Buffalo

by John Kessel

This critically acclaimed story is difficult to describe but a joy to read. It consists of a set of mythical conversations between science fiction writer H.G. Wells, famous attorney Clarence Darrow, Charles Russel, and the author's father, who was a contemporary of these famous men and a fan of Wells. Filled with graceful, flowing prose, it provides insights into the nature of the "common man" and his relationship to society, and the failed idealism of Wells and other intellectuals of that era, yet it remains accessible and hopeful. Nebula Award Nominee, Locus Poll Award Winner, John W. Campbell Memorial Award Winner, Hugo Award Nominee

Genres: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2003

About the author

John (Joseph Vincent) Kessel co-directs the creative writing program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. A winner of the Nebula, Locus, Sturgeon, and Tiptree Awards, his books include Good News From Outer Space, Corrupting Dr. Nice, The Pure Product, and The Baum Plan for Financial Independence and Other Stories. His story collection Meeting in Infinity was a New York Times Notable Book. Most recently, with James Patrick Kelly he has edited the anthologies Feeling Very Strange, Rewired, The Secret History of Science Fiction and Kafkaesque. Born in Buffalo, NY, Kessel has a PhD in American Literature, has been an NEA Fellow, and for twenty years has been one of the organizers of the Sycamore Hill Writers Workshop.

Reviews

[Michael Daines · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5)

The short story “Buffalo” won the Locus Award.

It imagines a meeting between H.G. Wells and the author’s father in the 1930s. Wells is near the end of his career, while the father is still getting started. Each approaches science fiction in their own way, with their own goals.

I don’t know enough about Wells to tell if the interpretation of him is remotely like the real man. I found the story quite slow and uninteresting, and if I had to guess, this won an award because of the portrayal of Wells. Not recommended.

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the intesection of a real family member, his father, the CCC, HG Wells and jazz.