Reviews by Emma Campbell
Vibes: Big Bang Theory meets Existential Dread
When considering short stories to read in September, I thought a Back to School theme would be appropriate: cranky professors, dusty books, and maybe a hidden staircase or mystery to solve. Dark academia all the way. I got the academia in this one for sure: a professor obsessed with the mathematical idea of infinity employs odd means to continue his studies for, well, maybe forever. While you could consider its ending dark, all I said at the end was, “Huh.” I’m either a little too smart for this story or way too dumb for it - but I encourage you to read it and note how often you find yourself thinking, “Time sure is a flat circle”.
The Stars Don’t Lie - R.W.W. Greene
Vibes: Magical coming-of-age with a satisfying ending (plus centaurs)
Centaurs are real! They just kept really quiet about it until the 90s. In this funny and endearing fantasy tale, a woman attends divination school for centaurs, and has to adjust to the centaur way of life. I didn’t know much about centaur lore, but the stereotype seems to be that they are all standoffish, aloof, and a little mean - especially to humans. You can see how that would be a problem for the protagonist Lesa, who just wants to learn without receiving any “special treatment”, like a way to get across the massive campus (difficult when you don’t have four legs made for galloping) and a shower (instead of being hosed down). Not only is this beautifully written, it’s heartwarming and truly magical. The best parts, however, are the faux inserts of 90s pop culture figures “commenting” on the centaurs and their existence. Absolutely not one to miss.
The Most Popular Girl - Jack Lothian
Vibes: Black Mirror, Bring It On, and monster movies rolled into one
Susan is not popular in school and does not have any friends. The most popular girl in school has plenty. But the most popular girl also vomits black in the girls’ bathroom, whispers deadly secrets into her football player boyfriend’s ear, and moves her body in a way that bones shouldn’t allow. Susan’s obsession with the most popular girl is not one-sided for long, but between the moments of unspoken fears, unknowable voids, and time stretching unbroken into the past, it turns out that all anyone really wants, when it comes down to it, is someone to eat lunch with.