Bewildering Challenge 60

Bewildering stories and now Bewildering titles, too.

Okay, readers, we admit we’re baffled. Jerry mused that Gerald Sheagren’s “He’s No Genie-Us” might could use another title. Although I have a soft spot for puns, no matter how egregious, I said sure let’s give it a try. Gerald himself was kindly amenable to suggestions, and off we went. To my taste, every alternative we came up with was as flat as a door-slammed soufflé.

We now pass the buck to you, the readers. Can the pun-averse among you think of another title for “He’s No Genie-Us”? Please send us your ideas. Or do you vote for the original? Let us know if you prefer that. A simple e-mail will do it; just click here.

Another Challenge 59 response

Our initial Challenge, in issue 59, was rather difficult, but we’re heartened by the responses. In answer to one of the questions, Scila Gonzalez has written an interior monologue that might have been titled “Laius’ Revenge,” for its macabre extension of the Oedipus myth.

Meanwhile, John Thiel bravely took up the challenge with some fanciful answers to the questions:

Who is Jackson? — “Stonewall” Jackson
What is the significance of the accident? — It represented death.
Was the accident fatal? If so, who was killed? — This is intentionally ambiguous; the author is representing death as an ambiguous experience.
Who is the figure in the cabin? — A composite archetype: Death’s Clown and the Angel Of Death.
Why should Jackson go to Hell? — It says this: it’s the life he’s led.
Is Jackson the one who’s screaming? — Yes, it’d have to be Jackson. Possibly the confusion relates back to the first question: he might be “Stonehenge Jackson” rather than Stonewall.

Sounds pretty reasonable, John... Hm. “Stonehenge” Jackson? You may be on to something. Maybe Stonehenge was a fort? Or a stable for very big cavalry horses?

Don W.