Saturday, October 28, 2017

Operators, by Joel Richards

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(Near-Future SF) Barry investigates self-driving trucks that are being hijacked, although he has more than a little sympathy for the unemployed truckers who he imagines are behind it. (5,298 words; Time: 17m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Thoughtful with Plenty of Tension.

"Operators," by (edited by Sheila Williams), appeared in issue 11-12|17, published on by .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: The plot has three main threads: Barry wants to get his job done, but he wants to do it with his honor intact. The Association simply wants their business to continue uninterrupted. And the Operators want justice, but they’ll settle for retirement. Barry’s genius is that he a) figures it all out b) gains everyone’s trust c) finds a solution that satisfies everyone.

We really like Barry. When he’s palling around with the truckers, he’s not really deceiving them; that’s who he really is.

The Operators are sympathetic too, even though we know they’re going over the line here. It’s a relief that they’re willing to settle for a decent retirement.

The Association isn’t a cardboard villain either. It’s composed of people who just want to do business, and who care about things like people’s military service.

Con: It all seems just a little too easy.

Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 11-12|17)
Joel Richards Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline

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