Upland essence by Sheila Ash

It slithers and slides like an eel over granite
rocks encased in soft springs of moss beds
banked by lush riparian green.
A twig floats then tumbles then floats again
down whitened eddies fade to black
as birdsong stars the canopy.
I drink it in
Clear water, soft and sweet, nourishes my body
Its mother land nourishing my soul.
© Sheila Ash

Photo Credit : @lynne_francis1 https://kentishramblerblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/the-importance-of-location

Review: Henosis by N.K. Jemisin

Henosis by N.K. Jemisin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I stumbled across this story when going to the Uncanny website to read/listen to another story from the same volume

It is available online at https://uncannymagazine.com/article/h... to read and to listen to - it is narrated by Stephanie Morris

The author's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was nominated for Hugo Award and others in 2010

This is a near future set story about writers' legacies. Harkim is an award nominated writer, he does the rounds of book signings, he turns up for awards ceremonies, but not all awards ceremonies are equal. Some indicate an end to the writer's work. Will he win? What will be his legacy?

ashramblings verdict 3* This story has a non-linear structure - its numbered chapters come in a distorted sequence. Unfortunately for me although the story was OK I didn't grasp any reason for this1` structure, which didn't seem to lend anything to the tale - perhaps I missed its point. It has some good parts while it talks about the legacy of different writers - Vonnegut, Mishma - and how their lives had ended - but on the whole it didn't really hit my buttons.

Footnote: is the classical Greek word for mystical "oneness", "union" or "unity"  


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Review: Carnival Nine by Caroline M Yoachim

Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story has been shortlisted for the 2018 Hugo Awards according to https://www.tor.com/2018/03/31/2018-h...
It is available to read and listen to online at http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.co...


ashramblings verdict 5* A heart wrenching story of a mother's love for her son, the sacrifices she makes. But there is a twist. No spoiler alerts but from the begining you realise this is no ordinary woman, there is talk of a maker, or springs and turns, each person having so many per day.

What I loved about this story was how it is never actually stated, only as you read does the setting, the context become apparent. Very cleverly done.

Beautifully read by Tina Connolly

Althought it is the first of the Hugo Shortlist I have read I could not give it less than a 5* rating.


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