Challenge 537

Grab the Chance

1. In Andrew Sacks’ “The Game of Life,” in what way does David resemble Martin in “Martin’s Reward,” in issue 535?

2. In Thomas Lee Joseph Smith’s “Public School 1984” we find a parody of George Orwell’s 1984:

   1. What names, scenes and themes of 1984 are reproduced in the story?
   2. Is a detailed knowledge of Orwell’s novel necessary to understand the story?

3. In Merideth Grue’s “On the Path”:

   1. At what point can the reader reasonably surmise that Alice is a ghost?
   2. When did Alice die?
   3. It would be rather unfair to say that Alice is “dead and refuses to fall over.” What is the point of her reflections about her relationships, especially at work?

4. In Allison Przylepa’s “A Lucid Dream”:

   1. Why might the story not overstep Bewildering Stories’ guideline against plots that end “But it was all a dream” or the equivalent?
   2. What is your impression of Baphomet’s personality?
   3. Who do you think would be the ideal audience for the story?

5. In Christian McKay’s “Fathoms”:

   1. The story appears to mix realism and fantasy. What genre do you think the story fits?
   2. At what point do events begin to take a bad turn for the narrator? Does he have a tragic flaw? If so, what might it be?
   3. What does the narrator mean by saying that the floating things “have gotten the wrong bully”?

Responses welcome!

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