Articles with the Tag Richard Parks

Short SF Marathon Day 23: Richard Parks, Robert Reed

Fantasy, science fiction, Short Fiction
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Richard Parks, “The Sorrow of Rain.” Beneath Ceaseless Skies, October 2, 2014.

This is the second Richard Parks story, again from Beneath Ceaseless Skies and the last story on the list to come from that magazine. If you like traditional fantasy, this may be the magazine for you because all of these stories have been interesting at the very least. “The Sorrow of Rain” is no exception, a story of Lord Yamada and his friend the priest Kenji coming to hunt down some demon or ghost keeping the summer rains going over the village of Aoiyama but finding something else entirely.

I’m certain whether this is meant to be set in historical Japan or a fantasy analogue, or whether it matters. A somewhat bittersweet love story and Parks is somebody I’d like to read more off.

Shannon Peavey, “Dogs From Other Places” (audio only). Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show, Issue 38, March 2014.

I didn’t read this because this was only available as an audio book and I can’t stand those.

Robert Reed, “Pernicious Romance.” Clarkesworld, November 2014.

A typically complex and thought provoking Robert Reed story about what seems to be a terrorist attack during a football game which sent the entire stadium in what looked to be a coma and killed a couple of dozen people. Things get strange however when the victims start to wake up and tell stories of living weeks to entire lives in other worlds.

It’s told as some sort of government report or scientific study, which I’m a sucker for. No real explenation for the event is given, though strong hints are dropped.

Short SF Marathon Day 22: K. J. Parker, Richard Parks

Fantasy, Short Fiction
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K. J. Parker, “I Met a Man Who Wasn’t There.” Subterranean, Winter 2014.

Three fantasy stories today, two by Parker, which read as if they’re set in the same or at least very similar worlds. Both star feckless young men who made the wrong choices in their lives and now have to live with the consequences. The first one is a light, humourous piece about a con artist/thief who seeks to entrap another con artist in teaching him magic.

I begin to understand Parker’s strengths as an author, they’re excellent at creating a well put together world through little details and have that ability of a good fantasy writer to take you along with them on their journey.

K. J. Parker, “The Things We Do For Love.” Subterranean, Summer 2014.

Which is even more the case in this story, even if i got this song stuck in my head thanks to its title. This is the longest story so far I’ve read, a proper novella about a young thief who has a witch fall in love with him and the increasingly desperate attempts he undertakes to get rid of her or her love, either by killing her or by killing himself.

This is meant to be light hearted I’m sure, but I found the protagonist to be an ass and some of the details were a bit uncomfortable.

Richard Parks, “The Manor of Lost Time.” Beneath Ceaseless Skies, June 26, 2014.

Richard Parks meanwhile writes a good old fashioned demonic summoning story, told in the traditional monologue to the reader as the demon pontificates on his relationship to the very famous enchantress his summoner was interested in. Well told, with some neat ideas, this still feels more like an advertisement for a novel than a proper short story in its own right.