A lot of my reading last week, when I’ve gotten to it, has been a lot of non-fiction. But that’s not why you’re here. You want to know what fiction I’ve read. Basically, I let myself get carried away with the remainder of Objects of Worship by Claude Lalumière…
“A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens” is a cross between the Twilight Zone episode “Long Distance Call” and Etgar Keret’s vision of the underworld in his story “Kneller’s Happy Campers,” the way only Lalumière can do it. Ending seemed a bit too pat for me, IMO. 4 out of 5.
“A Visit to the Optometrist” obviously had an instant familiarity, after having read “The Ethical Treatment of Meat.” While I didn’t dig the plotline itself, I loved the idea behind it, namely the competing forces at work. So, 5 out of 5.
“Roman Predator’s Chimeric Odyssey” is the second thing in almost as many weeks to remind me of Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend, the first being the discussion over said anime I had on the Functional Nerds podcast. There was probably a little too much going on in it for me. 4 out of 5.
“Destroyer of Worlds” shows that Lalumière and I definitely have read the same comic books. I have no doubt the pictures in my head and those in his were the same. 4 out of 5.
“This Is the Ice Age” is where Lalumière the best job writing the setting, IMO. The ending didn’t really work for me, though. It seemed a bit of a let-down after how well the tension was built. 4 out of 5.
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I’m going to have to add this collection to my list of goodreads reviews I’m behind on, now.