Rating: 2, Not recommended Recommended By: SFRevu:4
An alien general takes an interest in the unfortunate Lars, who has the dullest job on the starship.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: At least Lars got to have an adventure. The writing itself is excellent, and the story does not drag.
Con: The situation is absurd. The fact that the alien general remarks on how absurd it is does not help. Lars's explanation of it all to the general at the end also makes no sense. And the idea that a person given such an awful job would actually do it reliably the one and only time he's called upon stretches credulity beyond the limit.
Con: The situation is absurd. The fact that the alien general remarks on how absurd it is does not help. Lars's explanation of it all to the general at the end also makes no sense. And the idea that a person given such an awful job would actually do it reliably the one and only time he's called upon stretches credulity beyond the limit.
I liked this story quite a bit, great writing and reasonably answered all my questions throughout the story. Fouton actually played a very important role in that he has the power to eliminate the highest ranking officer of the ship and even the high ranking foreign guests. In that regards it’s understandable why such a role can’t be delegated to AI.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find a bit off is that a cover job as a lift operator is not a good one considering that in an emergency (like in the story!) people are meant to avoid elevator shaft lol