I met author Hayden Trenholm a couple of years ago and while we didn't agree on what the first English novel was, he seemed like a nice enough fellow, and I've been surprised ever since never to see his name come up on the end of year Canadian Book Challenge lists. I know his name isn't up there with Douglas Coupland or Robertson Davies, but surely someone must read him. Then, I guess I haven't either, even though I've had a copy of his Defining Diana sitting there on my shelf ever since, unread, so I can't say why.
Well, now after reading his short story "Like Monsters of the Deep," I know why I'm in no rush to read him. "Like Monsters of the Deep" is sci-fi, and pulpy sci-fi at that. I'm sure such a thing can be fun, but it's really not for me.
Set on a space ship transporting a cargo of sleeping humans to deep space, the crew finds itself terrorized by an unknown monster. I feel like I've been here before.
Keep three things in mind:
1. As I write this, it's 6:00 am in the morning and I've been reading for 18 hours straight. I'm somewhat tired and cranky.
2. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi. This surprises me somewhat as I would have been all over it as a kid. I'm not knocking sci-fi, but throw it out there because sci-fi fans might want to disregard my review. I say it feels formulaic, others might like the formula.
3. Not so much of a 3rd point as it is an addition to the 2nd. "Like Monsters of the Deep" has been published and was nominated for an Aurora Award. Clearly sci-fi fans appreciate it.
(Did you write a post for Short Story Monday? If so, please leave a link in the comments below.)
8 comments:
Sorry you didn't enjoy the short story you read this week. Mine was really good - an interesting one by Nathaniel Hawthorne. If you get a chance, mine is here.
Sci-fi, especially the pulpy variety, is not for me either. I read Guy de Maupassant this week:
http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/07/abandoned-by-guy-de-maupassant.html
I'm not a sci-fi fan either really, but I've always wanted to read something by Ursula Le Guin.
You get three reviews in one this week (see, I was not just doing nothing when all of you readathoners were busy reading!):
http://emeire.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/three-short-st…-guidelines-of/
Em
Maybe you should read Kindred or something else by Octavia Butler. Didn't you like Ponies? That' sci-fi, right?
I read a little political satire this week. Like you, outside my normal reading habits.
http://loniseye.blogspot.com/2011/07/ballad-of-great-yukon-puke-on-by.html
Loni: No I didn't read Ponies. I meant to. I bookmarked it. Then forgot it entirely. Thanks for the reminder.
And I saved the draft instead of publishing my post... It's up now!
Em
It seem to me that monsters in space have been done to death. However, like you, who am I to say, I'm not a sci fan either.
I reviewed "A Box to Hide In": http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2011/07/box-to-hide-in-by-james-thurber.html
Loni, I loved Ponies but I didn't view it as hard core sci fi like the story John just described.
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