[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, February 16, 2026

“The River Speaks My Name” by Ocoxōchitl la Coyota

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The narrator of “The River Speaks My Name” by Ocoxōchitl la Coyota relates how her cousin went down into a deep hole in the river near their village. She emerged wounded and in a catatonic state and died a few days later. The narrator, in shock and grief, makes her own way into the hole and survives, but with a terrifying choice to make.

This is a very well-written and powerful horror story. The ethical dilemma the narrator faces at the end makes it more than just a shocker. It forces the reader to confront the eternal question of whether the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The sense of place is strong, and the characters seem real.

Victoria Silverwolf used to wade in a creek behind her old house.