Okay. I didn’t follow through on that last post very well. Between the daytime gig of being a teacher and living through Nashville’s 500 year flood, I’ve been kinda busy. Oh, and let’s not forget my own innate laziness. I know that last time I said I was going to review “The Belgariad” by David Eddings, but I’ve decided to put that on hold and go a little further back. BTW, David Edding’s work is listed in “The Dangerous Book for Boys” as one of the 50 books every boy should read. I couldn’t agree more.
Now, let’s set the scene. It’s the summer of 1977 and I’m on summer vacation from my sophomore year in high school. Unfortuantely, I’m also in the hospital having undergone knee surgery. This is also about five years before they came out with arthroscopic techniques, so things didn’t go real well. But, enough of that.
During those times when I wasn’t high as a kite on morphine, I was reading a book our church’s music minister loaned me. It’s called “The Astounding Science Fiction Anthology” and it was old even then. So many of the stories reached out and grabbed me. One in particular remains a favorite even today. It’s called “Late Night Final” by Eric Frank Russell. This particular gem is also included in a book available on Amazon (used – it’s out of print) called “The Best of Eric Frank Russell.”
The upshot of the story is that earth is invaded by aliens who can’t figure out how to deal with an enemy that insists on treating them like honored guests instead of invaders. The story begins thusly – “Commander Cruin went down the extending metal ladder, paused a rung from the bottom, placed one important foot on the new territory, and then the other. That made him the first of his kind on an unknown world.”
Commander Cruin begins as a one-dimensional military man bent on conquest and little else. The genius of Russell lies in the fact that by the time events are done with him, he is delightfully complex and human. His metamorphosis is delightful to read about. However, if you read the story and focus exclusively on Cruin you will, I think, miss Russell’s point. He paints a picture of earth not as it is, but as he wishes it to be. The story, written a mere three years after the end of WWII, carries its influence. Witness these lines from one of the earthlings in the final scene.
“”They came at the wrong time,” Meredith went on. “Ten thousand years too late.” He glanced sideways at his listener. “Our history covers a long, long day. It was so lurid that it came out in a new edition every minute. But this one’s the late night final.”
“You philosophize, eh?”
Meredith smiled. “I often sit here to enjoy my silences. I sit here and think. Invariably I end up with the same conclusion.”
“What may that be?”
“That if I, personally, were in complete possession of all the visible stars and their multitude of planets I would still be subject to one fundamental limitation”–bending he tapped his pipe on his heel–”in this respect–that no man can eat more than his belly can hold.”
The wonderful thing about short stories is their density. Sometimes, if you’re a runner, you don’t feel like going out for a jog. You’re more in the mood for a few wind sprints. The author must choose his words with more care since he does not have hundreds of pages to accomplish his goal.
A final note: IF you’re looking for “hard” science fiction, then this is not the guy for you. You should pick up one of Hogan’s books (we’ll review him someday – I promise). Russell’s genius is that he writes about the human condition and uses science fiction as his backdrop. Other favorites in the book include “Study in Still Life”, “Dear Devil”, and the excellent “I Am Nothing.”
Until next time.
- Patrick Carr
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Welcome to the classic science fiction/fantasy review. This week I’m going to be reviewing a short story from one of my favorite authors – Stephen R. Donaldson. Best known for his work in the 70′s, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever (say that five times fast), Mr. Donaldson also has written two volumes of short stories. The first volume came out in 1984 entitled Daughter of Regals & Other Tales.
By far the best story in the volume (in my opinion, anyway) is Ser Visal’s Tale. As a short story goes, it’s pretty long – about 50 pages, but worth every moment. Donaldson has a gift with language that makes you feel as if you found a world where words have enhanced powers to paint pictures in your mind. Check out the opening of his short story:
The prospect of a tale from Ser Visal drew us as a flame draws moths, thouugh only the most timid goodwoman – or the most rigorous Templeman – would claim that there was any danger in stories. And we were young, the sons of men of station throughout the region. Naturally, we scoffed at danger.
Wonderful! In the space of two sentences we find ourselves under Mr. Donaldson’s spell, taken to a world where we will indeed discover the danger that lies in stories as Ser Visal unfolds his tale of religious power, witchcraft, and courage. And always, always, Donaldson’s words are there, taking us ever deeper into his world. Read aloud the following passage and hear how the words fall on the ear. Donaldson’s word selection shows rare skill.
When the inns reopened between nones and vesper, we gathered, as eager as boys, in the public room of the Hound and Whip and opened our purses to provide Ser Visal with the lubrication his tongue required. The keeper of the Hound and Whip had the particular virtue of being as deaf as iron; he responded only to the vibrations he felt when we stamped out boots upon the boards and he served us whatever wines God or inattention advised.
Wow! Notice how Donaldson sets the tone and the setting in just a few words. Here are some of my favorite phrases that are unique to Donaldson’s voice:
…opened our purses to provide Ser Visal with the lubrication his tongue required
…had the particular virtue of being as deaf as iron
…he served us whatever wines God or inattention advised (this is my favorite!)
At the risk of including spoilers, I’m going to stop here. If you, like me, find yourself captivated by Dondaldson’s skill, by all means check out Daughter of Regals. The book is available in both hardcover and paperback from Amazon. If you need more than one reading to appreciate an author’s skill, then buy the hardcover. It’s definitely worth the investment. Be prepared, however, to have a dictionary handy. Mr Donaldson does not write on an 8th grade level. You’ll find yourself becoming acquainted with words you may never have come across before. Read Mr. Donaldson’s writing enough and you may even find your own prose becoming more robust.
If you enjoy his short stories, then check out his longer works. My suggestion is to start at the beginning with The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
Next Week: I review “The Belgariad”
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