Your Favorite Short Fiction of 2017?

[J-Sun]

I recently posted a couple of "virtual anthologies" on my blog:

Web’s Best Science Fiction #1 (2017 Stories)
Web’s Best Fantasy #1 (2017 Stories)

and I was wondering what stories you'd enjoyed this year. I'd especially be curious about stories from the semi-prozines and the like, as I don't get around to reading those generally. But whether you've got one favorite or many and from whatever source, post 'em up here (optionally with a word or two about it/them). (I have mainly in mind stories actually from 2017 but I guess if you've read an older story this year, that'd be fair game, too. Also thinking mainly of SF/F/H but it can be any kind.)

 

[AlexH]

I'll be checking that fantasy list out, thanks.

I think these were all this year:

Ink by Bruce McAllister - lightspeedmagazine.com
Listen and You’ll Hear Us Speak by A.T. Greenblatt - flashfictiononline.com
The temperature of guilt eleven months on by Stephanie Hutton - Halo
Curl Up and Dye by Tina Gower - diabolicalplots.com
Vernal Fall by Edward Ashton - flashfictiononline.com
And All Our Bones Were Dust by Steven Fischer - flashfictiononline.com
Claire Weinraub’s Top Five Sea Monster Stories (For Allie) by Evan Berkow - flashfictiononline.com
Pain-T-Bot by Joachim Heijndermans - kraxon.com

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

My main source of short fiction these days comes from my reviews for Tangent, so I'll go through the publications I did this year and point out those stories worthy of mention, with quotes from my reviews. All of the stories listed here either won a "recommendation" from me, or almost did.

Bimonthly Print Magazines

Analog

I did the May/June issue.

"To See the Elephant" by Julie Novakova takes place in Africa in the near future. Ninety percent of the continent’s elephants have been wiped out by a virus. A scientist comes to a wildlife preserve to investigate the strange behavior of one of the few remaining males, since even a single animal’s health could be critical to the survival of the species. She has a neural implant which allows her to experience the feelings of the elephant through electrodes on its skin. After many struggles, she solves the mystery of the elephant’s odd actions. This story is always interesting, vivid, and features well-developed characters.

In “Ténéré” by Manny Frishberg and Edd Vick, climate change has made the desert of Mali even hotter and drier than before. A group of nomads crossing the desert in a caravan come across a research station which is transforming excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into carbon fiber. The process is blamed by the nomads for rendering their oases completely without water, and violent conflict threatens. The exotic setting is well realized and the story is compelling.

“The Final Nail” by Stanley Schmidt, formerly the editor of the magazine for many years, involves a doctor who discovers that several people are coming down with a rare disease normally transmitted by ticks which causes them to be allergic to red meat. Investigating the syndrome leads to the true source of the illness. The story is believable and raises questions about the unexpected consequences of one’s actions.

Asimov's

I did the July/August issue.

"Annabelle, Annie" by Lisa Goldstein involves a rebellious teenager. She is one of a subculture of strongly environmentalist high school students. Conflict erupts when her father is assigned to do public relations work for a company which does fracking. Although the author clearly favors the youngster's viewpoint, and the future is shown to be more dangerously polluted than our own, both sides of the issue are treated fairly, and no easy answers are supplied.

"Field Studies" by Sheila Finch shows us the life of a homeless woman surviving on the streets of Southern California. She encounters a man who wants to help her, and who is not exactly what he seems to be. This is a subtle, realistic story with a great deal of emotional power.

The narrator of "Gale Strang" by Michael Bishop is a birdcage which has somehow awakened into consciousness. Despite this bizarre and whimsical concept, the story is a serious one. The title character is an abused teenager who has run away from home, and who has an unusual secret. Although the runaway is very different from the vast majority of readers, many will able to empathize with the feeling of not fitting into the rest of society.

Black Static

I did the September/October issue.

Two university students are the main characters in "The Shuttered Child" by Tim Lees. They travel to Paris in 1968 to join the student demonstrations. Running from the police, they find shelter in a tavern. An elderly man tells them about a terrifying ceremony he witnessed in a French village before the First World War. Decades later, their lives are changed by what they were told. This is a grim allegory of the high price that may be paid in the struggle for a better world.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

I did the May/June issue and the July/August issue.

May/June:

Boston in the recent past and in the present day is the setting for "Dirty Old Town" by Richard Bowes. As a young boy, the narrator encounters two bullying brothers, one of whom will eventually disappear, and the other go on to become a friend. Decades later the narrator is a playwright and his friend is a successful actor. A touch of fantasy enters this tale of nostalgia and changes over time from the fact that the narrator learns a spell from his grandmother which allows him to sense what another person is experiencing. The story can be read as an allegory of empathy, and is likely to appeal to those who enjoy mainstream literary fiction with a subtle flavor of the fantastic.

The title character in "The Woman with the Long Black Hair" by Zach Shepard is not just a woman, but to reveal much more would spoil the power of this very short, poetic story. Suffice to say that she meets various people, and that strange things happen. This is a haunting tale which is sure to remain in the reader's memory.

July/August:

Leading off the magazine is its only pure SF story, "In a Wide Sky, Hidden" by William Ledbetter. Human beings have explored many worlds throughout the galaxy by transmitting their minds into artificial bodies created at the point of arrival. The protagonist is one such explorer. As a child, his older sister, who designed vast, technologically sophisticated works of art, disappeared with a promise that she was going to create her masterpiece, and a request that her brother find her. Many years later, after journeying to multiple planets, he discovers what became of her. This a fine story, written with grace, clarity, and imagination. It balances sense of wonder with empathy for its characters.

"Afiya's Song" by Justin C. Key is set in the American South during the time of slavery. A young slave has the ability to heal wounds, physical and psychological, with her singing. Eventually she is able to inspire an uprising, but only at a terrible cost. This is a powerful fantasy with elements of alternate history.

More later.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Quarterly Print Magazines

On Spec

I did # 104 and # 105.

#104

A remote area of Appalachia in modern times is the setting for "Second Born" by Ashley Mullins. A young married couple desperate to have a baby uses folk magic to bring a drowned child back to life, intending to raise it as their own. Eventually the woman must decide what to do before her mother-in-law discovers the undead child, and before the couple gives it a normal sibling. The author creates a powerful backwoods fantasy.

#105:

"Words of Wisdom" by Andrew Knighton takes the reader to a version of Baghdad that never existed. In this alternate history story, a brilliant engineer uses clockwork mechanisms to spin the city slowly around. This has great advantages, but attracts so many people to Baghdad that they threaten to bring the city to ruin. A young woman who becomes the engineer's apprentice solves the problem in a clever way. This is an unusual and captivating tale of technological wonders.

Weirdbook

I did #36.

A mysterious drifter shows up at an isolated farm inhabited by a woman and her young daughter in "The Awakening" by Megan Neumann. He shares the same hidden talents as the daughter, and has plans for her. Whether he is a savior or a menace remains unclear until the end, and not everything that happens is exactly what it seems. This is an evocative story with emotional appeal.

The ghost of a teenage girl is the protagonist of "Dead Line" by D. C. Lozar. The story begins in a lighthearted mood, as the young specter proves to be less than skilled at haunting, and is assigned to inhabit an abandoned phone booth. It becomes more serious when she encounters a homeless boy. This is a moving tale of two lonely characters.

Seeming out of place in this publication is "The Green Dome" by Joe DiCicco. The title structure is a tourist attraction on the Moon. The narrator experiences it as nothing more than a glorified shopping mall, and becomes emotional when he sees the Earth through its transparent ceiling. Readers expecting horror or fantasy may be disappointed, but this is an effective, introspective science fiction story.

The main character in "Insect Song" by William Tea is a woman who goes back to her native town in an attempt to be reconciled with her mother. She fails badly, and goes to a local bar to drown her sorrows. An encounter with a man at the bar reveals why her mother rejected her. Later, when her life is in danger, an unnatural being appears. The events in this story are clearly symbolic of the woman's experience as an outcast, giving it more depth than the usual tale of horror.

Twelve old pornographic photographs make up "The Black-and-White Dozen" by Chris Kuriata. Jumping back and forth in time, the story shows us a man looking at the pictures, his father obtaining them, and what happened to the woman in them. Suffice to say that more than sex went on when they were taken. This is an introspective tale whose terrors are implied rather than shown.

More later.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Anthologies

Equus

We return to England during the early part of the twentieth century in “Ladies Day” by Susan MacGregor. However, this is a society in which magic is accepted as real. The narrator is a young woman who has visions. Her cousin uses magic in order to ensure that her horse will win a victory over a hated rival, an action which is both illegal and dangerous. The rival’s horse turns out to be something quite out of the ordinary. The story is a light, pleasant one which has the flavor of both romantic comedy and a comedy of manners. Some readers may be interested in the extremely detailed descriptions of the women’s hats and gowns.

In “We Us You” by Andrew Bourelle, a high school boy in Montana meets a girl from Las Vegas whose family has come to open a refuge for wild horses. He takes her to her first rodeo, where she reacts with shock to the suffering of an animal. The story starts off as a realistic account of the clash of cultures, bringing in a touch of fantasy only near the end. The boy encounters something incredible; as an adult, he looks back on how he reacted to it, and how that decision changed his life. This is a thoughtful look at the road not taken.

Fiction River # 24

The editor's introduction to "Dust to Dust" by Annie Reed reveals too much about the story. Suffice to say that a woman is sent to track down an evil man who commands a gang of children and return him to the place from where he came. Through flashbacks we learn the woman's tragic backstory, discover the extraordinary nature of her assignment, and the surprising identity of the one who sent her. This is a unique dark fantasy with strong emotional appeal.

Fiction River #25

"Legs" by Steven Mohan, Jr. is a complex, multilayered story, which makes use of flashbacks to enhance the impact of its plot. An ambulance races to an abandoned factory in a dangerous part of Chicago where a woman lies dying. The paramedic aboard is addicted to the excitement of danger. In addition to the medical emergency, he has to endure working with a partner he dislikes, the fact that his marriage may be breaking up, and an unexpected threat at the factory. This story works as horror fiction, thriller, character study, and domestic drama.

Strange Beasties

"Harry on the Farm" by Isobel Horsburgh seems at first to be a simple story of a father taking his son on a trip, along with an animal in a basket. Slowly the reader realizes that Harry is no ordinary pet, and that the boy is no ordinary child. This is a quietly unnerving tale of strange transformations.

Tales from the Lake #4

"I Will be the Reflection Until the End" by Michael Bailey is a nostalgic portrait of the narrator's sister. One incident in this character study creates a darker mood, but it still seems out of place in an anthology of horror stories.

"The Long Haul" by Leigh M. Lane features a man who hides his criminal activities from his wife, who is dying of a rare form of cancer. This is a sad story full of tragic irony, as the man realizes to his horror what his crimes have done.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Weekly

Strange Horizons (One story weekly.)

"These Constellations Will Be Yours" by Elaine Cuyegkeng deals with an empire which rules over several star systems. One of the planets which it controls has certain individuals who can foresee multiple futures. Those with this talent are surgically joined to the empire's starships, unless their families can pay a high fee. The narrator is one of these oracles, who control the ships and enable them to travel faster than light. She encounters a dancer whose family has paid for her freedom, and sees her possible fates. The dancer performs a politically controversial ballet, leading to great consequences for herself, her fellow oracles, and the empire.
Written in a lush style with vivid sensory detail, this is a powerful tale full of both beauty and cruelty. The empire it depicts is similar in many ways to that of Spain in the days of colonialism. (The author was born in the Philippines, and no doubt the history of her native land had a strong influence on the story.) Many Spanish terms are used. The ruler of the empire is the Infanta, the natives of the colony planet are called Indios, and those of mixed blood are known as mestizos. This gives the story an unusual, exotic flavor, while reminding the reader of the dark side of the past.

Ancient African mythology and modern American technology come together in "Oshun, Inc." by Jordan Ifueko. The narrator is a woman who has become an immortal servant of a Yoruba love goddess. She works in the Los Angeles office building of the goddess, bringing together lonely mortals by taking pieces of their souls. If she becomes too close to a mortal, however, the results can be dangerous or even fatal. While on assignment, she meets someone who will have an important role to play in her endless life. This enjoyable romantic comedy offers a wry look at twenty-first century mating rituals. Serious issues involving sex and race come up in the story, but in a light, even-handed manner.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Biweekly

Beneath Ceaseless Skies

"That Lingering Sweetness" by Tony Pi is one in a series of stories about a maker of candy animals in a fantastic version of ancient China. Not only can he manufacture caramels in the shape of creatures from the Chinese Zodiac, he has the ability to communicate with the spirits represented by these animals. In this adventure he encounters a tea shop where an extremely valuable cache of very rare tea, reserved for the Emperor alone, has been hidden after being stolen. The spirits of Goat and Monkey have placed opposite curses on it, so it can neither be returned to its rightful owner nor claimed by the finder. The protagonist tries to solve this dilemma by inviting the two opposing spirits to debate the merits of their cases, which he will judge. Given the great power of the spirits, this is a dangerous procedure, and the hero must use all his wits to confront them. The story is written in a calm, elegant style which entices the reader into its mythical world.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Monthly

Lightspeed

"Remote Presence" by Susan Palwick seems at first to take place in our own mundane reality. We soon find out, however, that the characters all accept the fact that ghosts are real, and that sometimes they must be helped—or forced—to move on to the next world. The protagonist is a hospital chaplain. In addition to his many other duties, he also has to deal with an elderly woman who has died in the emergency room and who continues to haunt it, only because she is lonely and wants someone to talk to. He manages to move her spirit into a mobile remote sensing device, allowing him to control her movements, but he still has to figure out a way to convince her to leave the physical world, particularly now that inspectors from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations are touring the hospital. (Anyone who has ever worked in a hospital will understand the stress caused by a visit from the JCAHO.) The story could easily be changed into science fiction by using the familiar theme of downloading a person’s consciousness into a computer, but it probably works better as fantasy. The protagonist is appealing, and his struggle to find a solution to his dilemma before the inspectors shut down the hospital for violating the regulations against ghosts is sure to win the reader’s sympathy.

Nightmare

In "No One Prays to the Goddess" by Ashok K. Banker, a middle-aged man travels to Bombay on family business. He was born in India, but immigrated to the United States as a child. He finds the shrine of a goddess hidden in the heart of the city. Later, he has encounters with the deity in various forms, and learns the benefits she offers and the price of rejecting her.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Bimonthly

Compelling SF

#5:

"X and Y" by Lynn Kilmore is primarily concerned with its characters, with just enough speculative content to qualify it as science fiction. The story is set a dozen years after a genetically engineered virus has killed all women on Earth. In desperation, medical science has made it possible for a man to carry a female child within an artificial womb. The protagonist is the first man to undergo this procedure. A rival medical team from the United States government tries to have him moved to their facility, risking the life of the unborn child. This story makes use of flashbacks and stream of consciousness to take us deep into the mind of the main character. The theme of a pregnant man is not a new one, but it has usually been used for comedy or horror, and not for serious speculation as it is here.

#7:

"Integration" by John Eckelkamp is a brief tale about an artificial intelligence which inhabits a synthetic body so it can be educated like a human child. The simple process of planting a bean in a pot and watching it sprout serves as a powerful lesson. This story is dense with futuristic concepts and must be read carefully to be fully appreciated.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Quarterly

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly

Appropriately, a dragon is the protagonist and narrator of "Dragon in Amber" by Patrice Sarath. Held prisoner by human magic for many years, he finds an opportunity for freedom when the son of the man who captured him proposes a bargain. If the dragon helps the human army defeat their enemies, the man will lift the spell. The main appeal of this story is the rich characterization of the dragon and the man. The dragon is wise, sly, cynical, and proud. The man is cowardly and full of doubt, but proves to be clever and resourceful when danger threatens. The way in which these two allies and antagonists relate to each other is sure to entertain the reader.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Online Irregular

Tor.com

Earth in the near future, when civilization seems to be collapsing, is the setting for "The Martian Obelisk" by Linda Nagata. All attempts to colonize Mars have failed. With the financial backing of a wealthy businessman, an architect begins creating a gigantic monument (via remote telemetry) on the red planet, designed to survive long after humanity is gone. A crisis occurs when a large piece of equipment left behind by one of the failed colonies approaches the structure, suggesting the possibility of sabotage. This is a realistic science fiction story told in a clear, elegant style and with an important message about humanity's hopes and fears.

"The Future of Hunger in the Age of Programmable Matter" by Sam J. Miller takes place in the near future. Nanotechology creates a polymer that users can transform into almost any shape, leading to unforeseen consequences. The speculative element, although dramatic and thought provoking, serves as a background for a tale of love, jealousy, addiction, and betrayal. Readers should be aware that this powerful story contains some strong sexual content.

 

[J-Sun]

@AlexH : Like Victoria says, "And All Our Bones Were Dust" and "Ink" "almost won a recommendation" from me. I did like them. Fischer and McAllister had pretty good years. While I didn't care for one of the three Fischer stories I read, I gave one an honorable mention and recommended the other. Similarly, I gave an HM and a rec to the two McAllister stories I read. I'll be checking out that Kraxon story soon.

@Victoria Silverwolf : Wow! That's a response. A lot of that sounds good. "To See the Elephant" sounds especially interesting. I'm a fan of most of Goldstein's stuff, so hope I get a chance to read "Annabelle, Annie." Zach Shepard wrote what I thought was one of the funniest stories of the year with "The Black Clover Equation." Sounds like that one has quite a different mood. "Integration" was another "almost"/honorable mention for me. Again, sounds like we both really enjoyed "Remote Presence" and "The Martian Obelisk." And I'll be checking out that HFQ story. HFQ's had a few things I've liked before, though I haven't had a chance to read it this year.

Thanks to you both for sharing your stories.