★★★☆☆
(Post-Apocalypse) The narrator tries to find the path to the impossible ocean at the top of the mountain to dispose of the ashes of his/her parents, but there are obstacles in the way. (5,798 words; Time: 19m)
"One Time, a Reluctant Traveler," by A.T. Greenblatt [bio] (edited by Neil Clarke), appeared in Clarkesworld issue 166, published on July 1, 2020.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2020.360 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: It’s an entirely symbolic story about the narrator’s struggle to deal with the loss of loved ones. The stories about his/her parents travelling to the impossible ocean are about them dealing with their own losses—not always very successfully.
The narrator comes to the lake via a different path, though, and realizes that he/she doesn’t have to have the same experiences as his/her parents.
Con: The whole story is contrived to support the message, and the message isn’t very profound.
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A.T. Greenblatt Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: It’s an entirely symbolic story about the narrator’s struggle to deal with the loss of loved ones. The stories about his/her parents travelling to the impossible ocean are about them dealing with their own losses—not always very successfully.
The narrator comes to the lake via a different path, though, and realizes that he/she doesn’t have to have the same experiences as his/her parents.
Con: The whole story is contrived to support the message, and the message isn’t very profound.
Other Reviews: Search Web
A.T. Greenblatt Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
I'd give this 4 stars myself.
ReplyDeleteI think this falls under science fantasy.
It is about grief and mourning and loss. Worth reading.