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Marc Laidlaw



"Buzzy Gone Blue"
© IASFM, May 1984
--/ cool sf story
--/ style award

"Cell Call"
© By Moonlight Only, ed. S. Jones, 2003
--short fiction : 2004 Int. Horror Guild
--/ cool f story
--/ idea award
--/ wonder award
--/ rare find


"Faust Forward"
© F&SF, Mar 1987
--/ cool sf story
--/ rare find

"Four Hundred Boys"
© OMNI, Nov 1983
Mirrorshades, 1987 -a
--/ fourth place sf story
--/ idea award
--/ style award
--/ shock value


"Gasoline Lake"
© F&SF, Oct 1991
--/ cool f novella

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"Jane"
© Sci Fiction, Feb 2005
--/ fourth place sf story
--/ wonder award
--/ adventure award
--/ style award
--/ shock value


Solid story from a great writer. I always enjoy Laidlaw's creations, as he subtly sinks a screwdriver into your head and then pulls it out with a gleeful twist, when the cumulative mass of the story's details explodes like green jelly all over your mind, spiking your life functions and sinking a wicked olive of an idea into your long-term memory. :) Well, maybe this is an exaggeration, but... This is a wolf-in-a-sheep's-clothing type of a story. It only hints of atrocities in a strange and post-apocalyptic (perhaps) world, where our troubled protagonist girl roams and runs, but then brings them home with a familiar "I am your father, Luke, like-it-or-not" feel of some hidden family horror and oppression. Themes of blindness and "returning falcons" are prominent, and it all sinks in a murky, lush, deliciously crazy and paranoid narrative, which is a joy in itself. Recommended.
review: 18-Jul-06 (read in 2006)

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"Middleman's Rent"
© F&SF, April 1988
--/ cool sf story
--/ rare find

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"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews!

Most reviews are written by Avi Abrams, unless otherwise noted. Reviews also appear on our unique historical retrospective page Wonder Timeline of Science Fiction. Feel free to submit your own review, if a particular story is not listed here.


All major OFFICIAL AWARDS are highlighted in BLUE
("winner" has a letter "W" by it, otherwise it is a runner-up only)

Our PERSONAL AWARDS (ratings) are highlighted in RED and PURPLE:
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--/ cool : (equal to fifth place)
ALL "BEST OF" LISTS ARE LOCATED HERE

These awards are given in the following categories:
- novel :
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Also, there are our personal STYLE / GENRE SPECIFIC AWARDS. These reflect the story's content and the lasting impression on the reader:

--/ wonder award
sense-of-wonder, "visual intensity" and inventiveness

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