[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, July 4, 2022

“Reprise” by Samantha Lane Murphy

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

In “Reprise” by Samantha Lane Murphy, a man undergoes therapy after the suicide of his drug-addicted brother. A sophisticated virtual reality program allows him to experience the last time he saw his brother over and over again, each time changing the way things really happened.

The story deals with survivor guilt in an emotionally powerful way. The fact that the simulation of the man’s brother knows he’s not real, and admits this in virtual conversations with the man, makes it hard to believe that this kind of therapy would have much beneficial effect.

Victoria Silverwolf had a window broken by lightning today.