If you don't show some value in your experiment, isn't it a tad self-indulgent?
I couldn't shake that thought while reading Justin D. Anderson's "Colloid." I can see how the title makes sense, it's not so much a story as it is the floating particles of a story. Unfortunately, it makes for a pretty unsatisfying glass of milk.
The snippets are, in and of themselves, described well. There are some interesting turns of phrases and each piece has a clear tone. But after about the halfway mark-- the same point I realized these pieces were probably not going to connect-- I found myself actually getting angry reading it. I can't say for sure what Anderson was hoping to achieve, but contempt from a reader was surely not it. Simply being vague is not clever.
(Did you write a post for Short Story Monday? If so, please leave a link in the comments below.)
5 comments:
Okay, sounds like one I'll skip.
I read another Nebula nominee today. It was disturbing.
http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/short-story-monday-ponies-by-kij-johnson/
The story sounds way over my head. I had to look up the word colloid. lol
It's been at least six months since I posted about a short story but I'm still reading them. I liked a Mark Twin story and my review is here: Joyfully Retired.
Hopefully, I post more often.
I feel no need to feel contempt, so I will stay clear of 'Colloid'. Thanks for the warning, LOL!
I read a gem by author and book blogger extraordinaire, Susan Helene Gottfried: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2011/04/mannequin-short-story-by-susan-helene.html
These feel more like ideas for stories. Well written and compelling ideas, for the most part, but certainly not a cohesive piece, even if there are recurring characters.
Barbara: Exactly!
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