Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station | Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0, by Caroline M. Yoachim

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(SF Humor) A choose-your-own-adventure story in which you navigate the clinic on a space station full of aliens. (2,118 words; Time: 07m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Recommended By: SFRevu:4 RHorton:4 Nebula

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

Pro: There are a few good chuckles here. Arguably, there is a complete plot, in that you start off seeking medical attention and end up dead.

Con: It's very silly.

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5 comments (may contain spoilers):

  1. The "very silly" was so fun and clever that I can't consider it a con! ;)

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  2. I always struggle with whether to recommend humorous pieces. In a literal sense of the word, I'd definitely recommend something like this to anyone looking for a good laugh. On the other hand, I can't see it getting an award--except in an SF Humor category that might exist someday.

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  3. Good humor isn't easy and doesn't automatically make something just fluff. I think using a CYOA format for a story about navigating a healthcare system is really clever. You seem to have choices, but they all eventually lead to your horrible painful death! The bureaucracy is designed to make you give up and go away rather than actually heal you. Plus, I enjoyed the pokes at SF tropes and breaking the fourth wall. I don't think it will make my own short list, but I wouldn't count it out from some recognition. Don't forget "Cat Pictures Please" -- definitely both humorous and award winning.

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  4. Humor is great, but there needs to be more to the story than just a few good laughs. Arguably we need a humor category to recognize stories like "Robot AL-76 Goes Astray" which aren't terribly deep, but which leave you laughing until your ribs hurt.

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