(Science Fantasy) Sarnai’s family have always grown rockets, but her teenage daughter seems to have an unhealthy fascination with them. (5,794 words; Time: 19m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
"The Rocket Farmer," by Julie C. Day [bio] (edited by Andy Cox), appeared in Interzone issue 271, published on July 15, 2017 by TTA Press.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The story is about reconciliation between Sarnai and her father and daughter, as well as being about Sophie’s quest for the stars. All three threads are complete at the end.
Con: I couldn’t accept the what-if of the story. The idea that rockets had always been grown, not built, but a conspiracy hid that from the public was just too much to swallow.
Sophie is such a rude, selfish, disrespectful character that she didn’t deserve to succeed, and yet she’s essentially the hero of the story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 271)
Julie C. Day Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Con: I couldn’t accept the what-if of the story. The idea that rockets had always been grown, not built, but a conspiracy hid that from the public was just too much to swallow.
Sophie is such a rude, selfish, disrespectful character that she didn’t deserve to succeed, and yet she’s essentially the hero of the story.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 271)
Julie C. Day Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
"The Rocket Farmer," by Julie C. Day,is, in fact, a wonderfully sensitive story. Sophie, the teenage girl at its center, is a character thoroughly real and recognizable to anyone who has had actual contact with teenage girls--or with young humans generally. The fantastic elements of the story, far from being impossible to swallow, make it go down sweetly and well, astonish and transport.
ReplyDeleteIn the "con" section, I usually list my objections from most to least serious. I simply couldn't swallow the "what-if" and that ruined the story for me. I'm particularly allergic to conspiracy theories, so that combination was just too much.
DeleteI have indeed seen Sophie's behavior from some teenagers. The bit where she wouldn't even get out of the car made me laugh out loud. That didn't mean I wanted to see her apotheosis into a YA Mary Sue though.