Resnick's Menagerie
by Mike Resnick
copyright 1977 to 2010
read in August 2015
short stories, science fiction, fantasy
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
If ever I write a story, it's a short story. I don't have the dedication to write a full novel. When it comes to reading -- I prefer a full length novel. A short story does not satisfy.
This book reminds me why a short story does not satisfy...
Stalking the Unicorn, the Vampire, the Dragon, are all funny. A series of humorous quips. So what ? There's no point to any of those stories. No plot and no unexpected twist at the end. Just a series of mild jokes hung together round a common theme.
The Elephants on Neptune has a message. A message which is lost in the convoluted double-twist ending. And by double-twist I mean, the obvious ending becomes meaningless when the exact opposite also happens.
Post Time in Pink has characters, plot, denouement. What a pity I don't understand the denouement... Perhaps if the story had been more interesting I would have tried harder ? Or perhaps I need to be a regular at the racetrack.
There are several stories with a social message. Except the messages are mixed. An anti-hunting story (I think) where the reformed hunter will teach the last surviving animal to hunt -- and kill -- humans. A story where the narrator decides that is okay, after all, to eat intelligent animals. Does hunger and over-population create a moral vacuum ?
I'm left with the impression that Resnick had no real opinions, no absolute values. He writes for one reason, to sell. This lack of belief is reflected in lightweight stories.
A lot of words thrown together in order to sell. No need for plot, no hidden depths. Just ideas which the author believes will sell.
What a pity that it seems that he is correct.
"Some mornings it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps." per Ginger Meggs
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