(SF) He spent his childhood on another planet, but he’s trying to fit into highschool on Earth, and he really wants a girl. (1,245 words; Time: 04m)
Rating: ★★★★☆ Extremely Effective
"This Is for You," by Bruce McAllister [bio] (edited by John Joseph Adams), appeared in Lightspeed Magazine issue 84, published on May 1, 2017.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: What a twist! And then all the pieces click. We know how the girl Clare disappeared too. “A painting must do something.” “The minerals, if arranged right, can affect space in weird ways.”
A tiny story, but not one word is wasted.
Con: Everything is setup for the twist. There’s nothing else to it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 84)
Bruce McAllister Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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A tiny story, but not one word is wasted.
Con: Everything is setup for the twist. There’s nothing else to it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 84)
Bruce McAllister Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
That was unexpectedly unpleasant. I admire the execution - the twist was sudden but effective - but it wasn't my sort of story at all.
ReplyDeleteDid you like "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson?
ReplyDeleteThe Lottery - nope, not even a little bit. Again, I admire the skill, but the story hits a squick button for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, agree with Mark. It seems like it's light and sweet, and then ick! At least it was short.
ReplyDelete