Holly Phillips’s “The Oracle Spoke” is a story of a world at war, with generals doing battle in what seem like British county estates. Lt. Dexter Caldwell is part of the Loyalist platoon which takes a manor, and he is drawn by a mysterious voice to a cupboard where he finds Cassandra, the young girl who speaks with the voice of the Oracle, intoning prophecies which the generals hope will give them some advantage in the conflict. The loyalist general takes Cassandra with them when they leave, and Caldwell finds himself her guardian.
It took me a little while to get into this story, but that is perhaps the type of story that it is; taking familiar notions of war and prophecy and adding depth to them. The story’s point of view alternates between Caldwell and Cassandra, and both are well-drawn, intelligent characters. Cassandra’s story, in particular, is moving, as we discover more about her plight as voice of the Oracle, and what it might mean for a real human being to be trapped in such a circumstance. The tale’s ending is chilling. A very strong story.
“Moon Over Yodok” by David Charlton is the story of a family imprisoned in a labor camp in North Korea. Hae-Sik is a young boy who lives with his grandmother and sister, Dal-Soon. The story details the abominable conditions of their lives, and the ways they try to cope with their situation. As the story progresses, it emerges that Hae-Sik is upset over some action of Dal-Soon’s, although it takes a long time for the true story to emerge.
This is another well-written story, with likeable characters and a very real menace. I haven’t read any stories set in this background before, and found it fascinating from that aspect alone. But it’s also a story of human cruelty and the mental toll it takes, and it would be hard not to be moved by the plight of the family portrayed here.
Of the two stories, my favourite was the Holly Phillips, but both are memorable and well-written. Clarkesworld is fast becoming one of the most consistent and reliable venues for finding good fiction, particularly online. This issue is probably the best of the year so far. Definitely worth checking out.