A slow-burning tale of subtle body horror by way of near-future technology and near-death experience, Lina Rather’s short story Thin Red Jellies examines the stress placed upon two people who find themselves cohabiting in a single body. When Jess ‘dies’ in a car accident, Amy agrees to have her girlfriend’s mind implanted in her own brain, sharing her body until they can arrange for a replacement for Jess. The realities of healthcare insurance and corporate greed, however, mean that Jess’ stay in Amy’s body is extended while they scrimp and save, testing their still-new relationship in new and unexpected ways.
For all the almost-sci-fi elements and unsettling body horror, this is really an everyday story about characters making and coping with awful, impossible decisions and trying their best to carry on with their lives. Amy and Jess’ relationship difficulties might be facilitated by body-sharing technology but their struggles are still deeply familiar, the inevitable ups and downs coming in the face of health-related money issues and all the attendant pressures, even while they wrestle with pointed questions of personal space and intimacy. It’s a powerful story that’s variously horrifying, thought-provoking and beautifully tender, coming at relatable real-world themes and frustrations from a smart, unexpected angle.
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