(Folk Tale) A small, pink, human asks Big Thrull's protection. She's the toughest mammoth herder there is, but she's got a soft spot. His endless questions are a problem though. (3,745 words; Time: 12m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Big Thrull and the Askin' Man," by Max Gladstone [bio] (edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas), appeared in Uncanny Magazine issue 9, published on March 5, 2016.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: Nice touch that Big Thrull's people aren't even vaguely human. And that the Askin' man seems to be dressed like a salesman. The story starts a little slowly, but by the half-way point it's gripping. Quite a shock when grandmother rock blows up--the story has done a good job of making that seem terrible to us.
Thrull's resolution to her problem is credible, given what we've been told of her.
Con: It's a little hard to believe he wasn't smart enough to take his precious stones and flee. He was smart enough to con her, so he should have been smart enough to know she'd find a way to kill him--guest or no guest.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 9)
Max Gladstone Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
Thrull's resolution to her problem is credible, given what we've been told of her.
Con: It's a little hard to believe he wasn't smart enough to take his precious stones and flee. He was smart enough to con her, so he should have been smart enough to know she'd find a way to kill him--guest or no guest.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 9)
Max Gladstone Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
Liked how it is written as one of the folk telling this to another "Askin' Man." Hopefully, they're there for more honest reasons, but they've been well warned otherwise! Good choice for the podcast story.
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