Reviews, Lord Stink and Other Stories
On the basis of Lord Stink and Other Stories, Judith Berman is a skillful, passionate writer who proceeds at her own measured pace to produce quality craftsmanship from her workshop. Two stories here, the title piece and "Dream of Rain" are mythic, fairytale-like fantasies that evoke the best of Ursula Le Guin. The heretofore unpublished "Election Day," by contrast, is a madcap Tim-Powersish romp involving talking mirrors, reanimated corpses and a touchingly awkward, nascent love affair. Finally, "The Window" moves into Carol Emshwiller territory with its tale of an Earth overrun by the Grubs, and how humanity fares as pets. Berman exhibits a sure hand and a sharp imagination. Seeing more of her work will be a pleasure, especially at possibly longer lengths. --Paul Di Filippo, Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Lord Stink and Other Stories gathers four novelettes, two from Asimov's, one from Interzone, and a new one. One story, "The Window", from Asimov's in 2000, garnered quite a bit of notice including a Sturgeon Award nomination. It's a striking story of alien occupation. The other two reprints both seem based on Native American themes: "Lord Stink" is about a bear-man who steals a woman for his wife, and "Dream of Rain" is about a young girl coming of age amidst dynastic issues such as her uncle's murder. Both are striking, effective, fantasies. The new story, "Election Day", is also effective, about a corrupt politician who finds a surprising new source of votes, with unexpected consequences, and the museum official with a magic mirror who becomes involved without meaning to. A thoroughly enjoyable story, sometimes sweet, sometimes spooky. Judith Berman hasn't been very prolific. These stories represent most of her output to date, to my knowledge, but they are intriguing works, displaying considerable range and a fine new voice. --Rich Horton, Locus Online
In addition to the "tiny but celebrated" Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, and its yearly release of well-received trade paperbacks, Small Beer Press also publishes the occasional chapbook. This nicely produced collection of four stories by Judith Berman should whet readers' appetites for the author's upcoming novel from Ace, The Bear's Daughter, since the title story lays the groundwork for the novel. The diversity of stories shows Berman's range: This collection includes one urban fantasy, two stories with their roots in folk tales, and one definite science fiction piece. The only previously unpublished story in the chapbook is "Election Day," a funny love story that manages to merge an unusual art museum collection, a master magician, crooked politicians and zombies. The story switches points of view between Danny, who's being chased all over Philadelphia by a childhood friend he killed a year ago, and Steve, an art curator who's been using a magic mirror to spy on the woman he loves. The tone is slightly sarcastic, giving the whole story the feel of a farce. The story is a fun romp through a series of improbable adventures, but there are several moments in it when a character (and therefore the reader) comes face to face with a moral dilemma. Both the title story, which appeared in Asimov's in 1997, and "Dream of Rain," which appeared in Interzone , tell stories that sound almost, but not quite, like the kind of folk tales passed down in Native American cultures. Some cultures might well tell stories of humans who marry bears, but Berman in "Lord Stink" makes the tale feel real and immediate. You get the definite sense of a world in which such things might happen, and in which such marriages lead to consequences. In "Dream of Rain," Berman paints a picture of an established culture with rather firm rules, and of Crow, a young woman who chafes at her restrictions. A typical modern story might have Crow fight such restrictions and win; in a traditional tale, such rebellion might very well end in tragedy. Berman tells it a third way: Crow does do some things that her people would disapprove of, but instead of engaging in confrontation, she influences the situation gently, indirectly, and effectively. This is a more subtle answer, and a more complex story than either the modern or traditional versions. "The Window" is a disturbing science fiction story that also appeared in Asimov's. This alien invasion tale evokes themes similar to those found in Carol Emshwiller's novel The Mount , also published by Small Beer. It takes a bit of reading to discover who you might want to root for in this story, and the ending left me feeling uncomfortable -- which I suspect was Berman's goal. All in all, a collection well worth reading. --Nancy Jane Moore, Tangent Online