Science Fiction and Fantasy
American Military University
I enjoyed all the stories in this week?s reading assignment. Some, however, were better than others. I?d have to rank Jane Yolen?s The Malaysian Mer and James P. Blalock?s Thirteen Phantasms as my favorites out of the group.
Zenna Henderson?s excellent The Anything Box was the only story out of the assignment group that I?d previously read. Strangely enough, I was first introduced to Henderson?s writings in 1990, through a group of electronica musicians who named their band after her short story The Anything Box. After reading an interview with the band and learning of Henderson?s influence, I read her excellent collection of short stories titled Anything Box.
In The Anything Box, I appreciated Henderson?s sympathetic characterization of the teacher. Henderson, a teacher herself, ably presented the character in a positive manner, without distracting us from the center of the story, Sue-lynn and her Anything Box. Through the teacher?s observations, I grew sympathetic for Sue-lynn as a fragile, young mind. At the same time, I was thankful the young girl had such a caring teacher looking out for her well-being. As a side note, I?d like to think that Henderson was such a teacher, given her characterization of the teacher and her obvious empathy for her young charge.
In Robert E. Howard?s The Tower of the Elephant, we are taken on a classic tale involving barbarians, sorcery and adventure. I have to admit that I?d previously avoided reading any Conan stories. I didn?t think I?d find them interesting or stimulating. I?m amazed at how wrong that particular conclusion turned out. The Tower of the Elephant presented the reader with a well-developed cultural landscape, populated by a diverse field of peoples and civilizations. The characterization of Conan didn?t seem fully fleshed out in this story, but it was obvious that this was early in the life of the barbarian. When I started, I didn?t expect to like the character or even care how the story turned out. Through Howard?s descriptive settings and diverse cultural representations, he hooked me on Conan. While the barbarian?s characterization could have used more depth, the action and settings made up for it. I think I?ll be picking up some of Conan?s adventures to add to my library.
Riddles in the Dark, an excerpt from J.R.R. Tolkien?s The Hobbit, centered around a life and death game involving a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins and the very nasty creature known as Gollum. After viewing all three of the excellent Lord of the Rings films, I had already developed a soft spot for the tortured soul known as Gollum. Tolkien lends the character a certain degree of likeability through Gollum?s speech patterns, obvious intelligence and barely under control primitivity. As a villain, Gollum is nasty and foul, yet strangely likeable. Even after years underground, he has retained some remote connection to his former self, which prevents his complete decline into savagery. While I?ve never read The Hobbit, it has long been on my List of Books To Read Before I Die. This short excerpt has led me to believe that its time to scratch the book from that list and get to reading it.
The Gray Wolf by George MacDonald was interesting but not overly impressive. The aspect I liked best about this story was the setting and atmosphere. MacDonald?s story conveyed the cold and dismal setting quite well. I could really feel the chill of the wind and the sting of the rain as I read and re-read the tale. In my opinion, the title character of the girl/wolf was not well-developed. However, in MacDonald?s defense, he only had a few pages in which to accomplish this task. That said, I still would have liked to peer further inside the girl?s head to get a better grip on her thought processes and the history behind her nightly transformations to wolf form.
The Strange Drug of Doctor Caber by Lord Dunsay was an interesting tale that reminded me of similar stories by Edgar Allen Poe and Ray Bradbury. I found the matter of fact narrative manner of Joseph Jorkens reminiscent of Arthur Conan Doyle?s Sherlock Holmes character. Through Dunsay?s writing, I could picture Jorkens sipping on some ale, while spinning his fantastic tales to his incredulous audience. The well-written Jorkens character complemented, rather than overshadowed the title character of Doctor Caber. I enjoyed this story and would likely read more of the Jorkens stories.
I wasn?t especially excited by J.G. Ballard?s The Drowned Giant. I was unable to discern little about the lead character other than two aspects of the character?s background and personality. First, the character was some sort of academic or researcher. Second, the character was a skillful observer. Other than those two things, the character didn?t convey much of his/her own essence to the story. However, I don?t think that Ballard meant for the academic/researcher character to be little more than a set of eyes and ears to pass on information to the reader about this giant. Through the main character?s observations we are able to picture, smell and sense the atmosphere around the deceased giant on the beach. As a character, this academic/researcher is necessarily under-developed in order to keep the reader?s focus on the giant and his deteriorating state of existence.
Thirteen Phantasms by James P. Blaylock was a fascinating story. I enjoyed this story immensely with one minor point of contention. I was a little put-off by Landers?s seemingly quick decision to mail himself to Roycroft Squires. I would have liked to have seen a bit of the thought processes involved with decision to commit himself to such a serious course of action. Other than that, I fully connected with the curiosity displayed by Landers through his decision to pry open the boxes containing the old Astounding Science Fiction magazines. I was further engrossed by his whimsical decision to send away for the copy of Thirteen Phantasms, advertised in the back of one of the old magazines. Having read many copies of decades old science fiction magazines myself, I?ve enjoyed the old advertisements almost as much as the creative content.
Francis Steven?s Friend Island was a strange, yet fascinating story. Based in a world where women dominate society, a heroine is the lead character in this tale. A nameless sea-woman marooned on a deserted island in her youth fills this role. She is a likeable, intelligent and determined character. Through quick wits and adaptation she is able to discern the true nature of the island on which she is marooned. When contrasted with the buffoonish behavior of Nelson Smith, a former occupant of the island, she is that much more likeable.
The Malaysian Mer by Jane Yolen was one of my favorite stories from this assignment group. I especially liked the unflappable nature of lead character Mrs. Stambley as she roamed London from antique store to antique store. In particular, her spelling of junk as j-u-n-q-u-e in reference to one shop?s reproductions and damaged goods was especially humorous. Further, Stambley’s demeanor during the underwater battle with the Mer seemed in keeping with her earlier, diva-like persona. I liked this character and found the story quite interesting.
Tanith Lee’s Red as Blood was a strange parody of the faerie tale Snow White. I found the character of the Witch Queen to be a surprising twist. As a result of previous readings, I fully expected the Witch Queen to be an evil, overbearing character. I was not expecting to find the daughter, Princess Bianca, filling that role instead. I found Lee?s role reversals fascinating and both of the female lead characters interesting and well-written.