Challenge 1014

Sweeping Up and Down

In Patrick Honovich’s Turn, Turn, Step, Stumble, Turn: Does magic make the chase scene more or less dramatically effective? In view of the chapter’s conclusion, would a realistic combat be more or less effective?
In Mazin Saleem’s Murphy’s Lore:
1. The title alludes obliquely to “Murphy’s Law.” What is Murphy’s Law?
2. The Eddie Murphy referred to in the story is a real person. What rights to the story does Mr. Murphy retain under Bewildering Stories’ rules?
In Dan Belanger’s Solstice Sunsets:
1. Is the jar of time beads accidentally spilled more than once?
2. In what way might the story be said to overstep Bewildering Stories‘ guideline about sentimentality?
In Ron Sanders’ On the Other Side:
1. Does Michael tell his psychiatrist, Dr. Vie, the whole truth, part of the truth, or none of it?
2. Might Dr. Vie surmise that the effects of the drug Morté may not be an imitation of death, as commonly supposed?
3. What does Michael suffer by taking the Morté drug? Is he masochistic? Does he have any personally redeeming quality that might warrant anyone’s attempting to persuade him not to take the drug?
In Robb White’s Sardine Packing:
1. Only two personal names occur in the story, and all of the characters named remain offstage. Why are no other characters named?
2. Does the YMCA have any other function in the story than as a community recreational centre and meeting hall?
3. When sardines are packed, they become food. What is the point of assembling and killing people in this story? How does the mass murder differ from those committed by dictatorships since the first quarter of the 20th century? Do the people conscripted to meet in “Room 208” appear to have anything in common? Is there any evident reason for their being “disappeared”? Does the story merely depict an existential accident committed by a nihilistic government?
In Huina Zheng’s Marriage Barrier:
1. Some other animal species, such as elephants and lions, have matriarchal societies. What might account for patriarchy’s being common in human societies?
2. Do North American or European societies have any customs resembling China’s “bride price”? Who normally finances North American weddings: the bride’s fiancé or the bride’s parents?
3. The author reports a large imbalance between the male and female populations in China. How might that imbalance affect bride price? At what point might daughters become an economic windfall?
4. While marriage is not exactly going out of fashion in North America, the average marriage age has increased markedly in the first quarter of the 21st century. Why? Are both East Asia and North America heading for a native-population crash?

Responses welcome!