(First Contact) Val is kidnapped and imprisoned by a man who lost his father and blames Val because Val’s uncle messed up our first meeting with aliens. (9,651 words; Time: 32m)
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Needs Improvement
"How Val Finally Escaped from the Basement," by Scott Edelman [bio] (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact issue 11-12|17, published on October 19, 2017 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The basic concept is a good one. Everyone blames the uncle for delaying all these great cures until they learn that the aliens had come to kill everyone but the uncle changed their minds.
Con: The writing is awful. The dialogue is especially bad (including some as-you-know-Bob bits), but the narration is intrusive as well.
Beyond that, the idea that everyone would blame the nephew is ludicrous, and this poisons the story from end to end.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 11-12|17)
Scott Edelman Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Con: The writing is awful. The dialogue is especially bad (including some as-you-know-Bob bits), but the narration is intrusive as well.
Beyond that, the idea that everyone would blame the nephew is ludicrous, and this poisons the story from end to end.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 11-12|17)
Scott Edelman Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
No comments (may contain spoilers):
Post a Comment (comment policy)