Reading the Hugos (and Nebulas) 2021 - Short Story

 

Short Story Nominees

Reviews

“Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse”, Rae Carson

Hugo & Nebula Nominee (Uncanny Jan/Feb 2020)

⭐ Everything that's bad about the Hugos lately... misunderstood feminism - birth, menstruation, lesbianism (I've got absolutely nothing against it, if it serves a purpose, a literary purpose I mean...) a total lack of males (a biological father is mentioned - in quite a sexist context), far-fetched characters, and story, yes, the famous female solidarity. And where's the science? (Eileen - "ailing" seriously?) 

“Metal Like Blood in the Dark”, T. Kingfisher

Hugo Nominee (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)

⭐⭐⭐ It was ok, despite the somewhat pretentious title - a reinterpretation of Genesis myth with likable AIs

“Little Free Library”, Naomi Kritzer

Hugo Nominee (Tor.com)

⭐⭐⭐ Fantasy; somewhat predictable "Inn Between the Worlds Trope" meets "The Little Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday". I approve of her choice of books. 

“The Mermaid Astronaut”, Yoon Ha Lee

Hugo Nominee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)

⭐⭐ Well written, Ray Bradburyish retelling of "The Little Mermaid" in SF key. I didn't root for the main character though, she felt somehow devoid of personality... was it intentional, I wonder? (the original little mermaid wasn't the most mindful person either if I remember correctly)

“A Guide for Working Breeds”, Vina Jie-Min Prasad

Hugo & Nebula Nominee (Made to Order)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The short-story Hugo finalist with the best sense of humor. Based on the format, I expected the usual "experimental" finalist, (see “The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington,” or "STET" (both 2019 finalists)) but, oh this story was so much better. Think Murderbot. Gentle nod to the dogs (see Naomi Kritzer's 2016 winner "Cat Pictures Please")

“Open House on Haunted Hill”, John Wiswell 

Hugo & Nebula Nominee (Diabolical Plots 15 Jun 2020)

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 Good-karma fantasy, original spin on the haunted house, personal and compassionate

"Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math", Aimee Picchi

Nebula Nominee (Daily Science Fiction 3 Jan 2020)

⭐⭐ Inequality against women, thinly, very thinly, veiled in fantasy - slightly funny though

"The Eight-Thousanders", Jason Sanford

Nebula Nominee (Asimov's Sep/Oct 2020)

⭐⭐⭐ "Into Thin Air" with vampires - I never expected to encounter a vampire on Everest, why is that? Despite her lack of emotions she's strangely likable.

"My Country Is a Ghost", Eugenia Triantafyllou

Nebula Nominee (Uncanny Jan/Feb 2020)

⭐⭐ Immigrants and ghosts - an atmospheric piece... sad but not quite, a love story, but not quite, a ghost story but not quite... I feel the story could have been developed further - with less Greek-food-related-stuff and more world building.