Aurealis “A Remembrance of Coral” by Arden Baker
“An Orchid for Lia” by Matt Georgeson
“What Swims in the Birthing Lake” by Xavier Garcia
Reviewed by Eric Kimminau
I have repeatedly enjoyed reviewing several past issues of Aurealis. I am looking forward to another.
Set against the harsh backdrop of a coastal empire that brutally exploits local resources and labor, “A Remembrance of Coral” by Arden Baker establishes a poignant, melancholic dynamic between an aging carver and his visiting grandson. It chronicles the protagonist’s youth, harvesting crimson coral under tyrannical overseers, evoking an environment where physical toil and the debilitating effects of toxic dust gradually erode the community’s collective memory. Through a vivid portrait of colonial subjugation and the heavy psychological toll exacted upon a colonized populace, profound camaraderie emerges among the laborers, galvanized by a charismatic peer who dares to envision collective defiance against imperial rule. The piece serves as a haunting meditation on cultural erasure, resilience, and the enduring obligation to bear witness to historical trauma. The tragic trauma unfolds to explain why the grandson’s father will never speak to his father again and forces the reader to wonder how they would be affected.
This atmospheric science fiction narrative, “An Orchid for Lia” by Matt Georgeson follows Pedro, an intrepid emissary who ventures from the sanctuary of the Domes into the scorching perils of the Outside to investigate mysterious atmospheric anomalies. Guided internally by the lingering memory of his deceased daughter, Lia, Pedro navigates the crumbling subterranean corridors of an ancient, overgrown industrial facility. Along his descent, he encounters a mutated outcast named Nueve, whose existence bears testimony to historical genetic experimentation, deepening the thematic exploration of loss, parental grief, and human resilience.
As Pedro pushes further into the subterranean depths, he confronts the facility’s eccentric sole inhabitant, a volatile visionary who controls an experimental interdimensional gateway capable of siphoning environmental heat. This gripping encounter forces Pedro to grapple with harrowing ethical dilemmas regarding survival, technological hubris, and the catastrophic consequences of planetary restoration. The narrative establishes a profound emotional journey centered on sacrifice and the enduring weight of personal tragedy. At times, the story feels somewhat heavy-handed with its climate change commentary and in its message of diversity and inclusion. Despite those elements, the plot thoroughly captivated my attention, drawing me deep into the protagonist’s world for a genuinely enjoyable read.
“What Swims in the Birthing Lake” by Xavier Garcia is set against a rich backdrop of Mesoamerican mythology. This narrative follows Lady Blood, the Goddess of Death and an exiled deity of Xibalba, as she reluctantly ascends to the celestial realm of Moon Lake. She is spurred by an invitation from her long-standing rival, the moon goddess Awilix, to attend the celebration of a newborn child. The story pairs mythic scale with a stark, raw tone to highlight the psychological friction between two powerful goddesses whose shared history is fraught with unresolved grievances, pride, and divine dysfunction.
However, the storytelling relies heavily on a chaotic, hallucinatory execution that mirrors a drug-induced fever dream. Unexplained mythological fragments are dropped casually throughout the narrative, assuming a familiarity the reader may not possess and rendering the plot difficult to follow. Moreover, the heavy reliance on run-on sentence structures and modern profanity seems designed for provocative shock value rather than literary depth, resulting in a turbulent reading experience that obscures its underlying mythic themes behind stylistic excess. Nothing I would ever recommend.
This issue of Aurealis presents a remarkably varied selection of speculative fiction, showcasing both the deeply resonant strengths and the potential pitfalls of the genre. Arden Baker’s “A Remembrance of Coral” stands out as a thoroughly enjoyable and poignant masterpiece, delivering a haunting meditation on colonial trauma, labor, and generational rift that lingers long after reading. Matt Georgeson’s “An Orchid for Lia” similarly earns a favorable recommendation by grounding a gripping sf trek through atmospheric collapse in a touching exploration of parental grief, successfully overcoming its occasionally heavy-handed commentary through captivating narrative momentum. Conversely, Xavier Garcia’s “What Swims in the Birthing Lake” proves to be an exhausting struggle to finish, as its intriguing Mesoamerican mythic backdrop is ultimately overwhelmed by chaotic, drug-induced formatting, jarring profanity, and obscure references. Together, these three pieces offer a compelling look at how style and execution can either elevate complex thematic world-building into unforgettable art or alienate the reader entirely.
Eric Kimminau is a BBS geek turned IT professional seeking the next Great Adventure. Let’s Go!