The two women walking down 14th Street NW in DC were gently bickering. One was tall and athletic, with limbs that seemed almost too long, in slacks, t-shirt, a leather vest, and her only ornamentation was an almost invisible silver necklace. The other was significantly shorter, with generous curves, wearing a dress that was apparently in defiance of physics, and a vast array of rings, several impressively convoluted necklaces, and a brooch that would probably pay for a small jet.

A passer-by would not pick up much of the conversation, indeed, many of the passers-by would not have been able to tell you much, distracted as they were by the appearance of the two women.

If one were able to focus, though, it would have been a very strange conversation indeed.

"I can't just take one of your potions before a competition - it wouldn't be fair! And there are rules about performance enhancing drugs," the taller was saying.
"As if you are playing fair with a body that I designed for speed. And their so-called tests would never detect my potions," the shorter retorted.
"That's why I don't enter sprint or middle distance competitions. Anyway , how is it you are so keen to dose me up, but you still refuse to use a spell to help me learn Greek?"
"Ha! You are a hypocrite! You refuse assistance in competition, but you demand it in learning!"
"They are two completely different things! One is a test of skill -"
"And the other is a test of your skills. They are exactly alike."
"No, one I am competing against others, the other is ..."
"Competing against a book. Very well. I will refrain from offering potions before a race. But I will not let you consume those vile 'sports drinks' after! You hear?" this last had the sound of command.
"Yes Mistress," the tall woman replied in resignation, "I guess that means no spell?"
"Correct. No spell. It is not like you do not have time."
"Yes Mistress," she sighed.
"Come now, do not be like that. I am certain I can make your studies much more fun. Did you know I have the complete works of several of the so-called lost authors? Including that lovely lady from Eresos. She had a beautiful voice to go with her talent at verse."
"Eresos?"
"A village on one of the Greek islands. Lovely place, beautiful beaches, even now. Ah! Here we are. If there is one thing this time gets right, it is clothing. Such an endless variety! Come, Angela dearest, let us see what harm we can cause at next week's event!"

Book Review: All that We See or Seem, by Ken Liu
A challenging novel that fearlessly faces a world full of AI

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/10/book-review-all-that-we-see-or-seem-by.html

@princejvstin.com
tackles the book at the NOAF blog

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