Strange Horizons, March 8, 2021

“Bathymetry” by Lorraine Wilson

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The main character in “Bathymetry” by Lorraine Wilson flees her home in Istanbul to live with relatives in a fishing village after her mother is arrested for participating in protests. She discovers that her uncle and cousin are involved in smuggling refugees to Cyprus. Despite her justified fears, she undertakes a heroic action to aid those fleeing injustice.

As this synopsis suggests, the speculative content of this tale is not part of the basic plot. In this fantasy version of modern Turkey, emotions such as fear, longing, and despair take the form of monstrous creatures. The story is an obvious allegory for overcoming the feelings that prevent one from doing the right thing.

The author’s style is dense with metaphors and sensory details. These often create an intriguing mood, but a few phrases are less effective. It is difficult to understand, for example, why coffee grounds would smell like the memory of a kiss. Although the theme is an important one, some readers will find this work too blatant a parable.

Victoria Silverwolf had to look up the definition of this story’s title.