Sunday, May 8, 2016

The Journeyman: In the Great North Wood, by Michael F. Flynn

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(SF) Teodorq and his friend Sammi agree to organize security for a nobleman's archaeological expedition. They expect danger from the local tribes, but not from the artifacts themselves. (22,965 words; Time: 1h:16m)

Rating: ★★★★★ Award-Worthy
Recommended By: SFRevu:4 Readers

"," by (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in issue 06|16, published on by .

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

Pro: This is a fun, action-packed story that's alternately nerve-wracking and humorous. The archaeological team add quite a lot to Teo and Sammi's primitive understanding of the ancient technology, but the technology doesn't make the biggest difference; the real heroes are Teo and Sammi, who lead their people well.

A key part of the story is the development of Teo and Sammi's relationship. Sammi may tease Teo mercilessly, but the truth is that he admires him, respects him, and is ready to follow him to the ends of the Earth.

A real pleasure of this story is the beautiful writing. Flynn shows us everything we need to know about this world though natural dialog and transparent narration.

Con: The biggest drawback is that there are too many characters. This is best read on a Kindle where you can search the magazine for character names at any point. Otherwise, it's too easy to forget who all these people are.

Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 06|16)
Michael F. Flynn Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline

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