(Near-Future SF) Marcel surreptitiously sprays people with pheromones to make them fall in love with his clients. He’s not supposed to get attached to them himself. (3,798 words; Time: 12m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Cupido," by Rich Larson [bio] (edited by Sheila Williams), appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction issue 03-04|17, published on February 16, 2017 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: Marcel falls in love for real, and he struggles to deal with it. He could walk away, he could ignore it and complete his business deal, but either way, he'd be losing something precious. Instead, he takes a chance and decides to pursue the lady honestly.
Con: Given the nature of his business, it’s hard to like Marcel or wish him well. The fact that he’s using the money for his grandmother’s medical expenses is so cliché it’s almost comical.
Some of the Spanish is a little off. For example, people say buenos días or buen día but not bueno dia.
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Rich Larson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Con: Given the nature of his business, it’s hard to like Marcel or wish him well. The fact that he’s using the money for his grandmother’s medical expenses is so cliché it’s almost comical.
Some of the Spanish is a little off. For example, people say buenos días or buen día but not bueno dia.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 03-04|17)
Rich Larson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Good review. Keep in mind, the setting is Andalusia, where there is a distinctive, clipped dialect.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I can actually read novels in Spanish, but I haven't read one set in Andalusia yet. I should try that and see if this sort of phrase turns up.
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