Strange Horizons

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by Luna Gray and Mikaela Saverona, whose debut reviews for the magazine recently both touched on questions of shared world storytelling.
How should we think about these kinds of work critically? And how might we measure their success?
Luna's review of From the Library of Jurgen Leitner by Premee Mohamed⁠
Mikaela's review of The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by Ryan Elliott and Roseanna Pendlebury, who have both recently reviewed works for us of speculative fiction now shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

What do mean when we say something is “literary”? How do we know it when we see it … and what is it good for?

Ryan's review of The End of Everything by M. John Harrison

Roseanna's review of May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, A. J Odasso and Electra Pritchett join Dan Hartland to talk about popular fiction. Science fiction and fantasy has a long and complex relationship with questions of popular culture. Where does this stand today?
So often ignored or derided by so-called higher culture, how should critics approach it? And where should we situate it in our readings?
A. J.'s review of The Vampire Lestat
Electra's review of The Icarus Coda by Timothy Zahn

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Amritesh Mukherjee and Abigail Nussbaum join Dan Hartland to talk about literary awards. Discussions and debates about awards shortlists often seem to be a point of gravity in broader critical discussions, and can even affect how individual reviews get commissioned and written.
How do and how should critics interact with awards? What are they for? And do critics spend too much time thinking about them?
Amritesh's review of Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta.
Abigail's review of Angel Down by Daniel Kraus.

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, editor Michael Ireland presents "Because I Held His Name Like a Key" by Aimee Ogden, read by Jenna Hanchey
You can read the full text of the story, and more about Louis Inglis Hall ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠
Content Warnings:
Disregard for personal autonomy
Drug use
Sex
Rape/sexual assault
Suicide