The Maiden Flight of McCauley's Bellerophon

"The Maiden Flight of McCauley's Bellerophon" is a science fiction/magical realism novella by the American writer Elizabeth Hand. It was first published in the Neil Gaiman/Al Sarrantonio-edited anthology Stories: All-New Tales,[1] in 2010, and subsequently republished in Hand's 2012 anthology Errantry: Strange Stories from Small Beer Press.[2]

Synopsis

An aviation historian is terminally ill. As a last gift, her friends decide to falsify evidence that will support her personal theory regarding the invention of flight.

Reception

"Maiden Flight" won the 2011 World Fantasy Award—Novella,[3] and was nominated for the 2011 Hugo Award for Best Novella[4] and the 2011 Theodore Sturgeon Award.[5]

Theodora Goss calls it "simple on one level and intensely complicated on another. And beautiful, and a joy to read,"[6] while the Portland Press Herald described it as "bittersweet" and "magical",[7] and Roz Kaveney judged it "possibly the best" story in the anthology.[8]

Genre

Hand has stated that the story "balance[s] on a knife-edge between fantasy and science fiction," with "elements of both", and declined to further explain what happens in it, saying "You tell me."[9]

References

  1. ^ Kristine Saretsky (June 7, 2013). "Anthology of short fiction ideal for quick summer reading". Calgary Journal. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  2. ^ Nic Clarke (May 29, 2013). "Errantry: Strange Stories by Elizabeth Hand - Reviewed". Strange Horizons. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "2011". World Fantasy. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Cory Doctorow (April 25, 2011). "Hugo Nominees 2011". Boing Boing. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2011 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award". Locus. November 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  6. ^ Theodora Goss (November 12, 2011). "Readability". Theodora Goss. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  7. ^ Joan Silverman (December 16, 2012). "Book Review: Hand creates new feast of uncommon stories". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  8. ^ Roz Kaveney (July 12, 2010). "Stories: All-New Tales (Review)]". The Financial Times. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  9. ^ InterGalactic Interview With Elizabeth Hand , by Darrell Schweitzer, in InterGalactic Medicine Show, issue 33; published April 2013; retrieved June 9, 2022


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