In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Amritesh Mukherjee and Abigail Nussbaum join Dan Hartland to talk about literary awards. Discussions and debates about awards shortlists often seem to be a point of gravity in broader critical discussions, and can even affect how individual reviews get commissioned and written.

How do and how should critics interact with awards? What are they for? And do critics spend too much time thinking about them?

Amritesh's review of Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta.

Abigail's review of Angel Down by Daniel Kraus.

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, editor Michael Ireland presents "Because I Held His Name Like a Key" by Aimee Ogden, read by Jenna Hanchey

You can read the full text of the story, and more about Louis Inglis Hall ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Content Warnings:

• Disregard for personal autonomy
• Drug use
• Sex
• Rape/sexual assault
• Suicide

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dean Leetal and William Shaw join Dan Hartland to talk about reading queerly: How do, should, and can reviewers and critics interested in LGBTQ+ people and their representation approach texts both avowedly queer and apparently heteronormative?

Dean's review of Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page

Will's review of Dead Boys in Space by Sara Youngblood Gregory