illegible_scribble
2/17/2020
The author of the Hugo-winning "The Secret Life of Bots" has hit it out of the park again. The worldbuilding is vivid -- I felt the surroundings quite keenly, as if I was there -- the plot is engrossing, and the characterization is excellent, with the added bonus of the author's lovely brand of subtle snark.
The story, about who gets to be considered as human, granted agency, and treated with respect, touches on themes of racism, xenophobia, and ethnocentrism. This was the only novella out of the 48 I've read this year that made me jump up and down. It's definitely going on my 2020 Hugo ballot.