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the latest short story rec list!
Sep. 11th, 2019 06:32 pmAwwww yeah, it's time for some more SHORT STORIES! Here you go, 10 of the stories I read in the last year-ish that I particularly enjoyed. I hope you like them too!
1. The King's Mirror - M. K. Hutchins
A story set in a time of difficult politics among real historical Mayan royalty--but focusing on the lives of more ordinary people, and the things that still matter in their lives even while dynastic struggles are happening above them. Above all: a story about a loving sibling relationship and what the right thing to do is when you know an upsetting secret.
2. The Privilege of the Happy Ending by Kij Johnson
About a young girl and an elderly talking chicken running away from danger and then, eventually, towards it. I don't know what to tell you about this one, except that I'm fascinated by the way the narrative continues to draw your attention to what might happen next to the other characters Ada encounters throughout the story, and also to the structure of Story. I haven't seen another story do quite this thing before!
3. The Ocean That Fades Into Sky - Kathleen Kayembe
The politics of interacting between colonizer and colonized, resistance, identity and truth and lies and trust, family. Lots of meaningful themes wrapped up in a compelling story about the gods of another world from the perspective of one of the youngest and most vulnerable.
4. Mother Tongues - S. Qiouyi Lu
What if you could sell your knowledge of a language, leaving you without it? What if the only one you know well enough to sell at a good price is your native language? What if you need that money to give your child the best possible advantages, would you make that enormous sacrifice? AUGH.
5. Poems Written While - Natalia Theodoridou
At the end of the world, sometimes poems about stars are what get you through the day. I love how kind the main character is despite everything.
6. Boiled Bones and Black Eggs - Nghi Vo
Ghosts, lots of loving descriptions of food, and people getting things done! Very satisfying.
7. Truth Plus - Jamie Wahls
Um, this is AMAZING. A political speechwriter dealing with the imminent approach of a world-ending comet. On the ethics of lying, how to spend your time when you know you're about to die, and how love isn't enough to make a long-term relationship succeed. Which sounds terribly depressing and it is but also like.....it's complicated.
8. Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good - LaShawn M. Wanak
In the context of racist 1940's USA, what if the power of using your voice is a little more literal? Featuring: the importance of gospel music, friendship in solidarity, and remembering the dead. I was cheering so hard for Rosetta and Minnie by the end!
9. How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps - Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
Mmmmm yeah this is good stuff, about an aro-ace neurodivergent person who struggles with depression and wants to be a robot! The story structure involves a lot of lists which I love.
10. Asphalt, River, Mother, Child - Isabel Yap
This is one of those stories where I feel unqualified to talk about it, because I don't have enough knowledge of Philippine mythology and current politics, but I'm not gonna let that stop me from recommending this because it's great. About a goddess of the underworld whose remit is innocent infants, but who has been having older people show up of late, and investigates the tragedies behind their deaths.
(Click my annual rec list tag to see my recommendations from other years!)
1. The King's Mirror - M. K. Hutchins
A story set in a time of difficult politics among real historical Mayan royalty--but focusing on the lives of more ordinary people, and the things that still matter in their lives even while dynastic struggles are happening above them. Above all: a story about a loving sibling relationship and what the right thing to do is when you know an upsetting secret.
2. The Privilege of the Happy Ending by Kij Johnson
About a young girl and an elderly talking chicken running away from danger and then, eventually, towards it. I don't know what to tell you about this one, except that I'm fascinated by the way the narrative continues to draw your attention to what might happen next to the other characters Ada encounters throughout the story, and also to the structure of Story. I haven't seen another story do quite this thing before!
3. The Ocean That Fades Into Sky - Kathleen Kayembe
The politics of interacting between colonizer and colonized, resistance, identity and truth and lies and trust, family. Lots of meaningful themes wrapped up in a compelling story about the gods of another world from the perspective of one of the youngest and most vulnerable.
4. Mother Tongues - S. Qiouyi Lu
What if you could sell your knowledge of a language, leaving you without it? What if the only one you know well enough to sell at a good price is your native language? What if you need that money to give your child the best possible advantages, would you make that enormous sacrifice? AUGH.
5. Poems Written While - Natalia Theodoridou
At the end of the world, sometimes poems about stars are what get you through the day. I love how kind the main character is despite everything.
6. Boiled Bones and Black Eggs - Nghi Vo
Ghosts, lots of loving descriptions of food, and people getting things done! Very satisfying.
7. Truth Plus - Jamie Wahls
Um, this is AMAZING. A political speechwriter dealing with the imminent approach of a world-ending comet. On the ethics of lying, how to spend your time when you know you're about to die, and how love isn't enough to make a long-term relationship succeed. Which sounds terribly depressing and it is but also like.....it's complicated.
8. Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good - LaShawn M. Wanak
In the context of racist 1940's USA, what if the power of using your voice is a little more literal? Featuring: the importance of gospel music, friendship in solidarity, and remembering the dead. I was cheering so hard for Rosetta and Minnie by the end!
9. How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps - Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
Mmmmm yeah this is good stuff, about an aro-ace neurodivergent person who struggles with depression and wants to be a robot! The story structure involves a lot of lists which I love.
10. Asphalt, River, Mother, Child - Isabel Yap
This is one of those stories where I feel unqualified to talk about it, because I don't have enough knowledge of Philippine mythology and current politics, but I'm not gonna let that stop me from recommending this because it's great. About a goddess of the underworld whose remit is innocent infants, but who has been having older people show up of late, and investigates the tragedies behind their deaths.
(Click my annual rec list tag to see my recommendations from other years!)
