Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 226, July 2025 by Neil Clarke


"Missing Helen" by Tia Tashiro - (4*) One of those calm, sedate, reflective stories that mirror an encounter with a clone with the very real acceptance of who you are with yourself. I found it quite pleasant. The lack of drama was quite nice.

"The Walled Garden" by Fiona Moore - (3*) This is something like the third or fourth thing I've read by the author and so far, they're all carrying on the same story, in general, in a post-apoc world all about survival when hardly anything can be passed on--despite a robot. Honestly? I just think it's okay.

"Welcome to Kearney" by Gary Kloster - (5*) This one hit the spot, even if it mainly slid into my crabby introvert heart. Avoiding others, fixing things, living one's life is not the same thing as addressing the core loneliness. Alas. So yeah, great story.

"Serpent Carriers" by K.A. Teryna, translated by Alex Shvartsman - (5*) A gorgeous story, an insidiocontagious story. Indeed, I got lost in the words, or indeed the Words, and imagined I was reading a BIG piece by Vandermeer or Valente. Could be named "How to get lost--and unlost in Story." So far, my favorite this month.

"Bits and Pieces on This Floor" by Eric Del Carlo - (4*) A short, sharp knock of a stolid life brought into relief by his father and half-siblings as he does his job. I particularly liked the deep rationalization and the psychology, even if it is all left up to us to interpret it. Classic.

"A Land Called Folly" by Amal Singh - (4*) This is more of a coming of age story with just a hint of a SFnal setting, but still a decent story about what home is, or isn't, to a grown-ass man who still considers himself a boy.


"Hunter Harvester" by Bam Bruin - (5*) I love a good SFnal scientific mystery on an alien world. :)


Out of the whole bunch, I loved "Serpent Carriers" the most, with "Hunter Harvester" being a sweet, uncomplicated SF.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.

Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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