Our final piece of audio fiction for December is “Sweet Subtleties” written by Lisa L Hannett and read by Kate Baker.

 

 Clarkesworld Magazine Issue 75 - Sweet Subtleties by Lisa L Hannett [31:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8649)

Javier calls me Una, though I’m not the first. There are leftovers all around his studio. Evidence of other, more perishable versions. Two white chocolate legs on a Grecian plinth in the corner, drained of their caramel filling. A banquet of fondant hands, some of which I’ve worn, amputated on trays next to the stove. [...]

The crow’s talons gouged new gashes into Jupiter’s enamel as the orrery revolved a clockwork orbit beneath him. Gaslights incandesced from the base of the carnival booth, projecting the solar system’s rotations onto the canvas dome above the crow’s head. Light strobed into his eyes each time Jupiter completed a rotation, [...]