(Superhero) Hideous from chemical burns, a once-beautiful supervillain spends her days on display in a carnival. (5,230 words; Time: 17m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Torch Songs," by Keith Rosson [bio] (edited by Tricia Reeks and Kyle Anderson), appeared in Behind the Mask, published on May 16, 2017 by Meerkat Press.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: We feel sorry for Simone, even as we learn more and more reasons why she doesn’t deserve our sympathy. Her developing friendship with Tina—culminating with her defense of Tina against the local boys—makes her very human. In the final scene with Dan and “Sergeant Liberty,” we suspect—although we’re not completely sure—that she’ll set him free.
Con: The superhero element is incidental. She could have been any sort of criminal who was maimed during capture.
There’s no plot here. Little or nothing happens in the story at Simone’s instigation, largely because she has no goal she’s trying to achieve.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Keith Rosson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Con: The superhero element is incidental. She could have been any sort of criminal who was maimed during capture.
There’s no plot here. Little or nothing happens in the story at Simone’s instigation, largely because she has no goal she’s trying to achieve.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Keith Rosson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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