The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere
A Tor.Com Original

This story raised some controversy when it won the 2014 Hugo Awards as apparently some readers thought it's not science fiction. Before I address this, let me just say the story is absolutely lovely. Some time in the near future, water starts falling on people whenever they tell a lie. It can be just......more

In the near future water falls from the sky whenever someone lies (either a mist or a torrential flood depending on the intensity of the lie). This makes life difficult for Matt as he maneuvers the marriage question with his lover and how best to “come out” to his traditional Chinese parents. “Coming......more

I read this as part of the Hugo nomination packet, and am somewhat baffled. It's well written, I suppose, and there is a nominal science fiction element, though I'm tempted to instead check the box to shelve it as "magical realism." Apparently a few months ago, water started falling on people from n......more

To be completely honest, I felt absolutely nothing while reading that. The idea of water intrigued me, but the story's use of it did not make up for how little of it there was. Additionally, I didn't feel any kinship with the plot or the characters.......more

My book club read a selection of short stories this month; this was one of them. This is a very well-crafted piece; and all the relationships in it ring very true. It's the story of a gay man struggling with coming out to his family during a holiday visit (this is a great story to read for Christmas......more