OBIR: Occasional Biased and Ignorant Reviews reflecting this reader’s opinion.
Stowaway’s Luck and Other Stories – by Peter J. Foote
Publisher: Engen Books, Canada, Jan 2023.
Cover art: Ellen Curtis
The Silence Between Moons
Premise:
Dare a Ranger rescue a woman from the clutches of Goblins?
Review:
And if the woman turns out to be more than human? Often, in fantasy, relations with the supernatural are transactional and exploitive. In this story the relationship becomes deeply personal… too personal. There are reasons for the great divide. Nature and supernature are not meant to mingle. An evocative look at forbidden love. More nightmare than fantasy.
A Troll by Any Other Name…
Premise:
Self-righteous Knights can be such a nuisance.
Review:
The history of humanity is a history of hallowed traditions being crushed by fanatics who believe the old must be swept away to make room for the new. Yet, curiously, old beliefs live on, often for centuries, as quaint folklore. So, what happens when a zealous warrior discovers a kernel of fact within a supposedly meaningless backwoods custom? Nothing good.
A Friend in Shadow
Premise:
The life of a night watchman isn’t all fun and games.
Review:
I think it was Asimov who said SF&F writers are allowed one impossible premise per story. The premise of this story is more impossible than most, quite audacious in fact, but curiously comforting. Be glad you have a shadow. You might need it.
Final Edict
Premise:
Is culture worth preserving?
Review:
As one who still mourns the loss of the library of Alexandria, I say yes. Others say no. The barbarians aren’t at the gates; they’re all around us. Besides, it’s more fun to destroy then preserve. More practical, too. Alas.
Stowaway’s Luck
Premise:
The problem with sneaking aboard a Viking Airship is that dragons don’t like sharing the sky.
Review:
A charming story involving magic, superstition, and the will of the fates, or as the Vikings would say, the whim of the Norns. Being Vikings, even the most practical solutions are rough and devoid of subtlety, but when dragons draw close a stowaway’s luck might help, no matter how weak and untried. In a pinch, “explore all options,” as Bloodlust the Craven was wont to say. Actually, I made that character up, but still good advice. Better than doing nothing. Sword in hand is better. I do believe this story reflects the Viking mentality; it’s worthy of being part of a Viking saga.
Lamenting Father
Premise:
What if Icarus became a father prior to his fatal flight?
Review:
A marvelous extension of the original myth. Truly original. And in keeping with the Greek tradition of mortals and demi-gods suffering the consequences of the all-too-human dilettantism of the immortal gods, which can pass from one generation to the next. After all, what is a hubris but a human flaw created and practised by the gods themselves? We are born to suffer. We pray to the gods to protect us from ourselves to no avail. Still, there is always hope. This story makes that clear.
Delay en Route
Premise:
Is loyalty a matter of programming?
Review:
Robots waiting at a hoverbus stop. As with humans in the past, nothing to do but engage in perfunctory conversation. Oddly, in this case, more poignant than anything humans ever managed to come up with, yet strictly routine. Strictly routine.
Reflections
Premise:
Never mind life after death. What about life before death?
Review:
Incredibly short story but packed with import. Makes you reflect, it does.
The Promise
Premise:
What good are books?
Review:
Good for nothing, in a world destroyed by a great flood and the survivors ruled by a religious elite who reserve the knowledge of reading and writing for themselves. The discovery of a long-hidden cache of books offers many new problems, and opportunities.
Squeeze Me Deadly
Premise:
Does a trumpet have any limits?
Review:
At first I thought this would be a simple case of a mediocre down-on-his-luck musician making a deal with the devil. Nothing so Disneyesque as that. Something far worse.
Sins & Needles
Premise:
Christmas isn’t a happy occasion for everybody.
Review:
It’s tough for Daniel having an abusive father and a drug pusher mother. However, being forced to participate in looting an abandoned mansion that may have been the scene of a murder is just par for the course. Merely something else to endure until he can graduate high school and flee his family in hope of a future. The mansion may have something else in mind.
Delaying Action
Premise:
First contact with aliens is nothing compared to the long-term consequences.
Review:
Command decisions are never easy. This one is particularly hard.
The Notes Between Majuscules & Minuscule
Premise:
What good is artificial intelligence?
Review:
Can’t run a space battleship without it. Pity the last enemy torpedo injected a virus. Hacking never stops, no matter how advanced the technology. Once again, the intervention of mere humans offers the only hope. Funny how we’re always driven back to basics.
The Pain of Release
Premise:
Is seeking revenge for a lost loved one worth the pain?
Review:
No one dies in isolation. Alone, yes. But a single death hurts so many others who continue to live, sometimes against their will. Who knew the grim reaper is addicted to the butterfly effect? Both mercy and revenge can be motivated by love. Pity the results are not predictable.
Missing Molly
Premise:
Molly is upset. Her parents are so mean.
Review:
A classic case of imparting emotions to the inanimate, except… what if the difference between animate and inanimate becomes blurred? To the perceptive observer, this could be the source of much regret and sorrow. Logically, I know better, but this story leaves me feeling sad.
Note: Many more stories to go, but at my age I can only manage a few hours of mental concentration before I begin to tire. Apologies to Peter. I feel it necessary to stop here. Nevertheless, I feel I have managed to convey the “flavour” of this remarkable collection.
Besides, this may be a fitting break in that a special note applies. “Missing Molly” was first published in issue #11 of my magazine Polar Borealis back in August of 2019. I was proud to select it then and am pleased to read it once more. A short yet emotively powerful story.
CONCLUSION:
This collection is delightful to read. Peter’s style of writing is so clear and precise that the reader is carried along in the stream of storytelling without encountering any obstacles whatsoever. But what makes it particularly exhilarating is the originality exhibited in every story. No matter if a story dabbles in common tropes and memes, Peter’s take on each subject is so innovative as to constitute a breath of fresh air. This collection alone is proof that SF&F isn’t on its last legs yet. Peter is not only a master at storytelling, he is also excellent at offering glimpses of emotional conflicts relevant to the problems of the here and now. Flirting with universal truths I dare say. Entertaining and profound. Who could ask for better? Highly recommended.
Find it at: < Stowaway’s Luck >
