January 2012

1.  Cloud Permutations by Lavie Tidhar
2.  Enterprise:  Stardust by K. H. Scheer (re-read)

3.  Foundation by Isaac Asimov (re-read)

R. I. P. Short Story Sunday 9/27

Subterfuge by Ray Bradbury

Published in Astonishing Stories, 1943.

A very different take on the alien invasion story.  Humanity knows it cannot stop this invasion.  So the leaders develop a plan that has half of the population committing suicide.  When the only hope for mankind involves the death of that many humans, you realize how scary it has become.The rest are … changed.  I will not reveal the rest of the story.  You need to read it for yourself. 

Highly recommended.

R. I. P. Short Story Sunday 9/20

By Water by Algernon Blackwood

Published in Day and Night Stories, 1917.

Algernon Blackwood is an author who is not well known today.  This story focused on a man who is given a prediction that he will drown but will not realize he will drown.  He is leaving for to work in the desert before his wedding.  Understandably, his fiancee does not want him to go.  He points out that the desert does not contain large bodies of water.  In the classic tradition, you know the prediction will come true.  The question is how.

Blackwood’s writing is very descriptive.  The drawback to his style is that he talks about the action instead of showing it.  I think it would have been a better story if we had seen the action through the eyes of the main character.  Still it was worth reading.

I would recommend this to others.  Blackwood deserves to better known. 

R. I. P. Short Story Sunday 9/13

The Graveyard Reader by Theodore Sturgeon

Published in Science Fantasy, 1958.

This is a different type of story to read for R.I.P. IV. The title led me to believe this would be a scary story. I was not exactly sure what a "graveyard reader" was but it sounded like the title to a good spooky tale. What I ended up reading was an excellent story that initially was not frightening. But then, upon further thought, it was a very scary story.

How many people would be happy to find that others could read their grave after they die? Would you want all of your secrets and actions revealed to others? Probably not. Sturgeon is an author I have not read much. After reading this story, he goes on my must read list. It is not a flashy story but it is well written.

Highly recommended.

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells

What do you think of when you see a copy of The Invisible Man? Normally, I think of a man's descent into darkness. Wells is able to create numerous full blown characters in this short novel. What amazed me this time around was the sympathy I felt for the Invisible Man early in the story. It seems like he is being discriminated against. Children make fun of him. Adults don't even try to think of his feelings. It turns out that they are right. He is evil but would his story have taken a different path if the villagers had shown him compassion? I don't know but it does make you think. Next time you see someone being ignored or picked on, think back to this story.

It makes me think that sometimes people are the scariest things in the world.

100 Shots of Short

In this challenge, the participant reads 100 short stories.

I will update my list as I read more stories.

1. Beast in the House by Michael Shaara

R.I.P. IV Short Story Sunday 9/6

Beast in the House by Michael Shaara

Published in Orbit#4(1954)

Beast in the House was a very interesting story. The beast in the title is an ordinary looking dog that wanders into the yard. Nothing sounds scary so far. Then, the mother notices that the dog seems to be watching her. But something else does not seem right. The dog's ears do not move when sounds are made. Every dog she has ever seen has it's ears move in reaction to sounds.

In another part of the neighborhood, a man finds the dead body of a dog. The dog has been skinned. What would do something like that? And why?

After reading this story, I know I will be looking at stray dogs more carefully.

Highly recommended.

"Beast in the House" was read for R.I.P. IV and the 100 Shots of Short reading challenges.