The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Six
BEYOND THESE STARS OTHER TRIBULATIONS OF LOVE by Usman T. Malik
Bari has to look after his mother, but he is also off into space and needs a way to be in both places at once. Interesting idea, although I wonder if this split consciousness would be possible, considering time dilation and distance. How would that work technically, besides probably making you loose your grip on reality fast?
Maybe a bit short to do the idea justice. ★★★☆☆
Can be read for free here.
I liked his The Pauper Prince and the Eucalyptus Jinn.
The Pauper Prince and the Eucalyptus Jinn by Usman T. Malik
“a work of speculative fiction that explores Indian subcontinental folklore and Islamic metaphysics”
This short story was nominated for a Nebula award and won the 2016 British Fantasy Award for Best Novella. And rightly so. Beautifully written, very poetic and dreamlike. Old east meets new west in a story that could have come out of 1001 Arabic nights. Or maybe not, the settings in Pakistan feel too real. Fascinating take on Jinns, memories, consciousness and relationships. ★★★★☆
Available here.
Author’s website: www.usmanmalik.org
Cathy's Reading Bonanza 
Sounds like an interesting idea… I’ve found that some of the short stories I’ve read where the story seems too short to do the idea justice ended up later getting turned into a novella or full-length novel. Sometimes it seems the short story was the author playing with the idea to see if it would work. Maybe that will happen this time?
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The story felt pretty finished, but who knows!
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