George Saoulidis

This short book is well written with engaging and well developed characters but ends abruptly, thereby plummeting the rating to 3. The few typos are not disturbing to the flow of reading. The premise, plot, pace, setting and characters combine to make this a perfect read, barring the abrupt ending.

This is, just as it says, a cyberpunk retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's story. In this retelling, the "matches" are single-use VR "experiences," created by her now-deceased father. Her father lost his job, and thus all his tools, but he still had the rights to the VR experiences he created on his own time. Then he died, and the girl's mother died, and the only thing she has left to sell now, and survive on, are these single-use VR experiences.

Some of them are recordings of happy show more experiences at home, before her father lost his job. But since these are single-use experiences, each can only be used once. She can either sell it, or use it for a brief escape into a warm, happy memory.

Once used, either by herself or a customer, it's gone.

It's a moving, well-done story--with an ending, inevitable and appropriate, that may not be what everyone wants, in the midst of the pandemic.

Nevertheless, recommended.

I received this audiobook short story as part of a "we're caught in a pandemic; let's do something nice" giveaway, and am reviewing it voluntarily. show less

This is a cyberpunk retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Fir Tree."

This fir tree is an artificial tree, a tree powered by nanotechnology, able to do an amazing range of things that can make it the perfect Christmas tree.

And the fir smart-tree has a very high opinion of itself. It decides it will be purchased only by a person worthy of itself. The right income, the right address, the right tastes, preferences, habits. And of course, a proper family to properly observe Christmas.

It is a show more charming little story, even if it has a slightly grim ending.

Recommended.

I got this audio short story as part of an "it's a pandemic; let's do something nice" giveaway, and am reviewing it voluntarily. show less

Ada is a fifteen-year-old on a school trip to Italy. She's also an accomplished young programmer. Unfortunately, when their plane lands, it seems the airline has lost her luggage. The group's teacher/chaperone prefers to leave Ada alone at the airport rather than delay the group in order to help her get her luggage.

With her teacher and fellow students gone, and no real help from the luggage claim's help desk, Ada walks out of the cold, air-conditioned airport into the warm, Italian air.

Where show more she meets a man with luggage that follows him.

And they start talking.

This is just a lot of fun. Recommended!

I received this audio short story as part of a "there's a pandemic; let's do something nice" giveaway, and am reviewing it voluntarily. show less