"Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast" is a 2009 science fiction novelette by American writer Eugie Foster. It was first published in Interzone, and has subsequently been republished in Apex Magazine, in The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011, and in The Mammoth Book of Nebula Awards SF; as well, it has been translated into Czech,New Sale: "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest" Czech reprint in Pevnost, by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published May 12, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 French,New Sale: "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest" French reprint in Ténèbres, by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published May 17, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 Italian,New Sale: "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest" Italian reprint in Robot!, by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published May 19, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 Spanish,Back in Atlanta, Spanish Sale of "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest", by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published June 2, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 Romanian,New Sale: “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest” Romanian reprint in Helion; by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published March 2, 2011; retrieved August 26, 2016 and Hungarian,JordonCon Schedule & Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest Now Out in Hungarian in April’s Galaktika, by Eugie Foster, at LiveJournal; published April 4, 2011; retrieved August 26, 2016 and an audio version was released on Escape Pod.Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database; retrieved August 26, 2016
Synopsis
In a world where people's roles, identities, and personalities all depend on which mask they wear on any given day, one man discovers the concept of rebellion.
Reception
"Sinner, Baker" won the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Novelette,Science Fiction Awards Database: Nebula Awards 2010, at Locus; retrieved August 26, 2016 and was nominated for the 2009 BSFA Award for Best Short FictionBSFA Award Finalists Named, by Charlie Jane Anders, at Io9; published January 27, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 and the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.2010 Hugo Awards at TheHugoAwards.org; retrieved August 26, 2016
Gardner Dozois considered it an "elegantly strange slipstreamish fantasy".Locus issue 580 (May 2009) Jason Sanford described it as "beautifully written and fast-paced",Story of the Week: "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast" by Eugie Foster, by Jason Sanford, at JasonSanford.com; published January 19, 2009; retrieved August 26, 2016 while Rachel Swirsky called it a "mix of high concept and colorful images".Friday Read! Eugie Foster’s “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast”, by Rachel Swirsky, at RachelSwirsky.com; published July 1, 2016; retrieved August 26, 2016 Tangent Online rated it three stars,Tangent Online Recommended Reading List--2009, by Dave Truesdale; published March 7, 2010; retrieved August 26, 2016 while Black Gate commended Foster for producing an ending which goes counter to readers' expectations.Short Fiction Review #14: Interzone #220/February 2009, by "Soyka"; in Black Gate; published March 5, 2009; retrieved August 26, 2016
References
External links Text of the story at Apex Magazine