(SF) As the world approaches destruction, the Beast awakens, armed with information that may stave off destruction. (4,051 words; Time: 13m)
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Needs Improvement
"The Beast at the End of Time," by Benjanun Sriduangkaew [bio] (edited by Jason Sizemore), appeared in Apex Magazine issue 81, published on February 1, 2016.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
The purple prose is so dense that the story is painful to read. It doesn't help that it's larded with technical terms that the author apparently doesn't understand. E.g. "If-else arrays." The basic concept, that Earth would implement a set of machines that did all the work but not keep anyone around who understood how they worked isn't very believable either.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 81)
Benjanun Sriduangkaew Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 81)
Benjanun Sriduangkaew Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
This is the first time I've read this author, and I'm willing to try her work again based on the fact that she was Campbell finalist. But some of this seemed like random words strung together for all the meaning I could get out of them.
ReplyDeleteIf you click on her name (right above the "n comments (may contain spoilers) line) you can see all of her stories that RSR has reviewed so far. Although we did recommend one of them, Desert Lexicon, most of her work is like this one: overwritten and incomprehensible.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'll have to check it out. I have the anthology, but haven't read that story yet.
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