“The Message Between the Words” by Grayson Bray Morris, published in Waylines.
I recently stumbled across a new online speculative fiction magazine: Waylines.
They seem to be associated with Clarkesworld (note the link on the bottom of the main page), but I”m not sure about their relationship.
Anyway, I found one of the Waylines stories particularly well done:
The Message Between the Words by Grayson Bray Morris.
To me, this is what science fiction should be. The “science” forms an important part of the backdrop of the story, and enables the final twist, so it’s an essential part of the story. This is what sets SF apart from other genres. But the story is not about the fictional science, or typical space-opera-type themes. It’s about the relationships between the characters, and the personality flaws of the protagonist that set up the conflict. This gives it a literary bent that makes it more meaningful.
It also resonated with me because the protagonist comes across very much as an Aspie, though this is never stated. I can empathize with what she goes through. It brought back memories from my childhood.
I really recommend this story, even if SF is not your thing. If you read it, please let me know what you think.
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