Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: happy
  • Music: Hem, "Waltz."

Can you hear the bells?

They hold my trial in absentia; an empty gesture intended only to placate the screaming public. The growing silence outside the courthouse walls only serves to illustrate the pointlessness of the proceedings. It takes three days to present the evidence: the charts, the lab results, the videos. It would take longer, but after the fourth prosecutor fails to return from recess, the court decides to pass judgment on the case as it stands. There is enough—more than enough—to convict.

—from "The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells," available to read now at Apex Magazine.

The January issue of Apex is now available for all to read! (Prior to this, you had to actually buy the issue. A worthy investment. Seriously.) And in the spirit of this availability, have a few reviews of my story:

Carl at The Portal says "Alternating between moments before and after the key event in her story, McGuire tells a tale of biological terrorism and cold, calculating vengeance that is frightening in its reality." Also: "'The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells' brought to mind films like 28 Days Later and the various incarnations of Resident Evil, stripped of all their implausibilities so that all that remains is the sheer horror of a very real threat to mankind." Dude. I win at creepy.

Terry at Fantasy Literature says, "Those who have read Seanan McGuire’s tasty urban fantasies starring October Daye will be surprised at the dark science fiction she serves up in 'The Tolling of Pavlov’s Bells.'" That was the goal! She goes on to say that she didn't realize I was Mira Grant, and will now be reading Feed.

If you haven't heard the bells, this is your chance.

You've been warned.
Tags: pandemic time, reviews, short fiction, so the marilyn
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  • 64 comments

dormouse_in_tea

February 8 2011, 05:15:25 UTC 6 years ago

I wanted to get a friend to read this, but I wasn't sure she should, because she's not really into creepy as fuck, so I decided to warn her.

I typed up your intro to Dear Gina from the DucKon concert -- about the two types of mad science and horror, and told her that this story was pretty much you making a liar of yourself, because no really, there is only ONE kind, it ALL involves buckets of creepy.

I love this story soooooooo much.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:40:55 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

Also, hee.

liret

February 8 2011, 06:07:20 UTC 6 years ago

My respect for you as a writer is great, but I don't think I want to go to one of your book signings anymore. 0_o

kengr

February 8 2011, 06:11:25 UTC 6 years ago

What they said...
You don't *really* have a secret lab do you, Seanan?

dornbeast

6 years ago

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kengr

6 years ago

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dornbeast

6 years ago

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kengr

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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kengr

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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jadis17

February 8 2011, 07:05:03 UTC 6 years ago

That was beautiful and creepy.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:41:35 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

geojlc

February 8 2011, 07:10:34 UTC 6 years ago

That was creepy. Also full of awesome!

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:42:14 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you!

kitrinlu

February 8 2011, 09:42:39 UTC 6 years ago

Wow. That was... wow O_O I may never leave my house again.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:42:26 UTC 6 years ago

Just wash your hands and respect quarantine.

kitrinlu

6 years ago

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mrs_norris_mous

February 8 2011, 13:45:34 UTC 6 years ago

Excellent story, chimes well with the talk I went to at lunchtime.

"Clostridium difficile has emerged globally within the past decade as a
significant cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and
healthcare-acquired infection. This seminar will describe a
high-throughput genomics approach to monitor C. difficile transmission
and evolution within UK hospitals and between the UK and North America."

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:43:56 UTC 6 years ago

Ah, C. difficile. Not my digestive system's cuddly buddy.

beccastareyes

February 8 2011, 13:53:01 UTC 6 years ago

That is profoundly unsettling.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:44:03 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

beccastareyes

6 years ago

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beckyh2112

February 8 2011, 14:50:11 UTC 6 years ago

I read this just before going to bed about two nights ago.

This was a slightly better idea than the time I read Stephen King short stories just before going to bed. Slightly.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 15:44:14 UTC 6 years ago

I'll work harder next time.

kengr

6 years ago

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beckyh2112

6 years ago

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kengr

6 years ago

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beckyh2112

6 years ago

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kengr

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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beckyh2112

6 years ago

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fayanora

6 years ago

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beckyh2112

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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tereshkova2001

February 8 2011, 17:12:14 UTC 6 years ago

Mmmmm, delightfully unsettling and just the right amount of crunchy science. I like that sort of thing.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 19:29:58 UTC 6 years ago

Hooray!

asthecrowfly

February 8 2011, 18:15:09 UTC 6 years ago

I <3 this.

I wanted to be a virologist as a little girl, but didn't understand "bubble girl" and "virology" do not mix. Oh, to be six again. Such a lovely, lovely story. Definitely sending a link to my Mum.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 19:30:26 UTC 6 years ago

Now it's contagious!

dedra

February 8 2011, 19:31:12 UTC 6 years ago

Excellent story--just creepy enough to make me think twice about breaking isolation precautions when I'm at work (I work in a hospital).

And, you give good science. And creeepy scientists! :D

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 19:32:11 UTC 6 years ago

She just wanted them to listen...

dedra

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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dave_ifversen

February 8 2011, 21:52:21 UTC 6 years ago

I was actually thinking about the bucket of creepy intro from the DucKon concert - this is more like a bathtub full of creepy. And it's all over my shoes, the floor, and clogging the drain. Good story - gave me chills.

seanan_mcguire

February 8 2011, 22:27:51 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you!

vincentursus

February 9 2011, 01:26:37 UTC 6 years ago

So, should I be reassured that assuage these urges in a fictional medium rather than reality, or worry that there will come a time when merely writing about the end of the species is not enough?

seanan_mcguire

February 10 2011, 03:25:55 UTC 6 years ago

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, really.

hoppytoad79

February 9 2011, 05:54:11 UTC 6 years ago

I win at creepy.

You absolutely win at creepy. You're creepier than Stephen King.

seanan_mcguire

February 10 2011, 03:26:09 UTC 6 years ago

...that is some HIGH PRAISE, right there.

hoppytoad79

6 years ago

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hoppytoad79

6 years ago

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lysystratae

February 9 2011, 22:38:10 UTC 6 years ago

ooooo, shiver-y... buying a copy :)

seanan_mcguire

February 10 2011, 03:26:18 UTC 6 years ago

Awesome!

lysystratae

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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lysystratae

6 years ago

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fayanora

February 10 2011, 13:17:26 UTC 6 years ago

*Reads the Pavlov's Bells story, crawls into the fetal position in the corner and rocks back and forth, whimpering.*

seanan_mcguire

February 10 2011, 15:44:14 UTC 6 years ago

Quarantine is fun!

Portal

cerebral-ecstasy.blogspot.com

February 11 2011, 19:50:02 UTC 6 years ago

Dear Seanan,

Thank you for mentioning us! I'd just like to mention that our website is called The Portal, not SFF Portal. Sorry for the nitpick.

Warm regards,
Val

Re: Portal

seanan_mcguire

February 14 2011, 20:22:49 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks for the correction! I've updated the post.

dragondances

February 12 2011, 05:25:41 UTC 6 years ago

This is a little (okay, very) late, but I wanted to wait until I had enough time to devote to it before I read this, partially because I haven't read any of your other works.

And it was so worth it. Beautiful, insane, chilling... I hope it's not weird that I friended you, but how can I not when you write things like this?

seanan_mcguire

February 14 2011, 20:23:39 UTC 6 years ago

It's not weird at all. :) Welcome!

mysanal

February 17 2011, 19:16:11 UTC 6 years ago

That was incredibly evil.

Thank you.

seanan_mcguire

February 18 2011, 17:29:43 UTC 6 years ago

Very welcome.