Lisa M. Bradley

Hugo 2020 Nominations (Best Novelette);

"Away with the Wolves"

I am pleased to have learned on looking up the issue of this Uncanny, that it was entirely devoted to Sci-Fi/Fantasy Stories about (and by) differently-abled people. This story was an interesting one, but not as compelling as I wished it was.

This was the story of a disabled girl, whose body often caused her too much pain to function in the space of each single day after rising, but who has the ability to shift into the from of a show more wolf (a time she simply refers to as 'Away'). In her other form, she feels no pain, no guilt, and is able to live freely, in the moment. The work is about coming to terms with what actually works best for you, and being supported by those who love you best, who want your best life for you. show less

So far only read/listened to:



Away with the Wolves by Sarah Gailey - 2*

hmmm I read it as a "coming out" story. Yeah she has pain in her human form but I thought that was metaphorically more about what she had to endure when she wasn't being who she wanted to be. When she was one way she had pain/function problems, when she was the other way she caused problems. She has to make a change because of this. Can't continue like this... It ends with a HEA when she accepts that she gets to decide how show more ("human/wolf") she wants to be and is surrounded by supported friends and a supportive community.

My low rating is because "coming of age" stories usually aren't my interest and not a lot happens. I hope it finds it's right audience.

Read by Erika Ensign on the Uncanny Magazine Podcast Episode 30A. show less

These covers are always so beautiful.
I started with 'Monsters & Women—Beneath Contempt' by Roxanna Bennett.

Dismiss reversal of promises & missing curatives,
who notices holes in the old narrative

Read it here.

Away With the Wolves, Sarah Gailey