Women Destroy Science Fiction!: Lightspeed #49

I don't normally write about magazines here, largely because I don't often read magazines, in hard copy or online. But this year there was one quite amazing magazine edition that I had to read, and so I share my feelings about it with you, dear readers.

That magazine edition was, of course, Lightspeed #49, June 2014: Women Destroy Science Fiction, edited by Christie Yant.

Amazing really is the word fir how I felt reading it. A collection of short stories, artwork, flash fiction, essays and personal statements, all written by women, collected and edited and assembled by women... A rare treat. There is so much really good stuff in this, I despair at the thought of naming and describing it all. Among the new work, one story that moved me was Walking Awake by N. K. Jemisin, a searing look at what one woman will sacrifice for the freedom of her people. And to my absolute delight, among the reprints were Knapsack Poems: A Goxhat Travel Journal by Eleanor Arnason and The Cost To Be Wise by Maureen McHugh.

And so much more. Just read it. There's something here for everyone. Support women destroying science fiction.... Because then we can rebuild it to be more inclusive, wider and deeper and better for having more perspectives.

Ellen Oh: Prophecy

First in a trilogy, Prophecy by Ellen Oh is a solid if at times predictable YA fantasy. What sets it apart is Oh's choice to use Korean folklore and history to create her fantasy world.

Kang Kira, niece of the king, can sense demons. Because of a dream her mother had during her pregnancy about her unborn child being a great warrior, Kira has been trained in martial skills - and she uses these skills both to kill demons and to serve as bodyguard to her cousin, the young prince. When the king is betrayed to his death and the kingdom captured by the Yamato (historically, Japan invaded Korea on many occasions), Kira must save the prince, and help him fulfill an ancient prophecy - one in which she herself will play a greater role than anyone suspected.

There are many standard elements to the story - the prophecy, the protagonist who begins as misunderstood and discovers a great destiny, and a somewhat sketchy love triangle between the protagonist, the bad boy son of the traitor, and the good friend with a tortured past among them - but the use of a Korean-inspired setting and culture gives these elements a fresh feel. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to the next volume in the series.