Today’s pick comes directly off of the 2014 Hugo Ballot, one of four nominees for “Best Short Story.” Not everyone votes for the Hugo’s, but if the fiction is free, and if it’s on the internet, I don’t see why you shouldn’t get a taste of some of the nominees, and Rachel Swirsky’s “If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love,” is short, sweet, and weirdly wonderful. It packs a punch at the end, and it’s the kind of story that makes you want to read it all over again once you finish the first time, because you have a new point of view from which to read.
“If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love” was originally published in the March 2013 issue of Apex Magazine (Issue 46). Below, if you’re so inclined, is the link to the story at Apex’s website.
Click here to read IF YOU WERE A DINOSAUR, MY LOVE for free
Like it? Love it? Hate it? Sound off below!
Calico Writes 
This one was my favorite of the short story entries. It really taught me to appreciate flash fiction more.
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It’s definitely a powerful story. Did you listen to Rocket Talk where the hosts dissect all the stories on the best short story ballot. The commentary to this story was interesting, and I’m not wholly sure I agree with it.
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Yes, and I didn’t wholly agree with it either. LoL
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I think the point about the narrator making it about HER pain is an interesting take. But cultural appropriation? I still can’t swallow it: a woman is grieving because the man she loved was beaten to near-death for being transgender. Are loved ones of victims not allowed to have their own stories? How is that exactly appropriation?
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Yeah. I had one of those “I don’t think that word means what you think it means” moments.
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Whereas their concern of cultural appropriation for “The Ink Readers of Doi Saket” was right on the nose, I thought.
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I hadn’t considered that her fiance might be transgender. The people who beat him throw so many slurs and the story implies they may have nothing to do with him. Is there something else in the story that indicates the transgender slur is related to the man they see in front of them?
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You know, I’d have to give it another look. That was my thought, for some reason, after I read the story, but when I listened to the Rocket Talk podcast, I thought your interpretation might be more correct. Either way, I’m not sure, and of course, either way, it’s a tragedy.
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Hi! I was reading the story all over again, but still, I can’t understand the meaning behind the piece. Can you please tell me what is the theme and what is the meaning of the whole story? Thank you so much!
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