[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, May 26, 2025

“How to Dispose of a Dead Albatross” by Octavia Cade

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

“How to Dispose of a Dead Albatross” by Octavia Cade takes place in a future world where the ocean has been contaminated with an invasive red organism that destroys much wildlife, including the birds named in the title. The text consists of multiple descriptions of the ways people deal with this loss, from creating artificial albatrosses to giving themselves wings and flying in the manner of the birds.

The author portrays the ecological disaster in a powerful manner. The ways in which people react cannot be taken seriously as rational actions. Perhaps they are intended to convey the emotional reactions to such a disaster. In any case, the work is more of a portrait of a situation rather than a fully developed story with plot and characters.

Victoria Silverwolf is working an extra day today.