The Fragrance of Orchids and Other Stories. by Sally McBride. 2023
THE FRAGRANCE OF ORCHIDS AND OTHER STORIES
RATED 93% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 4.07 OF 5
14 STORIES : 3 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 2 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
This book magically appeared on my Amazon Kindle one day. I have no memory of buying it, yet my credit card was charged. Despite the fact that Sally McBride has been writing stories for forty years, I do not believe that I have ever heard her name. Has the Marketing A.I. gotten to the point that it is just buying books on my behalf? Did I fall through a hole in the Mandela Effect?
Whatever happened, I’m glad it did. I enjoyed this collection immensely and now have McBride on my list of writers to look out for. Her mind is sharp, clever, and reasonable. She writes science fiction, not merely stories within a sci-fi sandbox. The stories are precise, the characters clear, and all of it is swaddled in kindness and respect. I felt bits of Steven Utley, Orson Scott Card, and the occasional elder Ray Bradbury.
TL:DR Buy a copy of this great collection and you will probably find wonderful new stories that feel like they’ve always been with us.
Three stories are additions to The All-Time Great List:
Speaking Sea • (1999) • A failing marriage. A cool walk along the edges of the Pacific. A strange gel is in the water and it may be rewriting the world. Conjures the same strange emotions that I get from a Steve Utley story.
The Fragrance of Orchids • (1994) • A therapist cares for an alien that was found alone and raised by humans. A very powerful and complex story about that nurture vs nature, the value of therapy for non-human minds, how love might exist across species, and some of the under-explored questions of human-alien contact.
The Faraway Club • (2023) • A completely charming YA cozy mystery novella about the ghosts of teenagers who try to uncover the serial killer who murdered them. Lighthearted and loads of fun. Part of what makes this great is interesting original rules that McBride has invented for how being dead works. Charming.
THE FRAGRANCE OF ORCHIDS AND OTHER STORIES IS RATED 93% POSITIVE
14 STORIES : 3 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 2 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Speaking Sea • (1999) •
Great. A failing marriage. A cool walk along the edges of the Pacific. A strange gel is in the water and it may be rewriting the world.
Softlinks • (1991) •
Average. Pleasant little story from the perspective of a computer intelligence that is trying to determine what happened to the ‘softlinks’ who used to ask it questions.
The Queen of Yesterday • (1998) •
Good. A woman has spent her life studying bats. Tonight, she will learn the supernatural reason why.
The Emperor of the Half-Garden • (2000) •
Good. An alien intelligence takes root in a backyard garden and trouble ensues.
The Fragrance of Orchids • (1994) •
Great. A therapist cares for an alien that was found alone and raised by humans. A very powerful and complex story about that nurture vs nature, the value of therapy for non-human minds, how love might exist across species, and some of the under-explored questions of human-alien contact.
A Breath After Dying • (2023) •
Good. The sole archeologist working alone on an alien planet meets his ex-girlfriend and a developer who wants to clear away what exists for redevelopment.
Hello, Jane, Goodbye • (1997) •
Good. Sharp dagger of sci-fi horror. A brain specialist is an expert and curing trauma, but is secretly copying it for her later enjoyment. But no matter how depraved you are, there is always something worse.
At the Biological Cafe • (2023) •
Good. A strange and surreal story about a deeply disturbing restaurant with (I assume) food bio-engineered to be disgusting. Easy to believe in when you consider the trends of elite art food.
It’s the Elemental Spirits! • (2022) •
Good. A promoter turns some spirits into a boy bay with funny and chaotic results.
As Far As Is Feasible • (2022) •
Good. The denizens of a daycare are rocked (literally) when the entire building uproots, grows legs, and starts running away from danger. An interesting look at a potential use of A.I.
Totem • (1985) •
Good. Quietly beautiful story of investigation into a strong totem pole design that seems to tell the story of aliens.
There Is a Violence • (1996) •
Good. An art exhibit featuring alien artifacts is about to open. The pieces within show the sadistic past of the aliens. A past that they will do anything to keep hidden.
The Paisley Snow • (2018) •
Average. A woman discovers a cow jammed into a wire cage. She calls 911, but in this decaying future, it doesn’t matter.
The Faraway Club • (2023) •
Great. A completely charming YA cozy mystery novella about the ghosts of teenagers who try to uncover the serial killer who murdered them. Lighthearted and loads of fun. Part of what makes this great is interesting original rules that McBride has invented for how being dead works. Charming.
