(SF) The army wakes in the new solar system and prepares to face enemy attack. But the enemy doesn’t show up. While they wait, one of them decides to study one of the inner planets. (3,625 words; Time: 12m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"An Equation of State," by Robert Reed [bio] (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction issue 01-02|18, published on January 2, 2018 by Spilogale Inc.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It’s a bit of a surprise that the narrator is visiting Earth, not from Earth. The bigger surprise is that it has united humanity against the threat of alien invasion, ultimately making us the biggest threat of all.
Con: The whole thing is rather confusing. How can the narrator be so powerful as to destroy the whole fleet that brought it here? What good did it do itself by elevating humanity?
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Con: The whole thing is rather confusing. How can the narrator be so powerful as to destroy the whole fleet that brought it here? What good did it do itself by elevating humanity?
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01-02|18)
Robert Reed Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Don't really get what the narrator accomplished in its two centuries on earth. When someone is sent to retrieve it, humanity is still fighting amongst themselves (but supposedly about to unite?). And why do they think it's so important to retrieve this diplomat? Then we're told it kills those sent to retrieve it. And now earth itself is poised to fight these aliens? Or the aliens' enemy? And the narrator was inspired to do this by observing humans at war?
ReplyDeleteReed's stories are occasionally too deep for me. I think most prolific authors like to experiment occasionally. The problem with experiments is that they don't always work.
DeleteThis really didn't work for me. He shows some interesting scenes. Then quickly tells how things wrap up. And I'm left going..what happened? how? why? :/
DeleteFor me, it's better that I get to the end and say "Wait! I expected more!" than if I'm checking the progress repeatedly asking "How much of this is left?"
DeleteThis ending just seems too slap-dash... like Reed got tired of writing the story.
Delete