"The Oiran’s Song" by Isabel Yap was my favorite from Uncanny Issue 6. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual abuse. It's a bit of a difficult story to read because of the mentions of sexual abuse, but it's also a wonderful story about anger, not belonging, and just who is the monster.

Akira is a soldier, but not by choice. He was sold to passing soldiers by the teahouse that owned him and his brother. He's used as their servant, and in times when they lack a female prostitute he is used that way also.

A new oiran arrives at the camp and she's different. She frightens Akira even as she befriends him. Then the oni came and Akira dreamt of demons.

This story is beautifully, softly, vividly written. The friendship between Akira and the oiran is tentative and honestly quite lovely, as two lonely people, trapped by circumstance, begin to know each other. Just wonderful.

Merged review:

"The Oiran’s Song" by Isabel Yap was my favorite from this issue. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual abuse. It's a bit of a difficult story to read because of the mentions of sexual abuse, but it's also a wonderful story about anger, not belonging, and just who is the monster.

The reprint "Sinners, Saints, Dragons, and Haints, in the City Beneath the Still Waters" by N. K. Jemisin is a very cool story about New Orleans during Katrina, and people (and dragons) helping others.

"The Sisters’ Line" by Liz Argall and Kenneth Schneyer is strange and wonderful and worth reading just for the character of Becky who builds.

"Find a Way Home" by Paul Cornell is a middle-grade adventure about a boy who finds a stranded alien.

I also really enjoyed the non-fiction essay Masculinity Is an Anxiety Disorder: Breaking Down the Nerd Box by David J. Schwartz. ( )