(Science Fantasy) Cathay, a Chaos Mage in the city of Serendib, thrives on randomness. And how better to make the world more random than gambling? (4,000 words; Time: 13m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
"Call and Answer, Plant and Harvest," by Cat Rambo [bio] (edited by Scott H. Andrews), appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies issue 194, published on March 3, 2016.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The world is very well developed, and the descriptions are beautiful. In fact, all of the prose is very beautiful without being overdone for the setting.
Con: It's unclear what the story is about, and it's unclear what happened at the end. Cathay isn't gambling for some purpose--she's doing it because it's her nature. Whatever risk Cathay sees in Mariposa, she has evaded it by luck (appropriately enough), but that makes for an unsatisfying story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 194)
Cat Rambo Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Con: It's unclear what the story is about, and it's unclear what happened at the end. Cathay isn't gambling for some purpose--she's doing it because it's her nature. Whatever risk Cathay sees in Mariposa, she has evaded it by luck (appropriately enough), but that makes for an unsatisfying story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 194)
Cat Rambo Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
I thought the writing and the setting were wonderful, but I'm not sure what to make of Mariposa growing from a seed that Cathay planted.
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