Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology

Southard’s middling Kickstarter-funded anthology explores “the intersection of technology and magic in our smartphones.” The best entries are wry, such as Amanda Hackworth’s Uber-for-magic startup in “Error: Kappa Not Found.” Black humor is done well in C.S. O’Cinneide’s “Picture This...” and Jonathan Burgess’s “On Your Right,” but a romance deteriorates to poor effect in Manny Frishberg and Edd Vick’s “One App to Rule Them All.” Siri effectively nags an out-of-work journalist into self-awareness (and love) in Dale Cameron Lowry’s “What You’re Called to Do,” but when A. Moritz takes a similar approach in “From Siri to Sunrise: Delivering Perfection,” the bittersweet edge of a young woman searching for the perfect sunrise is lost in a story that needs considerable tightening. And in Raven Oak’s “Q-BE,” a college freshman, a mysterious study app, and a demanding college professor combine for confusion rather than cohesion. There are interesting premises all around, but they’re not always executed well. (Oct.)