Saturday, November 21, 2015

The Thyme Fiend, by Jeffrey Ford

Tor.com, March 11, 2015; 14,004 words
Rating: 3, Good, ordinary, story  Recommended By:  Locus

In 1915 Ohio, 14-year-old Emmett's night terrors get worse after he finds a dead body in an abandoned well.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: Didn't expect that Gretel was a ghost up until the police had never heard of her! In general, the story flows nicely and all the dialogue is natural. .

Con: The resolution feels incomplete. We're not sure what Mrs. Williams's motives were in killing her husband. Not sure how she enticed Jimmy. Nor what the preacher's motives were either. And where did Gretel come from? And what was that visit to Hell all about--other than showing Emmett how Jimmy murdered Mr. Williams?

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