From ancient epics to acknowledged Great American Novels, narrative artists have used physical travel as a metaphor for the inward journey of protagonists; one could cite a thousand examples and just scratch the surface. During these treks the character comes to know herself or himself, and these insights, combined with the reader’s own, show the narrative off, burnishing it with its highest artistic achievements. In Dodgers Bill Beverly manages a stunningly effective and inevitable transformation...
December 23, 2015
"We've Already Gone this Far" by Patrick Dacey
There is a story in Patrick Dacey’s collection We’ve Already Gone this Far called “Acts of Love.” A down-and-outer encounters another in the cheap motel where he’s gone to live, having been thrown out by his wife. I’ll quote: "He looked like a large child who, after threatening his parents for so many weeks that he was going to run away, had finally done so but now had gone too far and was looking for way back home.” If you want a thesis statement for this collection, that will do nicely.Dacey’s...
December 05, 2015
"Enigma" by C. F. Bentley
Enigma is the second in a series of outer space adventures from C.F. Bentley. Called the “Confederated Star Systems” series, this second entry continues the story of General Jake and a high priestess named Sissy as they struggle to maintain peace talks going on between would-be allies as war rages elsewhere. The story cannot be faulted for not achieving its ambition, because its aim is very simple: serve up some mild action in an innocuous setting. Not much more need be said. We...
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