David Redd writes about...
Challenge 260
Re your Challenge on my “Adult,” perhaps we’re both neotenous AND aquatic? Years ago someone suggested that humans (if formerly aquatic) should gravitate towards the seafood at parties. A facetious idea, but since then I’ve learned that the average human diet is deficient in shoreline-diet ingredients such as iodine and omega-3 oils... One test for the A S Hardy / Elaine Morgan aquatic ape theory would be to check human muscle fibres for unique adaptations aiding long-distance swimming. But we’re all aquatic apes until we leave the amniotic fluid.
“Golden Thing” — poetic justice or not? Yes and no. A vivid, forceful story, good reading, very American in its treatment of the “thing in the pool” theme (as opposed to the very UK treatment in Gary Greenwood’s paperback novel The Dreaming Pool, for instance.) Loved the opening catalogue of equipment.
However, I think I see why this Challenge was set. Two protagonists, two different outlooks, two different degrees of culpability; surely they require two different but appropriate fates? Eat one, great, but not the second — as someone sympathetic to the Thing, he would suffer more if turned to stone and forced to admire it forever. (The eagle’s being indifferent makes a great ending.) Oh well, a good strong yarn, whatever.
“Tommy” — nice story, aah, but hang on, is it so nice? You point out some issues in there, indicating that we weren’t quite sure what to think at the end. The theme of love and fulfilment is left slightly fuzzy. However, it would be a shame to spoil the smooth flow of the story — particularly at the end — by explaining too much. It’s better as it is, involving us well without infodumps to weigh it down. Maybe just one sentence at the beginning, say Sam as a boy needed the wheelchair for real, a bit of motivation we can forget until it gives us a flash of understanding at the end? Or did I miss something?
Oxygen and Aromasia — satire can be successful prophecy by accident. I doubt whether Lundin thought people would really favour the time and trouble of eating out over preparing food at home, but people do queue for 15 minutes rather than cook for 10. (In Britain, fast food... isn’t.) An earlier chapter mentioned noise pollution from music — from pianos if not from ghetto blasters etc — and we ought to score that a pretty close hit. Some details must mean more to Scandinavian readers, e.g. the aside about banning those cherished holiday cabins. (Now, of course, some islands are so full of isolated cabins that they’re as crowded as trailer parks.)
Thanks again for running my story, and long may you all continue to Bewilder.
Best wishes,
David
Copyright © 2007 by David Redd
Thank you for the Challenge response, David. There’s enough omega-3 quality information, humour, and food for thought here to deserve a place in the Fourth Quarterly Review.
Best of all, you’ve provided an example for our readers and contributors. The Challenges are an opportunity, not an exam; and you’ve made the most of this one!
Keep up the good work; we’re always glad to hear from you.
Don
