My Favorite Fiction from August 2012

My Favorite Fiction from August 2012

As I predicted, this is way late thanks to WorldCon. All things can be blamed on WorldCon. The good thing about going was being at the Hugo ceremony to see many deserving writers and artists get their shiny rockets. It’s sort of a coincidence (but not exactly) that many of the Hugo Award winners also have fiction on my list below. A coincidence because I didn’t plan it that way, but not because it’s no surprise that I’d love their stories given their track record.

Last month I also did some novel reading. I finally finished Liar by Justine Larbalestier. If you haven’t read it yet, go now! It’s so good. I also read the last of the Midnighters books by Scott Westerfeld. I put it off a long time because I love the first two so much I didn’t want to be done with those characters.

September is already shaping up to be a great month, especially since there’s a new issue of Electric Velocipede out. Also, did you know they have a Kickstarter? They so do.

Visit my Favorite Fiction tag to see all the other short stories I’ve liked so far this year.

4 thoughts on “My Favorite Fiction from August 2012

  1. Hmm…I found “Bear with the Quantum Heart” deeply disturbing. I am still trying to find the words to explain why. I did not like Kayla, though I found her relatable.

  2. Wow, thanks for the recommendations! I’ll try to think if I have anything meaningful to say about “Waiting for Beauty.”

    On “Mantis Wives” — a strong argument that online magazines shouldn’t have piece-specific comment threads. Ai! My eyes! Of course, that didn’t stop me from posting something there. Lovely story, building favorably (IMHO) on the traditions of “Love is the Plan, the Plan is Death” and “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.”

    Still working on the rest of the list, though I must admit I skipped ahead to “Love Might Be Too Strong A Word.” I am a sucker for how her stories convey a manic glee over the sentiment that we’re all basically screwed (e.g. “Source Decay“).

    1. Oh my god… the comments. I didn’t even look at them before. Now I want to hide forever. WTF is up with the misandry commentary? OMG.

  3. Haha, yes! I’m happy to see the Renee Carter Hall story mentioned in any context. I’m super invested in this one, since it’s one that I fished out of the Strange Horizons slush.
    –Rahul

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