-fight,” or that the di- ratio (across all races and all published rector thinks we should be turned on by books, according to the LOTRProject), it. It is simply two highly magical people we have Lucas’s 1.2 to 1 male to female trying to kill each other, and the fact that ratio. (One downside of the movie being they happen to be two women from a so Tolkienesque is that the ethnic diver- demographic that Hollywood can hard- sity among the cast is also, shall we say, ly bring itself to acknowledge is a non- Tolkienesque.) issue. And they don’t just fling spells, I can present my own judgment on I can present my own either. Any time they get within arm’s how feminist the movie is, but I have judgment on how feminist reach, they’re happy to throw punches. no way of judging how feminist it was the movie is, but I have Willow, who is after all the protago- intended to be. However, we can glean no way of judging how nist, plays a decisive role in this fight, but some relevant data points from Wikipe- feminist it was intended not by fighting. He is not a warrior, nor dia. For example, at the time of Willow’s to be. is he really a sorcerer, so he has to help release, George Lucas was the father of out by using the very limited tools in his a seven-year-old girl. During what must arsenal, which hearkens back to a certain have been post-production on the movie, embarrassing failure of his earlier in the he adopted a second daughter. Is it pos- movie, but that’s all I’ll say. sible that he was thinking about what This is a movie that I imprinted on kinds of movies his own daughters would as a kid, before I could really judge it. grow up watching and what those mov- I liked the magic, the swordfights, the ies might do to their self-worth? What exciting musical score, the humor, the about the director, Ron Howard? At the monsters, etc., and it never occurred to time of Willow’s release, he also had a me that this movie might be saying bet- seven-year-old daughter, as well as twin ter things about girls and women than three-year-old girls. It makes sense that H another of my favorites, The Princess being the fathers of young girls would Bride, or other fantasy movies from the play a role in these men deciding to make 8 time. This, for me, is one of those rare a movie that is stuffed with admirable childhood favorites that gets better the and powerful women. On the other hand, more I critique it. The Princess Bride falls plenty of male screenwriters have daugh- apart completely when you look at it ters and still blithely follow the old tropes through a feminist lens, and others from and stereotypes. All I know is that this is the same period, like Krull or Legend, a movie I wouldn’t hesitate to share with are even worse. Which brings me to a my own daughters, if I ever have any, puzzling question: were Willow’s makers and the movies that I can say that about trying to make a feminist movie? number in the single digits. Rumor has it that George Lucas had If you feel that Tolkien been hoping for years to be able to make wrote some wonderful stories but shamefully an adaptation of The Hobbit or The Lord ignored the female half of the Rings, but hadn’t been able to se- of the population, Willow cure the rights, and finally gave up and might be just what you’re wrote his own story about a brave half­ looking for. ling carrying a McGuffin on a long quest. I don’t know if that’s true, but it certainly sounds plausible. If you feel that Tolkien wrote some wonderful sto- Morgen Tell lives in the ries but shamefully ignored the female San Francisco Bay Area half of the population, Willow might be and works as a tutor with just what you’re looking for. Instead of non-profit organizations. an evil ring, there’s a charismatic little Movies and movie history red-headed baby girl, and instead of are subjects that rouse her wizards there are sorceresses. Instead of enthusiasm.

elven kings, there’s a fairy queen (in fact,

there are no kings at all in this movie, n

n

Aqueduct Press. Aqueduct

forthcoming from from forthcoming Skin, Not

If If collection, debut Toby’s

“Somatic Market” is from from is Market” “Somatic

who lives in Burlington, VT. VT. Burlington, in lives who

author, artist, and teacher teacher and artist, author,

nonbinary trans, disabled disabled trans, nonbinary

Toby MacNutt is a queer, queer, a is MacNutt Toby

spoon of honey from the jar. the from honey of spoon

in my mind and lilac on my tongue. I hum a morning song and lick clean a a clean lick and song morning a hum I tongue. my on lilac and mind my in

fortnight’s time I feel the egg-pearls hatch. It is dawn. There is a murmuration murmuration a is There dawn. is It hatch. egg-pearls the feel I time fortnight’s

The children gather moss and twigs, build a nest in my occipital bulge; in a a in bulge; occipital my in nest a build twigs, and moss gather children The

Ô

I chase the wind home. wind the chase I

Ô

In thanks, I cross her palm with silver and a kiss. a and silver with palm her cross I thanks, In

a score of seed-sized, sky-blue pearls, iridescent as the summer, and as warm. warm. as and summer, the as iridescent pearls, sky-blue seed-sized, of score a

The windmonger is at the corner of Green Alley and Parchment. Parchment. and Alley Green of corner the at is windmonger The In her hand are are hand her In

full of tiny drifting clouds, in shifting shades of lavender. lavender. of shades shifting in clouds, drifting tiny of full

and I oblige, exhaling into the glass mask. She draws it away: it is is it away: it draws She mask. glass the into exhaling oblige, I and breathe, Here,

Looks like a sky, to me. me. to sky, a like Looks head. my shake I No, one? new a growing are you But

The words taste purple, though the bubblestone is gone, dissolved. gone, is bubblestone the though purple, taste words The have. I

Lost your mind? your Lost vendor. A

is hard without my bees, their patterns, their hum, their honey on my tongue. tongue. my on honey their hum, their patterns, their bees, my without hard is

9

a quiet corner, just a gap between stalls. I try to think. I cannot remember. It It remember. cannot I think. to try I stalls. between gap a just corner, quiet a

i The beekeeper is not here, and I don’t know what I need. I wedge myself into into myself wedge I need. I what know don’t I and here, not is beekeeper The

Ô

wax-smeared (its curves were hard to reach). to hard were curves (its wax-smeared

bubblestone waft higher, condensing against the cool of my pate, still faintly faintly still pate, my of cool the against condensing higher, waft bubblestone

noise to me. With my fingers in my ears, the violet-tasting gases from the the from gases violet-tasting the ears, my in fingers my With me. to noise

it is only only is it — for my beeswax to return, as I push through the musician’s quarter musician’s the through push I as return, to beeswax my for

ever by the glass beetles drawing circles in their little tray of coal-dust. I wish wish I coal-dust. of tray little their in circles drawing beetles glass the by ever

Today I ignore the metallic chorus of dragonflies, though I am tempted as as tempted am I though dragonflies, of chorus metallic the ignore I Today

mouth.

condition, on the house. I accept. I break its shell, and suck; it fizzes in my my in fizzes it suck; and shell, its break I accept. I house. the on condition,

for my my for — blackberry — drops for the children. She recommends a bubblestone a recommends She children. the for drops

which I scoop ginseng puppies, white lightning caramels, and basil-amethyst basil-amethyst and caramels, lightning white puppies, ginseng scoop I which

miniature herbalist offers me a sympathetic smile and a wax-paper bag, into into bag, wax-paper a and smile sympathetic a me offers herbalist miniature

mice, riddles, pocket seas, and green brittle sunlight. The sweets seller by the the by seller sweets The sunlight. brittle green and seas, pocket riddles, mice,

pomegranate, no dream-salt, and I am keeping good time. I pass up shadowy shadowy up pass I time. good keeping am I and dream-salt, no pomegranate,

The air is thick with craft, by ear and nose, but I want no mandrake bread, no no bread, mandrake no want I but nose, and ear by craft, with thick is air The

Ô

white sand and two of saltwater into each foot, and go to market. to go and foot, each into saltwater of two and sand white

from my unglazed terra-cotta, leather joints creaking. I pour one measure of of measure one pour I creaking. joints leather terra-cotta, unglazed my from

now, in my hollow places. I cut the orphaned comb and scrape wax carefully carefully wax scrape and comb orphaned the cut I places. hollow my in now,

more would their honey drip down upon my tongue; there is no echoing buzz, buzz, echoing no is there tongue; my upon down drip honey their would more

the bees had swarmed off in the night. No No night. the in off swarmed had bees the — empty and silent up wake I

by Toby MacNutt Toby by

Market Somatic The y Science Fiction as Patriarchal Dissidence in Argentina: The Unorthodox Feminism in Angélica Gorodischer’s Trafalgar by Cristina Jurado I have one regret from my time grow- ing up; not knowing about Angélica Gorodischer, the celebrated Argentinian feminist speculative fiction author. In my Inverting traditional country, Spain, it was mandatory to study societal roles, Gorodischer the works of prominent writers as part questions gender stereotypes while of the literature program, most of them attacking the absurdity male Spaniards and only a handful of of bureaucracy…. Latin Americans. Female authors were, more then than now, hidden from most drano, an interstellar merchant who loves syllabuses. So I learnt about Borges, Cor- black coffee and storytelling as much as tázar, and other Latin Americans, such as women, never turns away from a good Rubén Darío or Bioy Casares, but I was adventure. What fascinates me about this never able to recognize myself in their story is how brilliantly it sets the mood oeuvres, even if I admired their craft. of the collection through the misfortunes When four years ago I was commis- of the protagonist on Veroboar, a planet sioned to edit Alucinadas (Spanish Wom- ruled by an aristo matriarchy. Inverting en of Wonder, Palabaristas, 2016), the first traditional societal roles, Gorodischer anthology of short science fiction by questions gender stereotypes while at- women in Spanish, I came across Goro- tacking the absurdity of bureaucracy, in discher’s delicious stories. I was hooked. a tale that mixes Jean-Claude Forest’s I’m not ashamed to declare my addic- Barbarella comics and Edgar Rice Bur- H tion ever since, and I take pride in hav- roughs’ Barsoom stories with the ev- ing developed a budding friendship with 10 eryday vicissitudes of the Argentinian her, despite time (four decades separate bourgeoisie. This is an excellent example us) and space (we live literally on oppo- of how female characters in Gorodischer site sides of the world: she is in Rosario, stories are central, presenting themselves Argentina, and my docking station is in from what they desire and not from what Dubai, UAE). Would you believe me if I society legitimizes. told you that she is as tireless and witty One important aspect of Trafalgar is in her messages as in her stories? Trust its style: the book is reminiscent of the me on this one. “club tale” literature found in Asimov (The Unfortunately, only three of her books Union Club Mysteries, Doubleday, 1983; have been translated into English: Tra- and Tales of the Black Widowers, Double- falgar, by Amelia Gladhart (Small Beer day, 1974) and Arthur C. Clarke (Tales Press, 2013), Prodigies, by Sue Burke from the White Hart, Ballantine Books, (Small Beer Press, 2015), and Kalpa Im- 1957), the sort of narrations one patron perial, by none other than Ursula K. Le tells others at a cozy establishment. Ele- Guin (Small Beer Press, 2003). From the ments of the early “tall tale” tradition can three, Trafalgar is the earliest in Goro- be found in this collection, in which ex- discher’s career, including fiction that traordinary events are told as if they were represents some of her best sci-fi short ordinary, by good-natured protagonists, stories. I intentionally turned to Goro- and in the form of fabulous adventures discher while looking for a solid name to or mysteries. The main character not only support Alucinadas: when Angélica gra- provides the title for the book but also ciously granted us permission to use one sets the atmosphere with a casual “story- of the stories in Trafalgar, I pounced on telling” style packed with blatant humor, the opportunity. I chose “By the Light a perfect device to transform the reader Grandmother Magma of the Electronic Moon,” the story that into a willing accomplice.

opens the book, a tale of the main charac- Echoes of Borges’ “The Immortal”

ter Trafalgar Medrano’s adventures. Me- (Labyrinths, New Directions, 1962) can n

n

- un Gorodischer’s exhibiting thus 1970s, and their no less bizarre relationship. bizarre less no their and

Cont. on p. 13 p. on Cont.

stagnation of Argentinian politics in the the in politics Argentinian of stagnation history in the form of his strange daughter daughter strange his of form the in history

works also as a subtle reminder of the the of reminder subtle a as also works fronted with a part of Trafalgar’s personal personal Trafalgar’s of part a with fronted

derful satire on oppressive family ties, it it ties, family oppressive on satire derful - con are we Gypsophila,” and stroemias,

- won A short). for (Gonzalez, jkaleidos - Lager “Strelitzias, adventure, last the In

inhabitants of Gonzwaledworkamen- of inhabitants the traditional clichés. traditional the

solve the existential conundrum of the the of conundrum existential the solve independent, forceful people, far from from far people, forceful independent,

to to — shield anti-comet an — on science on er’s fiction are depicted as accomplished, accomplished, as depicted are fiction er’s

lighthearted and intelligent way, relying relying way, intelligent and lighthearted - Gorodisch in characters female Again,

topic of the dead among the living in a a in living the among dead the of topic of everything in order to acquire power. power. acquire to order in everything of

story, but the author approaches the the approaches author the but story, stance as a dangerous creature capable capable creature dangerous a as stance

us to think that we are facing a horror horror a facing are we that think to us - Con depicts Trafalgar disclosed, fully

traditional clichés. traditional ily’s Fight for a Better World” may bring bring may World” Better a for Fight ily’s and, especially, by the ones that are never never are that ones the by especially, and,

people, far from the the from far people, - Fam González “The in premise The By the aspects of her life that he reveals reveals he that life her of aspects the By

independent, forceful forceful independent, disciple of Dick or Vonnegut narratives. Vonnegut or Dick of disciple of the barren world of Donteä-Doreä. Donteä-Doreä. of world barren the of

depicted as accomplished, accomplished, as depicted events, rending Gorodischer as a worthy worthy a as Gorodischer rending events, mysterious woman, the sole inhabitant inhabitant sole the woman, mysterious

Gorodischer’s fiction are are fiction Gorodischer’s “Trafalgar, the Target” of extraordinary extraordinary of Target” the “Trafalgar, of the protagonist with a powerful and and powerful a with protagonist the of

…female characters in in characters …female

sion. “Trafalgar, the Witness” becomes becomes Witness” the “Trafalgar, sion. “Constance” describes the encounter encounter the describes “Constance”

- dimen syncretic a fact, in is, time that humankind. humankind.

of confusion climaxed by the realization realization the by climaxed confusion of cal and cosmological consequences for for consequences cosmological and cal

morning drives the merchant into a state state a into merchant the drives morning - epistemologi its as well as order, plete

encing a different historical event every every event historical different a encing - com of meaning true the question to

- experi latter, the In Year.” the of Day an incoherent behavior forces Trafalgar Trafalgar forces behavior incoherent an

story or in the following one, “The Best Best “The one, following the in or story predictable. The only man who displays displays who man only The predictable.

time travel, like in the aforementioned aforementioned the in like travel, time life is methodical, programmed, and and programmed, methodical, is life

through the well-explored concept of of concept well-explored the through for creativity, inspiration, or art because because art or inspiration, creativity, for

stories. She constantly addresses it, often often it, addresses constantly She stories. nized society in which there is no room room no is there which in society nized

11

Time is recurrent in Gorodischer’s Gorodischer’s in recurrent is Time - orga overly an experiences merchant

i trays the conqueror as a lousy leader. leader. lousy a as conqueror the trays In the planet Aleiçarga, the interstellar interstellar the Aleiçarga, planet the In

- por also but history redirects only not brings me to the sixth text, “Mr. Chaos.” Chaos.” “Mr. text, sixth the to me brings

Spain’s 15th-century royal intrigues and and intrigues royal 15th-century Spain’s orderliness was an incantation, which which incantation, an was orderliness

hundred years back, Trafalgar navigates navigates Trafalgar back, years hundred low the sequence of stories, almost as if if as almost stories, of sequence the low

the readers to a “symmetrical” Earth, five five Earth, “symmetrical” a to readers the - fol to reader the asks explicitly discher

nization of the Americas. Transporting Transporting Americas. the of nization - Goro book the of beginning the At

- colo the in moment iconic an journey, gestures in times of trouble. of times in gestures

particular rewrite of Columbus’s first first Columbus’s of rewrite particular act shows the significance of symbolic symbolic of significance the shows act

The next story, “Of Navigators,” is a a is Navigators,” “Of story, next The day in a planet divided by caste, his final final his caste, by divided planet a in day well with everybody. with well

of human enlightenment. human of erybody. Even after failing at saving the the saving at failing after Even erybody. despite all, goes down down goes all, despite

us to meditate about the consequences consequences the about meditate to us - ev with well down goes all, despite who, and a profiteer who, who, profiteer a and

table clash of cultures, the author urges urges author the cultures, of clash table plorer, a carefree spirit, and a profiteer profiteer a and spirit, carefree a plorer, explorer, a carefree spirit, spirit, carefree a explorer,

a womanizer, a reckless reckless a womanizer, a almost impassive state. With the inevi the With state. impassive almost - nature. He is a womanizer, a reckless ex reckless a womanizer, a is He nature. -

merchant’s nature. He is is He nature. merchant’s planet Ananda-ha A, apparently in an an in apparently A, Ananda-ha planet and us, about the flaws in the merchant’s merchant’s the in flaws the about us, and

us, about the flaws in the the in flaws the about us, scientists with the native inhabitants of of inhabitants native the with scientists towards Trafalgar, reminding her aunty, aunty, her reminding Trafalgar, towards

reminding her aunty, and and aunty, her reminding describes the encounter of a group of of group a of encounter the describes tive in order to express certain lenience lenience certain express to order in tive

lenience towards Trafalgar, Trafalgar, towards lenience losing the humorous tint, Gorodischer Gorodischer tint, humorous the losing tinian woman writer enters the narra the enters writer woman tinian -

in order to express certain certain express to order in In order to accomplish this without without this accomplish to order In - Argen the Here, herself. Gorodischer

writer enters the narrative narrative the enters writer

identifying the immortals with deities. deities. with immortals the identifying seems to have much in common with with common in much have to seems

… the Argentinian woman woman Argentinian the …

but Gorodischer pushes it even further, further, even it pushes Gorodischer but commercial escapades to her niece, who who niece, her to escapades commercial

of humanism, transhumanism for some, some, for transhumanism humanism, of relative who retells one of Trafalgar’s Trafalgar’s of one retells who relative

was more in sync with Nietzsche’s idea idea Nietzsche’s with sync in more was ties. The narrator is Josefina, a fictional fictional a Josefina, is narrator The ties.

development of humankind. Borges Borges humankind. of development “Trafalgar and Josephine” to her aun her to Josephine” and “Trafalgar -

ical question: immortality as the uber- the as immortality question: ical no wonder that Gorodischer dedicates dedicates Gorodischer that wonder no

- philosoph deep a into dives it ensemble, as a thriving force in her universe, it is is it universe, her in force thriving a as

though it maintains the light tone of the the of tone light the maintains it though Connecting with the idea of women women of idea the with Connecting

the second story of the collection. Even Even collection. the of story second the for social and political criticism. criticism. political and social for

be found in “The Sense of the Circle,” Circle,” the of Sense “The in found be derstanding of science fiction as a place place a as fiction science of derstanding y Short Fiction Reviews by Karen Burnham

“Dead Man Walking,” by Jeremy Szal, Abyss & Apex (#65), 1st Quarter 2018, edited by Wendy S. Delmater. “Caretaker,” by Eden Royce, Abyss & Apex (#65), 1st Quarter 2018, edited by Wendy S. Delmater. “What Makes the Desert Beautiful,” by John P. Carr, Abyss & Apex (#65), 1st Quarter 2018, edited by Wendy S. Delmater. “Lines of Growth, Lines of Passage” by Marissa Lingen, Uncanny Magazine (#20), Jan/Feb 2018, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas.

I’d like to open with a note of thanks In the same issue, “Caretaker” by Eden These stories all share a to CSZ’s editors for giving me space to Royce describes an astrobiologist who theme of integration, but write about short fiction that catches has suddenly become almost catatonic. span a wide spectrum my eye. It’s liberating to be able to con- As she is cared for by a psychiatrist, her in how that topic is sider a few short stories without feeling story is revealed: she found a crashed approached. compelled to touch upon every story in alien spaceship. A pregnant alien mother a magazine or an anthology. As much as was dying, and the astrobiologist agreed possible I’ll be talking about fiction that to incubate her children until they could is easy to access — mostly because I’m not return to the spaceship. At first the inte- going to avoid spoilers. So if you hate gration was very rough, causing the cata- knowing the twist, read the stories first. tonia, but as the children mature they There be spoilers ahead! learn to exist in her more gently. Soon In this inaugural outing I’d like to talk they’re able to return to their spaceship. H about a group of stories from Abyss & In this case the merger is voluntary, al- Apex and Uncanny Magazine. These sto- though the risks were not fully known. 12 ries all share a theme of integration, but The POV character is the psychiatrist, span a wide spectrum in how that topic and I would have liked it if the story had is approached. carried on a little further, to give me a On one side of that continuum is better sense of the aftermath’s effect on Jeremy Szal’s “Dead Man Walking.” both women. A group of soldiers is going about the In “What Makes the Desert Beauti- business of suppressing a handful of oc- ful” by John P. Carr, a brash young man, casionally rebellious settlements, mak- Yaran, has crash-landed in an alien des- ing sure that they accept colonial rule ert far from help. The alien creature he without question. The soldiers are sus- was intending to meet, Pak, finds him tained in their hostile environment by in the wreckage. This energy alien flows self-healing power armor. At a certain through the sand and manifests in pat- point our viewpoint character attempts terns, and it is very friendly and curious. to make a humane choice, but his armor Eventually they figure out that Pak can locks him out and issues an order, in his flow into Yaran and brace him with its voice, that his squad fire on an entire vil- energy, allowing him to move to safety. lage. When he gets back to confront his In this case the consequences to the commander it turns out that in a prior protagonist are clearer — this is going to engagement his injuries were so severe hurt, a lot, but it has the chance to save that he was turned into a cyborg without him. Pak is totally patient about wait- his knowledge. He is physically dead and ing for consent. When they get Yaran to his commanders can override his suit at safety, both are very thoughtful. Through their will. He is understandably horri- their intersection Pak now understands

Dust Lanes fied — this happened without his knowl- something as alien to it as rain. The ex-

edge or consent, and he will be trapped perience helps Yaran reevaluate his life

in that suit forever. and how he might move forward. Both n

n

versions that serve Gorodischer to raise raise to Gorodischer serve that versions Nevsky Books. Nevsky

ones on Earth, they are stereotypical stereotypical are they Earth, on ones be published this year by by year this published be

discher is as relevant nowadays as ever. ever. as nowadays relevant as is discher

will will , Alphaland collection, humans, with societies mimicking the the mimicking societies with humans,

- Goro lica é Ang that evidence stories,

her first English story story English first her the planets he visits are all populated by by populated all are visits he planets the

result is a wonderful series of chained chained of series wonderful a is result

editor and author, and and author, and editor

Medrano’s travels is just apparent. While While apparent. just is travels Medrano’s

questions without startling readers. The The readers. startling without questions (Spain’s Hugos) as as Hugos) (Spain’s

Playfulness in the telling of Trafalgar Trafalgar of telling the in Playfulness

profound physical and philosophical philosophical and physical profound

won 3 Ignotus Awards Awards Ignotus 3 won

the craft. the craft.

narrator and a humorous style to cover cover to style humorous a and narrator

and English. She has has She English. and

of writing, reflecting on the nature of of nature the on reflecting writing, of

gentinian daily life, using a non-reliable non-reliable a using life, daily gentinian and fantasy in Spanish Spanish in fantasy and

tities, one observing the other in the act act the in other the observing one tities,

- Ar of context cultural the within tions Cristina Jurado writes sf sf Jurado writes Cristina

- en separate two into narrator the splits - narra stage seamlessly to decision her

ful metanarrative in which Gorodischer Gorodischer which in metanarrative ful approach to science fiction comes from from comes fiction science to approach

- wonder a is I” and “Trafalgar , Maker litical immobility. The author’s unique unique author’s The immobility. litical

The The in published also I,” and “Borges - po or humanism, sexism, colonization,

important questions on dependency, dependency, on questions important micro-fiction timeless the Mirroring

11) p. from (cont.

Trafalgar Gorodischer’s Angélica

with her family. her with - sor a without life its through on going

Michigan, where she lives lives she where Michigan, didn’t give the cherry tree the choice of of choice the tree cherry the give didn’t

automotive industry in in industry automotive is better, this is working together. Verloc Verloc together. working is this better, is

Press. She works in the the in works She Press.

er than a cherry tree plus me, but this this but me, plus tree cherry a than er

. . gmail[dot]com [at] Burnham

from University of Illinois Illinois of University from

- rath wants, tree cherry a just what know

Karen. at line a me drop please about, Greg Egan is available available is Egan Greg

it: “And now we’re now “And it: well, I still don’t don’t still I well, —

fiction that you think I should know know should I think you that fiction Her single author study study author single Her 13

new synthesis. As the sorceress describes describes sorceress the As synthesis. new

or fundraising campaign publishing short short publishing campaign fundraising or

online and other venues. venues. other and online

a kind of magic born out of a completely completely a of out born magic of kind a i

If there’s an awesome website, magazine, magazine, website, awesome an there’s If Magazine Locus for writes

some of her power to its own ends, with with ends, own its to power her of some

for new voices and new venues to explore. explore. to venues new and voices new for reviewer and critic. She She critic. and reviewer

ply a passive presence; in the end it uses uses it end the in presence; passive a ply

and avocationally a book book a avocationally and In closing, I’m always on the lookout lookout the on always I’m closing, In

- sim not is tree the And relationships.

electromagnetics engineer engineer electromagnetics they make of it. it. of make they

with them, uncovering other symbiotic symbiotic other uncovering them, with

is vocationally an an vocationally is whether they get to consent and what what and consent to get they whether

she instead works on communicating communicating on works instead she

Karen Burnham Burnham Karen by circumstance, and the questions are are questions the and circumstance, by

the result of her integration experience experience integration her of result the

party; it’s something they are forced into into forced are they something it’s party;

an ice field, blocking profitable trade. As As trade. profitable blocking field, ice an

is not something sought out by either either by out sought something not is

have been preventing passage through through passage preventing been have

the cases discussed here the integration integration the here discussed cases the

that might defeat some Iron Giants who who Giants Iron some defeat might that

interesting results. It is notable that in in that notable is It results. interesting

original idea had been to create weapons weapons create to been had idea original , Winter 1992) with with 1992) Winter , Eidolon ( “Closer”

and secures the defense contract. Her Her contract. defense the secures and truly merge together in his short story story short his in together merge truly

her instead of vice-versa. She goes ahead ahead goes She vice-versa. of instead her protagonists go to incredible lengths to to lengths incredible to go protagonists

and invite the cherry tree to exist inside inside exist to tree cherry the invite and two of Greg Egan’s post-human post-human Egan’s Greg of two — ative

enough space for herself to cast a spell spell a cast to herself for space enough

- neg universally from far been has it And they make of it. it. of make they

harm the tree, and eventually creates just just creates eventually and tree, the harm , October 2009). 2009). October , Clarkesworld ( depiction get to consent and what what and consent to get

fense contract. She does her best not to to not best her does She contract. fense intense “Spar” for a particularly visceral visceral particularly a for “Spar” intense questions are whether they they whether are questions

while she was working on securing a de a securing on working was she while - circumstance and the the and circumstance consider Kij Johnson’s incredibly incredibly Johnson’s Kij consider — fiction

been trapped by a business competitor competitor business a by trapped been they are forced into by by into forced are they ously this theme is not new in speculative speculative in new not is theme this ously

this was inconvenient.” A sorceress has has sorceress A inconvenient.” was this either party; it’s something something it’s party; either mechanism for enlightenment. Obvi enlightenment. for mechanism -

something sought out by by out sought something cased in a cherry tree. Though fragrant, fragrant, Though tree. cherry a in cased from a terrifying form of slavery to a a to slavery of form terrifying a from

the integration is not not is integration the not remember how I had gotten en gotten had I how remember not - with the concept perceived as everything everything as perceived concept the with

cases discussed here here discussed cases sage” starts with a killer opening: “I did did “I opening: killer a with starts sage” Here we see the gamut of integration, integration, of gamut the see we Here

It is notable that in the the in that notable is It gen’s “Lines of Growth, Lines of Pas of Lines Growth, of “Lines gen’s - of impractical circumstances. circumstances. impractical of

“Dead Man Walking,” Marissa Lin Marissa Walking,” Man “Dead - of the narrator, very practical in the face face the in practical very narrator, the of

Finally, on the opposite end from from end opposite the on Finally, story, both the theme and also the voice voice the also and theme the both story,

lightened. lightened. we could do.” There’s a lot to love in this this in love to lot a There’s do.” could we

cerer embedded in it, so this is the best best the is this so it, in embedded cerer - en and thoughtful encounter the leave y Doing ‘That Torn, by Rowenna Miller, Orbit, March 2018, 480 pp., $15.99. reviewed by Kate Schaefer

All book reviews are much more about how the reviewer read the book than about how the writer wrote the I believe that Miller has book. This is about how I readTorn by better books in her and Rowenna Miller: I kept wanting to read that we’ll see them as a slightly different, better book, the book she gains confidence and suggested by this book rather than the mastery of her work, but book in my hands. I believe that Miller she’s not there yet. has better books in her and that we’ll see about the same level one would expect them as she gains confidence and mas- in a world where good-luck charms don’t tery of her work, but she’s not there yet. work. As the danger to the aristocracy Torn tells two main stories with one from the potential revolution increases, propeller. There’s the standard romance demand for the good-luck charms in- plot of a beautiful, intelligent, lower- creases as well, rapidly growing Sophie’s class woman, Sophie, who is also a small wealthy customer base at the same time as business owner, catching the fancy of an she supplies protective good-luck charms impossibly higher-class man, Theodor — in hats for her brother and his revolution- a duke, an heir to the throne, though not ary comrades. first in line. The other story is about a In the world where we live, good-luck revolutionary plot of the people against charms are ubiquitous, even though we the oppressive, nearly feudal overlords; one of the leaders of the revolution is know they don’t work, so I’m puzzled H Sophie’s brother Kristos. The plot pro- why they wouldn’t be ubiquitous in a peller is Sophie’s path as she simulta- world where they do. I’m puzzled why 14 neously falls in love, learns about the Sophie and her brother aren’t already revolution, acquires new clients for her wearing charmed clothing throughout sewing and good-luck charm business, the novel and why sewing charmed un- and learns new magical skills, setting her derclothing is a novel suggestion from up for torn loyalties between her brother one of Sophie’s new clients rather than and her lover, her class affinity and her one of her standard items. In our world, desire for upward mobility, her beliefs embroidery patterns to protect against about how her magical abilities should the evil eye have traditionally been sewn be used and how they can be used. on peasant shifts — that is, undercloth- In the first sentence, Sophie says she ing — in multiple cultures for thousands doesn’t do that. “That” would be cursing of years, generally replacing the same someone, rather than charming them. patterns painted or tattooed directly on Since I have read more than one novel the skin. (I’ve embroidered Transylva- in my life, I know that at some point nian designs onto clothing myself; must in this book, she will end up doing just have worked, since I haven’t suffered that, even though she doesn’t want to. from the effects of the evil eye.) Not exactly a spoiler: yup. Consequences Some of my puzzlement is because follow, and she must scramble to find a Miller shows an intimate knowledge way to undo her deeds. of historic clothing, both garments and The novel takes place in a fantasy construction methods, so I would have country that looks suspiciously like late expected her to know more about the his- 18th-century Britain but with political tory of attempted magical clothing as well. developments more on par with pre- Miller is comfortable with showing revolutionary France, and where magic class differences and the unfairness in-

Reviews is performed by a despised ethnic group. herent in a system of hereditary aristoc-

This magic works, but only weakly, as a racy. She has a moderately sophisticated

way to improve luck, and it’s pursued on understanding of economic forces, in- n

n

story, and its ending more satisfying. more ending its and story, the beginning seemed clichéd, but I gave gave I but clichéd, seemed beginning the

Cont. on p. 16 p. on Cont.

to be more engaging than the rest of the the of rest the than engaging more be to the domestic slack. The shaman scene in in scene shaman The slack. domestic the

male/AI seeking autonomy and freedom freedom and autonomy seeking male/AI ist whose wife is relegated to picking up up picking to relegated is wife whose ist

- fe the about arc the found I and level, - art tortured alcoholic an about story a

tonomy from more than one angle and and angle one than more from tonomy cipitously lost interest when it became became it when interest lost cipitously

- au examined story The have. not should - pre I But on. read to wanted I piece,

own the land, but this fell flat for me. It It me. for flat fell this but land, the own you desire,” toward the beginning of the the of beginning the toward desire,” you

speech given by a son about who should should who about son a by given speech when I read, “It may cut away more than than more away cut may “It read, I when

She Thought She Knew.” There was a was There Knew.” She Thought She “Skin and Bone” had a good hook; hook; good a had Bone” and “Skin

So it was with the third story, “What “What story, third the with was it So went on for too long. too for on went

in remembrance. in ing between the perspectives; nothing nothing perspectives; the between ing

something previously, and tilt your head head your tilt and previously, something - switch the liked I sculptor. the and Sister

to make you remember that you’d seen seen you’d that remember you make to perspectives of two women, the Swan Swan the women, two of perspectives

here, a word there: there was enough enough was there there: word a here, by switching back and forth between the the between forth and back switching by

— neat! A hint hint A neat! latter half of the last century. It does so so does It century. last the of half latter is next in the collection the in next is

of women, in America in the middle to to middle the in America in women, of of the previous story in each one that that one each in story previous the of

gender roles, specifically the treatment treatment the specifically roles, gender At least at the start, there were echoes echoes were there start, the at least At

stories, “Swan Sister,” examines ideas of of ideas examines Sister,” “Swan stories, about the shaman scene, it wore on me. on wore it scene, shaman the about

The first in this collection of five short short five of collection this in first The that a pass. Then, as I read on thinking thinking on read I as Then, pass. a that

eviewed by Tonya Liburd Tonya by eviewed r

, by Beth Plutchak, Aqueduct Press, January 2018, 134 pp., $10. pp., 134 2018, January Press, Aqueduct Plutchak, Beth by , Spaces Liminal

Voices Uneven Five y

Jackson Bennett instead. Bennett Jackson 15

Gladstone, Kameron Hurley, or Robert Robert or Hurley, Kameron Gladstone, downsides of relationships with men: men: with relationships of downsides

i

ommend that you read Ann Leckie, Max Max Leckie, Ann read you that ommend Sophie has clearly considered the the considered clearly has Sophie

- rec I’d messiness, complex its all in fail, named character to die in the revolution. the in die to character named sometime soon. sometime

about how a revolution might work or or work might revolution a how about in terms of food. Nia is also the first first the also is Nia food. of terms in narrowest part of England England of part narrowest

If you’re looking for a thoughtful novel novel thoughtful a for looking you’re If stained lips, the only character described described character only the lips, stained plans to walk across the the across walk to plans

that’s what you like, it may work for you. you. for work may it like, you what that’s from the Equatorial States, has walnut- has States, Equatorial the from a great deal of sewing. She She sewing. of deal great a

other somewhat interesting elements. If If elements. interesting somewhat other en skin (and Greek names); Nia, a woman woman a Nia, names); Greek (and skin en Clarion West in 1992, and and 1992, in West Clarion

programming, attending attending programming, think it’s not a bad romance novel with with novel romance bad a not it’s think - gold have Kristos and Sophie suggested.

defunct bank, database database bank, defunct tell from what I’ve written so far, but I I but far, so written I’ve what from tell mentioned, but skin color is only vaguely vaguely only is color skin but mentioned,

for a large but now- but large a for Should you read this book? You can’t can’t You book? this read you Should their hair and eye colors are frequently frequently are colors eye and hair their

includes financial analysis analysis financial includes cared about it. about cared When new characters are introduced, introduced, are characters new When

Kate Schaefer’s past past Schaefer’s Kate romance tropes rather than because she she because than rather tropes romance work, about politics, about magic. about politics, about work,

the scene in to satisfy the demands of of demands the satisfy to in scene the characters talk to each other about their their about other each to talk characters

chéd fashion that I suspect Miller put put Miller suspect I that fashion chéd that passes the Bechdel test: female female test: Bechdel the passes that

passion sweeps them along in such a cli a such in along them sweeps passion - The novel has more than one scene scene one than more has novel The

consequences or protection at all. Their Their all. at protection or consequences glosses over that truth. that over glosses

actually have sex, they don’t talk about about talk don’t they sex, have actually being oppressed by anyone else; Miller Miller else; anyone by oppressed being

but when they they when but — than I’d expect them to them expect I’d than peasantry in turn get the privilege of not not of privilege the get turn in peasantry

way earlier earlier way — on in their acquaintance their in on fruits of their labor by force, while the the while force, by labor their of fruits

to happen. They do discuss bastardy early early bastardy discuss do They happen. to wealth by depriving the peasantry of the the of peasantry the depriving by wealth

come on! That conversation has has conversation That on! come — sibility ing economic reality is that they get their their get they that is reality economic ing

fair to the aristocrats. aristocrats. the to fair

- respon of sense veloped de ­ well- a with oblige the noblesse put in, the underly the in, put noblesse the oblige -

she works too hard to be be to hard too works she

the aristocrats. No matter how much much how matter No aristocrats. the worried about consequences and a man man a and consequences about worried

their best, though I think think I though best, their

I think she works too hard to be fair to to fair be to hard too works she think I the possibility of pregnancy. For a woman woman a For pregnancy. of possibility the

the most part, trying to do do to trying part, most the

most part, trying to do their best, though though best, their do to trying part, most consider a condom or even to talk about about talk to even or condom a consider

in which people are, for for are, people which in

of a society in which people are, for the the for are, people which in society a of

with her lover, neither of them stops to to stops them of neither lover, her with the complexity of a society society a of complexity the

She’s good at portraying the complexity complexity the portraying at good She’s nomic independence. When she has sex sex has she When independence. nomic She’s good at portraying portraying at good She’s

have jobs or some method of support. support. of method some or jobs have worse danger of marriage and loss of eco of loss and marriage of danger worse -

cluding making sure that all characters characters all that sure making cluding the danger of single parenthood and the the and parenthood single of danger the Liminal Spaces I didn’t see a hint of the previous story someone trying to extrapolate that to (cont. from p. 15) in the remaining stories, though, starting fiction; it doesn’t always fit or work. I’m with “A Matter of Time.” It was told in not sure what the case is here. I didn’t an informal fashion, from the perspective see why someone would spread their legs of a mother whose son has special gifts and show young people their labia as as well as autism. His autism presented Sophie Jouy does, when there’s advanced For me, the strongest challenges for the mother. This read, technology to provide a much more de- story of the collection was quite frankly, like a story appearing in tailed presentation of the body’s parts. I the first, “Swan Sister,” Abyss & Apex, a magazine I co-edit. I’m didn’t completely get the purpose of the followed closely by “A sure we would have accepted it. How- “games,” either. How the end result of Matter of Time.” ever, by the time I read the line, “If I had one game played into the next wasn’t at enough money, I could do all that and all clear. more for Matt,” I started to predict to Each of the five stories adopted a dif- myself how things would turn out. The ferent voice. Not everyone can pull that story didn’t end quite the way I thought off. Tonya Liburd’s work it would, but the conclusion had striking For me, the strongest story of the col- is used in Nisi Shawl’s similarities to what I’d envisioned. Your lection was the first, “Swan Sister,” fol- workshops and in mileage may vary, but it’s a solid, com- lowed closely by “A Matter of Time.” Tananarive Due’s UCLA fortable story, and… you may want it to There were elements of the other sto- Black Horror course. She end a certain way. ries that didn’t work for me. I found the is the Senior Editor of “Game Theory” chronicled the travel quality of the work uneven, and though Abyss & Apex magazine. of a generational ship from the view- the prose was acceptable, many of the You can find her blogging point of one woman who also, until the stories simply didn’t grab me. My over- at http://Spiderlilly.com end of the story, administers “games” all impression is one of potential, but no or on Twitter at with a Machiavellian feel. I read about real payoff. @somesillywowzer. red versus blue teams, and I think of Capture the Flag video games, and H 16 y First Wave Feminism and Self-Defense Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement, by Wendy L. Rouse, New York University Press, August 2017, 255 pp., $35. reviewed by Nancy Jane Moore

Most of my knowledge about women frage movement and other radical femi- training in martial arts at the beginning nism of the times. of the twentieth century has come from Rouse gives us the story of those wom- jokes and cartoons such as the Punch en, but she does more with the subject item, “The Suffragette Who Knew Jiu- than that. While she is a serious martial jitsu,” featured on p. 129 of Wendy L. artist who must have been delighted to Rouse’s Her Own Hero. That cartoon find so many foremothers, Rouse is an shows a woman who has just thrown equally serious historian — a professor at several cops over a fence standing ready San Jose State University in California — and able to take on the horde of officers who does not neglect the complex social cowering away from her. As a woman issues of this period. It is impossible to martial artist, I know women can fight, talk about protecting women and avoid and, as a feminist, I know that when issues of both race and class. Further, men make jokes about women beating women’s interest in fighting skills was up men, they are trying to belittle some- part of their general interest in athletic thing that scares them. However, I had activities previously denied to women, no idea that so many women in both the and their push to do these things came United States and the United Kingdom at a time when, at least in the United took up boxing and jiu-jitsu to protect States, there was a physical fitness push

themselves in the early 1900s, nor that for men, particularly white, upper-class

some of that training was tied to the suf- men. Rouse used a large number of pri- n

n

vements pushed for for pushed vements ­ mo feminist early of defense studies, the suffrage movement, movement, suffrage the studies, defense

Cont. on p. 18 p. on Cont.

Third, Rouse is all too aware that self- that aware too all is Rouse Third, sential to be aware that while the leaders leaders the while that aware be to sential

litical rights we take for granted today. granted for take we rights litical - es is it misogyny, with along nophobia

- po and civil basic the lacked most when - xe and racism of upsurge today’s With

ing arts for serious purposes at a time time a at purposes serious for arts ing protect against Black and foreign men. men. foreign and Black against protect

- fight up take did women many that note needed to make themselves stronger to to stronger themselves make to needed

many gyms. But it is still important to to important still is it But gyms. many instead of more manly jobs, so that they they that so jobs, manly more of instead

“kickboxing” classes offered to women at at women to offered classes “kickboxing” ing “weak” as they took up office work work office up took they as “weak” ing

has re-emerged in the present with the the with present the in re-emerged has

- becom were men white that idea the on

for granted today. granted for

a pattern that that pattern a — into the ideal of the day the of ideal the into

taken up by women as well as women by up taken was based based was —

political rights we take take we rights political

ones aimed at shaping women’s bodies bodies women’s shaping at aimed ones

for men for a campaign that was often often was that campaign a —

lacked the basic civil and and civil basic the lacked

(p. 190). The classes often morphed into into morphed often classes The 190). (p. of the push for physical fitness training training fitness physical for push the of

at a time when most most when time a at

setting traditional class and gender roles” roles” gender and class traditional setting shown by many others at the time. Much Much time. the at others many by shown

for serious purposes purposes serious for

- up avoid to effort an in arts manly the

ism and anti-immigrant bias that was was that bias anti-immigrant and ism

did take up fighting arts arts fighting up take did

the courses taught “modified versions of of versions “modified taught courses the

- rac same the with tainted is feminism

note that many women women many that note

ied both jiu-jitsu and boxing, many of of many boxing, and jiu-jitsu both ied

Unfortunately, some of that period of of period that of some Unfortunately, …it is still important to to important still is …it

- stud women while that notes also She to white women in some circumstances. circumstances. some in women white to

tivity for women. women. for tivity or the protection of the law extended extended law the of protection the or

- ac physical of importance the of wrote

the opportunities to learn self-defense self-defense learn to opportunities the

(United States) and 1871 (France) and and (France) 1871 and States) (United

that African American women rarely got got rarely women American African that

received her medical degrees in 1864 1864 in degrees medical her received

projects by upper-class white women, and and women, white upper-class by projects

work of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, who who Jacobi, Putnam Mary Dr. of work

and harassment were often do-gooder do-gooder often were harassment and

hundred years back. Rouse points to the the to points Rouse back. years hundred

working-class women deal with abuse abuse with deal women working-class

the 1960s were debunked more than a a than more debunked were 1960s the

Rouse also notes that efforts to help help to efforts that notes also Rouse

keep women from playing sports into into sports playing from women keep

ignored by the law.) law.) the by ignored

reproductive systems that were used to to used were that systems reproductive

today that sort of harassment is generally generally is harassment of sort that today

activity of all kinds would harm women’s women’s harm would kinds all of activity

17

ously in the early twentieth century, since since century, twentieth early the in ously

so-called medical opinions that physical physical that opinions medical so-called

- seri taken were mashers against claims i

nism beginning in the late 1960s. The The 1960s. late the in beginning nism

and native-born. (It is interesting that that interesting is (It native-born. and

- femi Wave Second with arise suddenly the times. times. the

skilled tradesmen, most of them white white them of most tradesmen, skilled

rounding women’s physical skills did not not did skills physical women’s rounding other radical feminism of of feminism radical other

rassers tended to be professionals or or professionals be to tended —

- sur issues the that shows it Second, the suffrage movement and and movement suffrage the

- ha street other and cat-callers today’s

frage movement was no different. different. no was movement frage

of that training was tied to to tied was training that of

ployers. The “mashers” The ployers. similar to to similar —

early 1900s, nor that some some that nor 1900s, early - suf the and radicalization, to leads often

- em and acquaintances, friends, family,

protect themselves in the the in themselves protect many others) to obtain reasonable rights rights reasonable obtain to others) many

of the dangers for all women came from from came women all for dangers the of

boxing and jiu-jitsu to to jiu-jitsu and boxing of the powerful to efforts by women (and (and women by efforts to powerful the of

despite the fact that, then as now, most most now, as then that, fact the despite

United Kingdom took up up took Kingdom United were important to them. The resistance resistance The them. to important were

class white women to study self-defense, self-defense, study to women white class

United States and the the and States United other areas, such as self-protection, that that self-protection, as such areas, other

slavery” encouraged middle- and upper- and middle- encouraged slavery”

many women in both the the both in women many expanded rights led them to recognize recognize to them led rights expanded

narratives of stranger rape and “white “white and rape stranger of narratives

I had no idea that so so that idea no had I Kingdom, and the push by women for for women by push the and Kingdom,

from Black and “foreign” men in the the in men “foreign” and Black from

real fighting, especially in the United United the in especially fighting, real

sues of the day. The specter of danger danger of specter The day. the of sues

ries. The fight for the vote often involved involved often vote the for fight The ries.

were affected by the racism and class is class and racism the by affected were -

late nineteenth and early twentieth centu twentieth early and nineteenth late -

and the push for other rights of the time time the of rights other for push the and companied the feminist movement of the the of movement feminist the companied

- ac that training physical the on analysis

sons. First, it provides detailed data and and data detailed provides it First, sons.

This book is important for several rea several for important is book This -

understanding of women’s history. women’s of understanding

broken new ground and expanded our our expanded and ground new broken

together all this information, Rouse has has Rouse information, this all together

women during those years. By pulling pulling By years. those during women

tively document the real experiences of of experiences real the document tively

law enforcement and courts to defini to courts and enforcement law -

lished at the time, along with data from from data with along time, the at lished

magazine articles as well as books pub books as well as articles magazine - mary sources such as newspaper and and newspaper as such sources mary First Wave Feminism and Self-Defense idea that women are physically incapable (cont. from p. 17) of fighting men still prevails in much many good things for women, some of of society here in the United States as them also held appalling attitudes on well as in the rest of the world. Rouse’s book makes it clear that the “but men Rouse’s book makes it race and made unwarranted assump- tions about class. Rouse does a good are stronger” argument is an old one and, clear that the “but men like most anti-feminist arguments, in- are stronger” argument is job of making these points clear with- tended to derail the conversation instead an old one and, like most out undercutting the importance of the of engaging it. anti-feminist arguments, movement for women’s self-defense and intended to derail the physical selves. This book left me with a question that conversation instead of For me, this book was both inspiring is beyond the scope of Rouse’s book: why engaging it. and depressing. Inspiring, because know- were there so many years between the ing that women contemporaries of my “New Woman” era when women took grandmothers and great-grandmothers up training, and the revival of interest in were challenging limited gender roles self-defense, martial-arts training, and of the end of the Victorian area in such sports that accompanied Second Wave Nancy Jane Moore has feminism? My grandmother did not studied martial arts since a strong physical way gives me new in- sight into what went into the fight for take up boxing, but she played basket- 1979 and holds a fourth ball in high school in the nineteen-teens. degree black belt in women’s rights. Depressing, because the issues and myths that were common at My mother, though a tomboy as a child, Aikido. She is working did not have as much of an opportunity on a book on self-defense the time are still with us today. Although we have finally reached the point — in to play sports, and most major universi- and also researching body ties and large high schools did not field learning. Her fiction the early twenty-first century — where women’s and girls’ basketball teams until includes the science women police officers are no longer an after the advent of Title IX in the early fiction novel The Weave oddity, and where women in the military (Aqueduct Press 2015). are being allowed into combat roles, the 1970s. I hope Rouse will explore this gap in future work. H y Prisoner of the Future Dark Age 18 Wonderblood, by Julia Whicker, St. Martin’s Press, April 3, 2018, 304 pp., $26.99. reviewed by Arley Sorg

Wonderblood captivates from its very upon a fragmented history of space shut- first line: it throws the reader into a tles. These shuttles have become sancti- land of savagery and danger. It sharpens fied icons, and most believers await the readers’ focus through shocking cultures day the “absent” shuttles will return from of casual brutality, and engages us emo- the heavens to usher in a new era — and tionally and intellectually with striking subsequently take those who are worthy imagery and provocative world-building. back to the heavens. Hundreds of years in the future, after Born into this terrible world is “the disease has ravaged the United States, girl,” whose mother’s name is Gimbal. The what’s left of the human population ex- first of three point-of-view characters, ists in a sort of Dark Age. Vast stretches she does not use or give her name. She of land stand empty, either overgrown or is the daughter of a “Walking Doctor,” desolate. Such civilization as remains is a practitioner of medicine and surgery, a ostensibly ruled by King Michael, whose group seen as heretical. After teaching her throne stands within the glittering towers daughter a few fundamentals of anatomy Wonderblood captivates of Cape Canaveral. True control, how- and medicine, Gimbal meets a man and, from its very first line: ever, is exerted through religion and its seeing “the girl” as a threat, abandons her it throws the reader into interpretation. to her estranged brother. a land of savagery and In this post-apocalyptic vision, histo- The brother, Argento, is a perfect rep- danger. ry and various sciences as we know them resentative of the world in general: vio- are almost entirely lost, corrupted, or lent, selfish, and superstitious. He runs a

outlawed. The beliefs and superstitions carnival: a roaming group that executes

that constitute religious power build people, enchants severed heads, and sells n

n

It would mean leaving behind both his his both behind leaving mean would It and hopes to launch more. launch to hopes and

to Kansas would be a dangerous trip. trip. dangerous a be would Kansas to short stories into orbit, orbit, into stories short

novel, has thrown a few few a thrown has novel, of the primary religion. But returning returning But religion. primary the of

He’s soldering together a a together soldering He’s gogue and home to a schismatic version version schismatic a to home and gogue

. . Magazine Locus at editor sas - Mysta mysterious the of seat the —

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

- Kan birthplace, his to return should he conversations.

Writing Workshop Workshop Writing

finds his faith faltering and wonders if if wonders and faltering faith his finds ing the reader with ideas bound to start start to bound ideas with reader the ing

shops. A 2014 Odyssey Odyssey 2014 A shops.

and clawing his way to the top, Parsons Parsons top, the to way his clawing and

- challeng does: fiction science best the

writes in local coffee coffee local in writes

to Cape Canaveral as a younger man man younger a as Canaveral Cape to

apocalyptic fiction, while doing what what doing while fiction, apocalyptic

Oakland, California, and and California, Oakland,

bored Queen Alyson). After coming coming After Alyson). Queen bored

the already well explored tropes of post- of tropes explored well already the

Arley Sorg lives in in lives Sorg Arley

daughter as well, the spoiled and ever- and spoiled the well, as daughter adds much to to much adds Wonderblood same, the All

King (and perhaps, debatably, to his his to debatably, perhaps, (and King lost a little momentum towards the end. end. the towards momentum little a lost

cian.” As such he is second only to the the to only second is he such As cian.” than a conversation; and the storyline storyline the and conversation; a than

- Magi Head and Hierophant Canaveral, ing more like a Shakespearian soliloquy soliloquy Shakespearian a like more ing

Parsons is the “High Priest of Cape Cape of Priest “High the is Parsons - sound unrealistic, the into wandered

two point-of-view characters. point-of-view two right. For example, dialogue sometimes sometimes dialogue example, For right.

sons and John Sousa make up the other other the up make Sousa John and sons A few elements didn’t land quite quite land didn’t elements few A

- Par Whiteside Marvel Meanwhile, times surprising. times

conversations.

depends on what you’ve seen in life. in seen you’ve what on depends

POV character, is engrossing and at at and engrossing is character, POV with ideas bound to start start to bound ideas with

rative seems to say: what you see as love love as see you what say: to seems rative

ingly beyond the influence of its first first its of influence the beyond ingly challenging the reader reader the challenging

- nar the words, other In argument. matic

- seem along careening often while plot, best science fiction does: does: fiction science best

- the compelling a becomes interaction elegant and occasionally gorgeous. The The gorgeous. occasionally and elegant while doing what the the what doing while

exposure to specific modes of human human of modes specific to exposure slides easily from distanced and cold to to cold and distanced from easily slides post-apocalyptic fiction, fiction, post-apocalyptic

dition of love to any given individual’s individual’s given any to love of dition unique and well-developed. The writing writing The well-developed. and unique well explored tropes of of tropes explored well

- con or state the of relativity the cess, sequent cultures, all form a world both both world a form all cultures, sequent much to the already already the to much

- pro this Through love. of notions own - sub its and variations, its religion, mary adds adds Wonderblood

build. This causes her to articulate her her articulate to her causes This build. - pri The engaging. and creative also is 19

and grow, her introspective comparisons comparisons introspective her grow, and is brutal and stark, but it it but stark, and brutal is Wonderblood

i

feelings for each successive captor shift shift captor successive each for feelings become heated. become

of emotional attachment. As the girl’s girl’s the As attachment. emotional of and over which debates will doubtless doubtless will debates which over and

dertakes a subtle but courageous study study courageous but subtle a dertakes about which papers could be written, written, be could papers which about

- un Wonderblood imprisonment, of kinds creating a sampling of power dynamics dynamics power of sampling a creating

Moreover, as the girl endures various various endures girl the as Moreover, sitioned in a number of interesting ways, ways, interesting of number a in sitioned

naticism and faith. and naticism - po are appear that those yet sparse; are

- fa on commentaries clever developing from the first POV character, women women character, POV first the from

ment and gender, and simultaneously simultaneously and gender, and ment ations, personalities, and conflicts. Aside Aside conflicts. and personalities, ations,

- empower about questions out teasing - situ fascinating offering but characters,

from one terrible situation to the next, next, the to situation terrible one from the stage, often overshadowing the POV POV the overshadowing often stage, the

social system, the story moves the girl girl the moves story the system, social A few other important characters take take characters important other few A

workings of this innovative and complex complex and innovative this of workings skeptic and courtly rival, Parsons. rival, courtly and skeptic

While laying out for readers the the readers for out laying While by not only the King but also his greatest greatest his also but King the only not by

one, and bring the shuttles back. shuttles the bring and one, interpret their appearance and pressured pressured and appearance their interpret

heated.

end the current “Eon,” usher in a new new a in usher “Eon,” current the end appear in the sky Sousa is desperate to to desperate is Sousa sky the in appear

will doubtless become become doubtless will

of disease, and through this cleansing cleansing this through and disease, of being a fraud. When two streaks of light light of streaks two When fraud. a being

and over which debates debates which over and

uous bloodletting will cleanse the world world the cleanse will bloodletting uous

own sense of purpose and the notion of of notion the and purpose of sense own

papers could be written, written, be could papers

believers hold that only massive, contin massive, only that hold believers - of “the Return,” Sousa struggles with his his with struggles Sousa Return,” “the of

dynamics about which which about dynamics

fering for the world’s overall sins. True True sins. overall world’s the for fering cades to predict the exact date and time time and date exact the predict to cades

a sampling of power power of sampling a

- suf wide-scale of time a Pain,” of “Eon chagrin of Parsons. Having failed for de for failed Having Parsons. of chagrin -

interesting ways, creating creating ways, interesting

People in the tale believe they live in the the in live they believe tale the in People has the ear of the King, much to the the to much King, the of ear the has

positioned in a number of of number a in positioned

ing of the world in blood for one Eon.” Eon.” one for blood in world the of ing sort of astrologist cum astronomer who who astronomer cum astrologist of sort

those that appear are are appear that those

- rins “The “Wonderblood”: term the tronomer, and scholar of holy texts,” a a texts,” holy of scholar and tronomer,

…women are sparse; yet yet sparse; are …women

Which brings us to the meaning of of meaning the to us brings Which - as Doctor, Orbital “Chief is Sousa

taking prisoners only to execute them. execute to only prisoners taking be a sin. a be

vals often battle with each other, usually usually other, each with battle often vals the very act of traveling to Kansas might might Kansas to traveling of act very the

that rest in villages for the winter, carni winter, the for villages in rest that - beyond these, beyond betraying his King, King, his betraying beyond these, beyond

daughter and his amassed power. And And power. amassed his and daughter all sorts of trinkets. Seminomadic tribes tribes Seminomadic trinkets. of sorts all Erika Steiskal

Erika Steiskal is a freelance illustra- Erika earned her BFA in illustration tor known for her whimsical paintings from the Columbus College of Art and created for small and major publishers Design. Her clients include Penguin and arts organizations. She aims to il- Books for Young Readers, Central Penn- lustrate atmospheric images that invite sylvania Youth Ballet, Aqueduct Press, the viewer to linger and create their own and Arkansas Art Center. Her work has story. Whether created for clients, gal- been recognized by Communication Arts, leries, or personal projects, she hopes Spectrum, 3x3, Lurzer’s Top 200 Illustra- her pieces help people escape from the tors, the Society of Illustrators, and the everyday. A lover of speculative fiction, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. Erika finds much of her inspiration in An Ohio-native, Erika now lives in a li- literature. She works in both traditional brary in Seattle with her husband and a and digital media and usually creates crazy springer spaniel. You can see more her pieces using a fusion of the two ap- of her work at erikasteiskal.com. proaches. When not in her studio, Erika can be found reading or sketching the denizens of coffee shops.

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