[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Strange Horizons, March 9 & 16, 2026“This Obituary Has Been Retracted” by P.C. Verrone (March 9th)
“Five Medicines You Found in the Garden of Unfinished Poems” by Jenna Hanchey (March 16th)
Reviewed by Drew Bittner
“This Obituary Has Been Retracted”
In the pages of Ganymede’s Mens Magazine, in early 1989, the obituary pages are taking an odd turn.
Amid obituaries for men who were lost to the AIDS crisis, a single notice stands alone—and draws controversy like a lightning rod. Casey Robertson posts a notice about the death of his cat Eartha Kitty. Letters pour in, a few in support but others incensed that the magazine put an animal obituary among those of their dearly departed.
What unspools from there is… a retraction. Not because the magazine’s editors rethought their policy but because, well, things have changed. And that sparks a whole new discussion…
P.C. Verrone has drafted an interesting back-and-forth in the letter pages of this fictional magazine. The gay community of the late ‘80s was struggling with the deaths of so many in their community that a cat’s obituary might plausibly provoke some backlash, but as things change, the confusion and awkward hopefulness echo painfully. Verrone does a skillful job at portraying how the community (and the letter writers) try to make sense of what seems like an improbable miracle.
It may be triggering—after all, this story proceeds from a real life tragedy—but the idea at its root is worth considering. It may stick with you after the last paragraph.
Recommended.
“Five Medicines You Found in the Garden of Unfinished Poems”
In a strange, possibly metaphorical garden, you find yourself discovering the strange, potent magic of a scent, a honeycomb, a scrap of tree bark, mushrooms, and a lily. What do these things have in common and why are you finding them now?
Jenna Hanchey has constructed an intricate walk through a garden of memories, daydreams, and fragile hopes. You, the protagonist, take a journey that begins with déjà vu and regret, then a ray of light amid bees and the hive in a hollow tree you once knew, then (as your poem takes greater form and definition) you recall time spent beneath another tree…
Hanchey’s tale is a dreamlike work of creation, self-reflection, and coming to terms, in the space of under 2000 words. You may take a moment after reading to make sure you’re awake… but find yourself wanting to revisit that garden again one day.
Recommended.