scifi

“The Man Who Bridged the Mist,” by Kij Johnson (Asimov’s Science Fiction, October/November 2011).

Almost done with all of the short fiction Nebula nominees…

Kij Johnson’s stuff is usually awesome (who can forget “Spar”?), and I like this one as well. The novella is an interesting selection for Asimov’s: it hovers half way between fantasy and science fiction.

The hero of this story is the lead architect for a suspension bridge over a river of “mist” that will connect a divided Empire. In so doing, he (and we) learn that a great engineering project like this knits together not only iron, stone, and rope, but also the people who work on it. In changing the landscape and the flow of trade and goods, the bridge also alters the lives of the people around it irrevocably.

I like the way the precise nature of the mist is never made clear: is it magical or just some kind of physical matter we don’t understand? Such questions are beside the point.

“What We Found,” Geoff Ryman (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September/October 2011): what if the notion of the observer changing the observed applied at the level of all of science? I have a soft spot for works that try to tackle difficult problems about justice and history. This one does not disappoint.

“Mama, We are Zhenya, Your Son,” by Tom Crosshill (Lightspeed Magazine, April 2011): what happens to a boy who is experimented on to think like a quantum computer? I’m impressed by the skillful way in which the premise is introduced. The pacing and the laying out of information is perfectly executed. Not a word is wasted.

“The Ice Owl,” by Carolyn Ives Gilman (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November/December 2011). A meditation on memory, genocide, and the luxury of the young to be judgmental and morally pure.

I love the speculative center piece at the heart of this story: a painting made out of butterfly wings which relies on the optical properties of the nanostructures on the scales to form a second painting. The painting then ties into the iteration of certain mathematical equations to create a metaphor for life.

Moving and beautiful, the tone is held like the sustained Note that marks the passage of time in the novella’s city.

“With Unclean Hands,” by Adam-Troy Castro (Analog Science Fiction and Fact, November 2011). It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Castro’s work, and I’ve nominated his stories multiple times.

Being an Analog story, this one is very different in tone and style from his nominated short story, “Her Husband’s Hands.” I can’t say much about it because the story relies on the reader discovering the morality play along with the characters. Do read it.

“Sauerkraut Station,” by Ferrett Steinmetz (Giganotosaurus, November 2011): “Little House on the Prairie meets Space Stations” — in the author’s own words.

I found this Firefly-esque space opera featuring a young female protagonist very effective and affecting. The plot is carefully constructed to allow the emotional development of the YA protagonist — something that I can learn a lot from. I especially enjoyed the physics — one scene involving a dark, weightless space station in which our heroine must deal with floating specks of waste in a desperate struggle for survive is unforgettable.

The author has posted a first draft of the story with comments to indicate what has changed. This is the sort of DVD commentary track that’s of great interest to writers.

Continuing my march through the Nebula nominees.

“Kiss Me Twice,” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2011): a science fiction mystery in which the detective’s partner is an AI who takes on the persona of Mae West.

A fun and engaging piece. Kowal’s strength in dialogue that sparkles with wit is on ample display here. Also, the main character is a Chinese-American detective, which is pretty cool.

My favorite parts are the discussion on how the AI takes on different personae when interacting with different individuals and a digression on the rights of AIs. There’s more here than may be apparent at first glance.