Challenge 681

Pine Knot

1. In Allie Dawson’s “The Logician and the Selkie,” the logician is designated by his occupation; the Selkie, by a generic name. Why might neither have a proper name?

2. In Channie Greenberg’s “Miserable at What the Fluff,” how might the story be read as a cautionary tale, and who might it be intended for?

3. In Shola Balogun’s “With Bata Drums”: What are bata drums? Who is Bamba Bayefall? What is the “tenth door”?

4. In Denny Marshall’s “Spiral Arms Sky,” what might account for the omission of function words, such as articles?

5. In Lewayne L. White’s “Sunrise and Dawn”:

   1. What does the title refer to?
   2. What paradox does the plot create?

6. In E. B. Fischadler’s “Helping Hands”:

   1. Rajendra claims he can tie fly-fishing knots. Why don’t the surgeons ask him to demonstrate that he can tie surgeon’s knots as well?

   2. Why does Dr. Frenchstone seem “dumbstruck”? Does he have any reason to be surprised? How might he offer Rajendra encouragement?

   3. Bonus question: In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, is Victor Frankenstein’s creation a large, misshapen patchwork or a man normal in appearance?
   
   

   Responses welcome!

   Copyright © August 29, 2016 by Bewildering Stories
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