A bit of a mixture this time from Mythaxis, with some strong stories and a couple that were a little forgettable.
The opening story, ‘Dhuni, Murderess of the Mountains’ by Finale Doshi-Velez, is the best of the lot. Sparingly told in terms of description, but nonetheless very effective. The author’s prose slowly unravels a mystery and an unforeseen connection between Dhuni and her mountain homeland that belies her humble existence; but the beauty of this story lies in Dhuni’s relationship with her sons and her daughter in a time of war and uncertainty, and how the bonds of kinship and love ultimately outweigh the prejudices of patriotism. I had to read this twice as it is subtly done, but the repeat reading was definitely worth it.
Stephen S. Power’s ‘Sunnyside‘ couldn’t be more different. It is set in a future where physical existence mixes with virtual reality, and where the line between the two is not just blurred but almost irrelevant. Underlying this world is the dominance of ever-present billionaires trading in property and tech whilst ordinary folk struggle for jobs and try to hold their relationships together. It has a light touch and seems more of a brief window into a larger story, but it’s certainly intriguing. Think Neuromancer or Tade Thompson’s Wormwood trilogy and you’ll get the picture.
‘Beyond the Sudden Door’ by Lyra Meurer is a tender, almost feelgood account of pet rats, told from the rats’ own perspectives. It’s full of warm scents, comforting strokes, and the almost ghost-like presence of rodents who have gone beyond the door forever. You’ll never see rats in the same way again after this one. One of those stories that makes you go “Hmmm…”, but with a smile. The writing is quite exceptional in places, and I was left wondering how a writer comes to write such a story – although I’m glad they did. Top marks for originality.
David Stephen Powell’s ‘Seal-Skin’ is a new take on the selkie legend which is eminently readable. Gytha believes her husband to be a seal and fears his skin will be discovered and he will return to the sea, leaving her and their son alone. This is a pretty straightforward story set in the Dark Ages, but nicely told all the same; and it does have a witch, which is always a bonus.
‘Safe in the Dark’ by Helen French is a flash narrated by a child behind a blindfold, and also involves a witch. The child is charming, the witch a fascinating mystery, and the prose neatly pleasant. I wanted more though.
And finally ‘The Culling’ by Addison Smith, which I’m not sure I fully understood. It’s about monsters falling from the sky and being collected, as splatted goo, into buckets. People eat the goo, and somehow, they lose something… something essential. It is a callous world, without empathy, and Smith brings that out in just a few subtle lines of dialogue between grandfather and grandson. This one left me thinking, and if you like bizarre and chilling stories, then do check this one out.
So, on the whole another quality edition from the Mythaxis crew. Long may they continue.
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