(Fantasy Adventure) A wizard merges with a cherry tree and finds that that gives her a whole new perspective on things—a perspective that might hold the key to solving some age-old problems. (4,055 words; Time: 13m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Lines of Growth, Lines of Passage," by Marissa Lingen [bio] (edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas), appeared in Uncanny Magazine issue 20, published on January 1, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The understated narration is comical: “I did not remember how I had gotten encased in a cherry tree. Though fragrant, this was inconvenient.”
In terms of plot, she leverages her tree-begotten perspective to figure out what the iron giants were upset about and to get revenge on her faithless ex-apprentice.
Con: The understated narration gets old real fast. Her concern for the “lives” of things like icebergs gets annoying, particularly when she hasn’t got any concern for the lives of the innocent sailors who perish in the ice water when her apprentice’s ship is destroyed.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 20)
Marissa Lingen Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
In terms of plot, she leverages her tree-begotten perspective to figure out what the iron giants were upset about and to get revenge on her faithless ex-apprentice.
Con: The understated narration gets old real fast. Her concern for the “lives” of things like icebergs gets annoying, particularly when she hasn’t got any concern for the lives of the innocent sailors who perish in the ice water when her apprentice’s ship is destroyed.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 20)
Marissa Lingen Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
I found it pretty funny -- listening to the podcast may have helped.
ReplyDeleteNice look at working with nature instead of trying to conquer it -- not just cherry trees, but the iron giants as forces of nature.
Yeah, I liked that aspect too. And it was nice to see it pay off.
Delete