"the now-expected upwelling of frustration tinged with hysteria"

November 2, 2021 2:09 PM

Two short scifi stories about accommodating disability. "Metal and Flesh" by Marie Vibbert is darker: "Five stitched the cloth with a single thread in the human way." "Fractured" by Aimee Kuzenski is more triumphant eventually, but starts: "Since the shuttle accident that broke my brain, getting out of bed is like marshalling a poorly-trained and easily-distracted army. Turns out I’m not a good general."
posted by brainwane (4 comments total)

"or I would have nothing to feed the rest" ahh
posted by wym at 6:51 PM on November 2, 2021

I really love stories like that first one that force a shift in perspective and make you look through alien eyes. Was wracking my brains trying to think what the carapace was until the reveal halfway through.

And brainwane I have really been enjoying your series of sci-fi short story posts, thanks so much for finding and sharing them.
posted by greycap at 4:10 AM on November 3, 2021 [3 favorites]

That title really hit home so I clicked both links and searched for "hysteria". Have now read "Fractured", whose excerpt also felt familiar. Thank you.
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 10:19 AM on November 3, 2021 [1 favorite]

Oh my. The stinger at the end of metal and flesh. Oh my goodness.
posted by ook at 6:41 PM on November 3, 2021