(Fantasy Humor) Changelings have always been a problem, but in the modern world, we have self-help guides for parents whose children have been replaced with things that just look like children. (5,496 words; Time: 18m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"On the Problem of Replacement Children: Prevention, Coping, and Other Practical Strategies," by Debbie Urbanski [bio] (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction issue 01-02|17, published on January 3, 2017 by Spilogale Inc.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: Several bits are very funny. My favorites were the suggestion that parents should read their normal kids almanacs instead of fairy tales so they won’t think there’s a cool magical world to move to; the doctor who suggested having another child so “we can all forget about this one who isn’t even yours.”; and the parents who found it useful to convince themselves the original child never existed.
Con: It’s not a story with protagonists or any kind of plot at all. It conveys hints of the pain felt by parents who have lost their child, and that makes it difficult to laugh at all.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01-02|17)
Debbie Urbanski Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
Con: It’s not a story with protagonists or any kind of plot at all. It conveys hints of the pain felt by parents who have lost their child, and that makes it difficult to laugh at all.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01-02|17)
Debbie Urbanski Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
I normally like stories which play with format and presentation, but this one felt very flat, and longer than it needed to be to make its point.
ReplyDeleteOof - a sad and discomforting look at the darkest thoughts of parents and society in general towards children who fall outside of normal expectations. The non-fictional style combining Q&A and case study reports seemed disorganized and choppy.
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