Quirky Cat
Written on Feb 22, 2020
This short story can be found on Tor’s website (for the moment – I don’t know how long it’ll be up). You can also order it, if ebooks are more your thing.
Alyssa was a smuggler, once upon a time. Then she had the misfortune of backing the wrong person during a time of conflict. Now? Now she’s just trying to make a new path in life, and hopefully, she’ll find a way to be at peace with her past along the way.
You see, Alyssa is about to undergo a dramatic transformation. Readers of The City in the Middle of the Night know exactly what sort of transformation she’s about to willingly put herself through. But it’ll all be worth it.
If You Take My Meaning was a brilliant read, albeit a short one. I honestly would have happily read a hundred more pages (or more) of Alyssa’s story. But then again, I’ve always been desperate to see more of this world that Charlie Jane Anders has created.
As with most short stories that I fell in love with, I’m struggling with what to say. Not because I don’t have anything to say – but because I don’t want to gush about it too much, and ruin the whole thing.
I will say that I absolutely adored seeing through Alyssa’s perspective. Seeing the aliens, the world, the experience, and how she interpreted it all. It was also fascinating to see how the plot has progressed, and how far they still need to go. How much change still needs to be enacted.
My only regret with If You Take My Meaning is that it’s over. I devoured it in a heartbeat, and now I find myself wanting more. But that’s the sign of an immersive world – and the price. So I’ll take it.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks