Short & Sweet: 2020 Stories
Oct. 13th, 2020 11:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ladybusiness2020 has been a pretty tough year for a lot of us. That has affected many people’s ability to read for pleasure. Despite this, wonderful short SFF continues to be published. That means that we are missing out on some excellent stories. While I haven’t been reading as much as I was pre-pandemic I have been making time every month to read at least a few stories, and that has added up. I wanted to highlight some stories published this year that I enjoyed, but you might have missed out on because of everything going on.
I found all of these stories hopeful. I know that what makes a story hopeful can be really personal, but for me stories that focus on people who are trying their best are very reassuring in these times. It’s grounding and encouraging. I hope you find something on this list that you enjoy.
"A Guide for Working Breeds" by Vina Jie-Min Prasad — This is a story about robots who love dogs and are each other's pals. This story is both extremely sweet and extremely dystopian at the same time, which feels dissonant but also speaks to a lot of my feelings about our present moment.
"Loosestrife" by Marissa Lingen — A lovely, warm story about genetically engineered goats, aunts, and doing our small part to save the world.
"The Greatest Good" by Jed Sabin — A story about a superhero thinking really hard about her superhero costume. This is a nice take on how we can get a bit too wrapped up in the small things, and lose sight of the big picture. (Content note: hurricane)
"A Being Together Amongst Strangers" by Arkady Martine — This is by far the most angsty story on this list, but I loved it. It’s about remembering and honoring all the terrible things that created our present moment, but not being overwhelmed by them. Also: subways.
"The Radicalised Dead" by Jeannette Ng — If burnt objects are considered offerings to the dead then what happens to burnt books?
"Heard, Half-Heard, in the Stillness" by Iona Datt Sharma — Datt Sharma is one of my favorite authors, and this story has their characteristic blend of domestic details and people who are working hard at making the world better. This story in particular feels very needed at this moment as it's about finding hope when everything feels hopeless.
"To Balance the Weight of Khalem" by R.B. Lemberg — This story is full of very fantastical built environments, but as seen by a struggling immigrant, which helps make the things feel grounded and lived in. I loved the importance Lemberg gives to simple foods—so full of meaning and memory.
Have you managed to read any 2020 short SFF? What were your favorites?
I found all of these stories hopeful. I know that what makes a story hopeful can be really personal, but for me stories that focus on people who are trying their best are very reassuring in these times. It’s grounding and encouraging. I hope you find something on this list that you enjoy.
"A Guide for Working Breeds" by Vina Jie-Min Prasad — This is a story about robots who love dogs and are each other's pals. This story is both extremely sweet and extremely dystopian at the same time, which feels dissonant but also speaks to a lot of my feelings about our present moment.
"Loosestrife" by Marissa Lingen — A lovely, warm story about genetically engineered goats, aunts, and doing our small part to save the world.
"The Greatest Good" by Jed Sabin — A story about a superhero thinking really hard about her superhero costume. This is a nice take on how we can get a bit too wrapped up in the small things, and lose sight of the big picture. (Content note: hurricane)
"A Being Together Amongst Strangers" by Arkady Martine — This is by far the most angsty story on this list, but I loved it. It’s about remembering and honoring all the terrible things that created our present moment, but not being overwhelmed by them. Also: subways.
"The Radicalised Dead" by Jeannette Ng — If burnt objects are considered offerings to the dead then what happens to burnt books?
"Heard, Half-Heard, in the Stillness" by Iona Datt Sharma — Datt Sharma is one of my favorite authors, and this story has their characteristic blend of domestic details and people who are working hard at making the world better. This story in particular feels very needed at this moment as it's about finding hope when everything feels hopeless.
"To Balance the Weight of Khalem" by R.B. Lemberg — This story is full of very fantastical built environments, but as seen by a struggling immigrant, which helps make the things feel grounded and lived in. I loved the importance Lemberg gives to simple foods—so full of meaning and memory.
Have you managed to read any 2020 short SFF? What were your favorites?
★forestofglory.
2020 recommendations
Date: 2020-11-16 02:29 pm (UTC)I've actually read several short SFF stories I liked that were published in 2020 -- here are a few (concentrating on optimistic or sweet ones):
"Cascade" by A.J. Fitzwater (Lots of queer representation; content note for mention of a trans person's suicide before the story starts)
"Exile’s End" by Carolyn Ives Gilman is "a complex, sometimes uncomfortable examination of artifact repatriation and cultural appropriation." I would not call this one sweet.
"The Vampire of Kovácspéter" by P H Lee (author interview) is witty: "The village of Kovácspéter was plagued by a vampire, which was increasingly embarrassing."
"Batteries For Your Doombot5000 Are Not Included" by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor is a light sf/f story about an ex-supervillain who gets a second chance at talking with her ex.
"The Hard Quarry" by Caleb Huitt has a solo asteroid miner outwitting pirates: "The only statement the regs make on going extravehicular at speed is not to." A fun space adventure.
"Illicit Alchemy" by Eric Lewis, a short fantasy story about an alchemist who gets way deeper into her employers' business than she wants. More adventure/intrigue than sweet.
Naomi Kritzer's short fantasy story "A Star Without Shine" was part of The New Decameron.
"Callme and Mink" (text and audio) by Brenda Cooper has cute dogs and an ill child: "Not lying to him meant she didn’t signal emotions she didn’t believe were appropriate. She could signal most feelings back to humans, but they were always a lie." Feels reasonably happy, despite its implied postapocalyptic setting.
"Reliable People" by Charlie Jane Anders about an election and aliens.
"‘I’m with Muni — how can I help?’ Annalee Newitz’s short fiction imagines a new kind of social support system in San Francisco"
In the short, sweet scifi story "Legal Salvage" by Holli Mintzer, a vintage seller navigates a forgotten building of self-storage lockers, an unfamiliar sorting bot, Geoff the sentient traffic light, and a party.
Silly, fun, or heartwarming scifi stories I liked about robots & AI include "Custom Options Available" by Amy Griswold, and "Rager in Space" by Charlie Jane Anders.
Some scifi/fantasy stories about the strange and ordinary things (our) bodies (might) do or be: "AirBody" by Sameem Siddiqui, "The Bee Thing" by Maggie Damken, "The Longest Season in the Garden of the Tea-Fish" by Jo Miles, and "Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse" by Rae Carson. All are also available as audio/podcasts. I think the latter two are more optimistic/sweet than the first two.
(I posted recommendations for these on MetaFilter over the last few months.)
Re: 2020 recommendations
Date: 2020-11-16 05:49 pm (UTC)