*Note: A previous version of this post included an overview of the issue as a whole. After some reflection, I’ve decided that approach was not the right way of going about things. The reviews of the individual stories and poems are what matter here. Those have not been altered from the original publication.
Prose Fiction
“Cursed Moon Queers” by Natalia Theodoridou
I like a sociopolitical story, but this one was too on the nose and didn’t do anything particularly exciting with the potent material it was tapping into. Compared to something like “If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love,” this story just didn’t work. It’s beautifully written and Theodoridou has a strong history, and if you like his writing, you’ll probably enjoy it just fine. If you’re new to his writing, start with something else.
“Another Girl Under the Iron Bell” by Angela Liu
Beautifully written, with compelling characters and real stakes. For the first time in a long time, I was drawn into this story and just could not stop reading. If you like Japanese mythology/folklore, you’ll like this. It’s demons and swords and geisha; it’s romance and control and death. You need to read this.
“The Wrong Time Travel Story” by Marissa Lingen
Second person can be difficult to pull off, but this story would not work as well in first person or in third. There is an underlying truth to the pursuit of an unrepeatable serendipitous experience that allows any reader to be pointed at and told “you would feel this way, too.”
“The 6% Squeeze” by Eddie Robson
A bleak and critical look at late-stage capitalism through the eyes of a graphic designer working for a monster. It was maybe a little on the nose, but at barely over 2,000 words, it’s a quick, clear read. This is a solid piece of fiction.
“A Menu of First Favorite Meals” by Jo Miles
I was so excited to read this story. The conceit of organizing a story by favorite meals is unique, and I’m here for it. The worldbuilding in this story is artfully done. I am not the biggest fan of especially “talky” stories, and the blending of first and second person made it feel even more “talky” than it actually is. I wish this story had a stronger plot, but it’s good character-driven writing.
“¡Sangronas! Un Lista de Terror” by M. M. Olivas
By the time I read this story, I’m really tired of second person POV. I don’t think it adds anything to this story, really. The story itself is quite good, though–a little bit Lost Boys, but with an eye toward U.S. immigration issues and a Latina twist. The list of rules peppered through the story is fun, too, like signs posted outside a girls-only treehouse. The ending packs a punch, and the writing as a whole is really strong. If you don’t mind or can look past the second person, it’s worthwhile.
“A Stranger Knocks” by Tananarive Due
Tananarive Due is really in her stride right now, with multiple notable awards stacked up on her recent novel The Reformatory, including a Stoker. This story is a demonstration of her elevated voice in horror. I am inclined to compare “A Stranger Knocks” to Lovecraft Country. It’s spinning historical fiction with the uncanny and playing with pre-existing horror tropes. The characters are textured, and the particular plot is one I haven’t quite seen before. It’s a great story. As a bonus, this is read on the Uncanny podcast, too (others are, too, but this is the one I would push you toward most).
Poetry
“Dreams on a Tamarind Road” by Prosper C. Ìféányí
I found this poem to be disjointed and jarring, but not in a good way. If the idea is that dreams themselves are disjointed and nonsensical, I suppose it did that. It’s unclear to me what the author wants me to take away from the poem. There are a dozen unanswered questions, and all I feel is confusion.
“Festival of Scales and Teeth” by Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga
Something about this prose poem invokes The Greatest Showman‘s “This is Me” and “Come Alive” for me. It’s a celebration of scars, a commentary on mindless consumption of performances. Is it about animal captivity, too? I feel like I’m a mermaid at Sea World during the zombie apocalypse, and I think that’s the point. I dig this one. Niyonsega is definitely on my radar as an author to look for; she should be on yours, too.
“To Hunt a Chimera” by Mikal Wix
The most narrative poem of this issue of Uncanny. Parts of it seem like an elegy for a fallen D&D character, but other moments transport me to shores that exist in an overlap between Florida and the Greek Heroic Age. American things like Rosa and prickly pear cactus and Big Pine Key mash up with shepherds and Stygian mud and the chimera who is only directly mentioned in the title. I can watch the film of this poem in my mind’s eye, but there are details that are underexplained (a risk of poetry) which distract me from fully enjoying the moment.
“The Witch Recalls Her Craft” by Angela Leal
Oof. This one hit me hard. To me, this poem is about a woman with a small child, struggling with too much to balance, as her aging mother watches her go through what she has already done. It’s about the loss that comes with the particular kind of growing up that being responsible for a tiny human makes you do and the absolute chaos that comes at the same time. This poem works for me because I’m living it, so my review might be a little biased, but Leal absolutely captures the sense of a lost ability to work toward your dreams that is not-quite-mourned because you would never make the trade to get it back.
Cthulhuville 