(Modern Fantasy) The narrator describes his childhood in 1950s Boston, the boys who bullied him, and the magic he used to defend himself. (8,636 words; Time: 28m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Dirty Old Town," by Richard Bowes [bio] (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction issue 05-06|17, published on May 1, 2017 by Spilogale Inc.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: As the story is about his relationship with Eddie, it logically ends with Eddie’s death.
The narration and dialogue are excellent.
Con: There’s not much of a plot, since the protagonist isn’t trying to do anything. And although two characters have magic, neither makes much use of it.
It's odd that the narrator has a sexual relationship with Eddie, and yet Eddie has no hangups about it. Give the era, that's odd, but it's also odd because it seems to just be tacked onto the story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 05-06|17)
Richard Bowes Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
The narration and dialogue are excellent.
Con: There’s not much of a plot, since the protagonist isn’t trying to do anything. And although two characters have magic, neither makes much use of it.
It's odd that the narrator has a sexual relationship with Eddie, and yet Eddie has no hangups about it. Give the era, that's odd, but it's also odd because it seems to just be tacked onto the story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 05-06|17)
Richard Bowes Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Reads more like a memoir than an SF story. The magic is sort of peripheral. The relationship is an odd one to feature -- frenemies, secret cousins, and briefly lovers. Although it seems a defining one for them both, and I found it touching.
ReplyDelete