★★★★☆ Tense, Exciting, and a Little Disturbing.
(High Fantasy) A nobleman offers Navid’s family a vast fortune if they’ll make him a magic coat more powerful than anything they’ve ever made, and in the span of a single month. It will change their lives, one way or the other. (8,408 words; Time: 28m)
"The Thirty-Eight-Hundred Bone Coat," by R.K. Duncan [bio] (edited by Scott H. Andrews), appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies issue 277, published on May 2, 2019.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.309 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: Although the whole family pitches in, it’s clear that Navid is the weakest link, so the whole story is about the lengths he’ll go to to make this happen.
To begin with, he tries plain hard work. That seems to work at first, but once it’s clear it won’t be enough, he switches to drugs—risking his own future health. But he’s not cut out for that, and almost dies. Finally, he uses blasphemy to summon a flood that’ll disturb the old bones. This works, but at a high price both for him and for his father. He may never be able to get right with the Prophet again, but, just as important, he’s lost the river too.
Con: Ultimately, the price paid seems too small.
Other Reviews: Search Web
R.K. Duncan Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Pro: Although the whole family pitches in, it’s clear that Navid is the weakest link, so the whole story is about the lengths he’ll go to to make this happen.
To begin with, he tries plain hard work. That seems to work at first, but once it’s clear it won’t be enough, he switches to drugs—risking his own future health. But he’s not cut out for that, and almost dies. Finally, he uses blasphemy to summon a flood that’ll disturb the old bones. This works, but at a high price both for him and for his father. He may never be able to get right with the Prophet again, but, just as important, he’s lost the river too.
Con: Ultimately, the price paid seems too small.
Other Reviews: Search Web
R.K. Duncan Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
No comments (may contain spoilers):
Post a Comment (comment policy)