The July/August issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine has a short story in of mine called “In the Halls of the Makeshift King.” As some of the reviews below point out, it’s one of my more philosophical pieces, less pew-pew-pew than people expect of me. But it’s a story I’m proud of for being heavy on the interior.
I had trouble sleeping last night, and got curious to see if there’d been any reviews of the story, and rounded them up below because, well, might as well get something positive out of a sleepness night, right? Additionally, I’m trying to enjoy my victories a bit more, as in the past I’d been flying so fast I’d never get a chance to enjoy having a story published.
I put a lot of blood on the page to make this story happen. I am still juggling the fatigue and brain fog of Long Covid, though low dose Naltrexone has gotten me back on the horse, we’re cantering, not galloping. The story was originally written for a very, very gracious invitation to write a story for an anthology that is doing things I wanted to be a part of and was utterly honored to be asked to submit to. But my exhaustion levels meant that although I worked on this for months, and was given extensions, I still missed the deadline.
The editors tried so hard, but I hadn’t gotten on the new meds yet, and it was a challenge.
But I eventually, weeks later, limped over the finish line of the story and started revising it so that it could be sent out anywhere, and I’d always dreamed about having a story in all three of what were the big magazines when my career started (Asimov’s, Analog, F&SF magazines were the Big 3). It’s a bucket list item, made even more meaningful by the fact that this was a challenging story written during one of the most challenging times. Thankfully I’ve got more pep in my step, I’m working on a novel and a couple of story commissions right now. I’m still not as fast as I’d like, but I’m writing more now, but this felt like a giant, freaking achievement on a number of levels.
Howard at My Reading Life:
“In the Halls of the Makeshift King” by Tobias S. Buckell (4,928 words) — A pilgrim to the Alcove Above is made Makeshift King and has a big decision to make. The shaft is described slowly and in a way I found hard to picture, but the civilization-level decision foisted on one individual is intriguing.
Mina at Tangent Online:
“In The Halls of the Makeshift King” by Tobias S. Buckell follows Yehin on his pilgrimage. He is one of many pushing a huge capstan that will one day open a door. Nobody knows what is behind that door. As the story circles and we share Yehin’s feeling of futility, we move from frustration to Yehin’s final understanding of the pilgrimage. This is not because he has been chosen to become Makeshift King, but because he finally understands the meaning behind his seemingly hopeless pilgrimage. This tale also rewards the reader’s patience in the end.
Rich Horton’s short fiction reviews:
“In the Halls of the Makeshift King”, by Tobias S. Buckell, is a mysterious story, only opening up a bit over time. A large group of what seem to be worshippers are engaged in helping to push a massive capstan, that might in time open the Great Door. Yehin is one of these — and now he is facing a radical change in his status … which might (or might not) be critical to the effort to open this Door. I don’t want to tell more — it’s a purposely weird story, and the affect depends on the slow reveal of Yehin’s fate. It’s a fine story, if a bit too abstract for my taste.
Goodreads (Michael Frasca):
This was one of Asimov’s best issues in a long time.
…
Pointless rituals may not be as pointless as they seem. As the grinding wheel slowly turns over the millennia, a community is held together.
Goodreads (George Kasnic):
In The Halls of the Makeshift King was a near miss in my book, it ended well, but I never felt the environment and the physicality of what was happening, although the philosophical musings were top notch.