(Near-Future SF) Mishima is a spy who suffers from narrative disorder. This causes her to see everything that happens as if it were part of an organized story. (7,104 words; Time: 23m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
This story is set in the world of the author’s novel, Infomocracy and will make more sense if you read that first, although it’s not strictly necessary.
"Narrative Disorder," by Malka Older [bio] (edited by Brian J. White), appeared in Fireside issue 05|2017, published on May 1, 2017.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The best part of about the story is the hilarity of the way “narrative disorder” works. The whole concept is beautifully encapsulated in this one sentence: “Her third-year teacher became suspicious after overhearing her retell a five-minute trip to the bathroom as an epic saga with two subplots and an unexpected denouement (minor sink malfunction).”
The background is interesting for the most part, and the core plot about defeating the thugs on the boat is interesting as well.
Con: The story is mostly background, there’s no resolution to anything but the core plot, and the core plot (defeating the thugs on the boat) is very, very thin.
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Malka Older Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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The background is interesting for the most part, and the core plot about defeating the thugs on the boat is interesting as well.
Con: The story is mostly background, there’s no resolution to anything but the core plot, and the core plot (defeating the thugs on the boat) is very, very thin.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Malka Older Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Having read Infomocracy, I enjoyed seeing more of Mishima. But the info on narrative disorder and how she's dealt with it did overwhelm the actual story somewhat.
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