Michele Lee reviewed Apex Digest #9 which has my story “Locked In.”

Locked In by Mary Robinette Kowal is a nasty bit of text wedged into this issue. The other stories were safe, but this one is downright dangerous. The hazard comes, not from technology spinning out of control, but people’s faith in technology being far misplaced. The true evil is in the people, not the tool. The darkness in this piece snuck up on me. This one is a powerful, short piece, not to be missed.

I collect etiquette books, so if you ever need to know what kind of gloves to wear to an afternoon wedding in 1851 or the proper way to say goodbye to a guest in 1907, come to me. One of the prizes in my collection is The Jolly Book of Funcraft by Patten Beard in 1918. It is a book of ideas for parties and the table of contents includes such things as:

• The Party Made From Almost Nothing At All
• The Thanksgiving Fun Making
• Carrot Fun
• A Plasticine Party
• The Faggot Party

Oh yes, my dears. What could be more fun, than a Faggot Fun Party.

The thing that makes me laugh most, is the stunning poem at the end and the way it shows just exactly how much words have changed.