(SF Humor) When Cjek guides her damaged ship to an emergency landing in Roy’s cornfield, problems ensue because she’s not the sort of UFO he was expecting. (3,834 words; Time: 12m)
Rating: ★★★★☆ Clever and Very Funny
"Abductive Reasoning," by Christopher L. Bennett [bio] (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact issue 09-10|17, published on August 17, 2017 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The mutual misunderstandings are hilarious. My favorite was when she says “Take me to your—” and stops because he perks up at that before finishing with “—your house.” The whole notion of a real space alien telling a UFO believer why he’s wrong—and him arguing with her—is just priceless.
The story does a nice job of preparing us for the possibility that other aliens really are here; aliens that lie low and only observe.
The wrap up is great, where Roy is burning the real evidence of an alien and creating a fake because “No one would ever believe me” if he told them the truth.
On a different level, the message from the observers is cheering. "The problems they create for themselves imbue them with a passion to find solutions. Their unique perspective could benefit the coalition greatly once they reach it on their own."
Con: There's no tension. We have no doubts that Cjek can take care of herself.
It’s very silly.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 09-10|17)
Christopher L. Bennett Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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The story does a nice job of preparing us for the possibility that other aliens really are here; aliens that lie low and only observe.
The wrap up is great, where Roy is burning the real evidence of an alien and creating a fake because “No one would ever believe me” if he told them the truth.
On a different level, the message from the observers is cheering. "The problems they create for themselves imbue them with a passion to find solutions. Their unique perspective could benefit the coalition greatly once they reach it on their own."
Con: There's no tension. We have no doubts that Cjek can take care of herself.
It’s very silly.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 09-10|17)
Christopher L. Bennett Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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