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Tithonian Factor
Book by Cowper, Richard
150 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 1, 2025
Average rating: 3.6/5 stars
Full of introspection, wistfulness, and emotion, this rare UK collection of stories from Richard Cowper is a series of highs and lows. Cowper seems interested in the emotional side of SF, a nice counter to some of the stuffy perspectives that SF sometimes has.
Written around the early to mid ‘80s, this collection—at its strongest—has a poetic touch that tugs at your heart. At its worst, it teases deeper meaning or leaves the reader with an unbaked idea.
When it’s all said and done, it’s a strangely moving and flawed collection full of beauty and gentle power.
”The Tithonian Factor” - 5/5
Evocative and deeply emotional, this short story lingers long after the final sentence. Set in the 22nd century, this story follows a young caretaker (the narrator) who’s assigned to watch after a woman who’s taken an immortality drug.
The prose here’s very unique, almost written like dialogue without much punctuation before it slips into a normal, yet tender, cadence. This shift in prose matches the growing spiritual bond between Sarah (the caretaker) and Margaret (the immortal woman).
As the story concludes, we see the tragedy of life, death, and this immortality drug as it affects not just Margaret but Sarah as she tries to help her.
Well-written and definitely a strong and strange start for this rare collection.
”Brothers” - 4/5
A simple coming-home-from-war story, “Brothers” follows Bobby as he returns from his first active military assignment, and the coming-of-age moment when his younger brother, Roger, realizes the mad world he lives in.
Idyllic yet tinged with quiet dread, Cowper poetically captures a small but powerful snapshot of brotherhood, the horrors of war, and the loss of innocence.
Not to mention, originally published in 1982, the author eerily predicts the war on terror and the heavy burden of fighting enemies of all ages and genders.
”Incident at Huacaloc” - 2.5/5
Unfocused and much weaker than the previous two, “Incident at Huacaloc” feels less like science fiction and more like a soft, undercooked horror novella. Set in a remote Incan village, Cowper slowly builds a faint sense of dread, which initially reminded me of the A24 film, “Midsommar”. It’s a classic concept of westerners coming in contact with ancient cultures they don’t quite understand.
But Cowper never fully commits. While the atmosphere and premise hints at something uncanny and strange—even pagan or occult—the story fumbles its ending. By the end, all that potential for something haunting or evocative fizzles out, leaving you wanting and wondering what the point was.
”What Did the Deazies Do?” - 3/5
A bit long for what it was going for, ”What Did the Deazies Do?” follows the young narrator who befriends a strange old lady who’s clothed in mystery. The old lady appears to have otherworldly powers, being able to heal, read palms, and predict the future.
Unfortunately this story doesn’t really seem to go anywhere. The dialogue was rough, written with an accent that made it difficult to understand what the main expositor of exposition was saying! Even so, the narrator himself admit that the ending is an anticlimax and, like the last story, you wonder what Cowper was going for with this one.
”The Scent of Silverdill” - 5/5
Wistful and full of longing, “The Scent of Silverdill” feels like a hot summer daydream. It reminded me of “Brothers” earlier in this collection since both center around a younger narrator learning from someone older, more world-weary. There’s this gentle innocence to the storytelling, paired with a deep nostalgia that Cowper really nails.
The prose here carries a more poetic feel, and it works. And the story doesn’t outstay its welcome.
What I loved the most was the contrast between Earth and Mars. Earth has moved on, lost its sense of spiritual connection to its land. Yet Mars still holds onto this connection. Through the boy’s wide-eyed wonder, the jaded spaceman remembers what he thought he’d left behind. That kind of multigenerational passing of emotion always gets me.
It’s tender, simple, and quietly moving.
”A Message to the King of Brogdingnag” - 2/5
This story didn’t carry the emotional weight that the rest of the collection carries. Even the stories that didn’t work for me possessed some evocative prose or a unique angle.
This story follows a well-worn trope: scientists meddle with forces they don’t fully understand—and end up unleashing a catastrophic evil that brings about the end of the world. This time, it’s killer algae.
Not only is this trope nothing new, it’s portrayed in the flattest way possible. The prose and characters seemed distant, even stoic.
It ends this collection with a whimper, not a bang.
Full of introspection, wistfulness, and emotion, this rare UK collection of stories from Richard Cowper is a series of highs and lows. Cowper seems interested in the emotional side of SF, a nice counter to some of the stuffy perspectives that SF sometimes has.
Written around the early to mid ‘80s, this collection—at its strongest—has a poetic touch that tugs at your heart. At its worst, it teases deeper meaning or leaves the reader with an unbaked idea.
When it’s all said and done, it’s a strangely moving and flawed collection full of beauty and gentle power.
”The Tithonian Factor” - 5/5
Evocative and deeply emotional, this short story lingers long after the final sentence. Set in the 22nd century, this story follows a young caretaker (the narrator) who’s assigned to watch after a woman who’s taken an immortality drug.
The prose here’s very unique, almost written like dialogue without much punctuation before it slips into a normal, yet tender, cadence. This shift in prose matches the growing spiritual bond between Sarah (the caretaker) and Margaret (the immortal woman).
As the story concludes, we see the tragedy of life, death, and this immortality drug as it affects not just Margaret but Sarah as she tries to help her.
Well-written and definitely a strong and strange start for this rare collection.
”Brothers” - 4/5
A simple coming-home-from-war story, “Brothers” follows Bobby as he returns from his first active military assignment, and the coming-of-age moment when his younger brother, Roger, realizes the mad world he lives in.
Idyllic yet tinged with quiet dread, Cowper poetically captures a small but powerful snapshot of brotherhood, the horrors of war, and the loss of innocence.
Not to mention, originally published in 1982, the author eerily predicts the war on terror and the heavy burden of fighting enemies of all ages and genders.
”Incident at Huacaloc” - 2.5/5
Unfocused and much weaker than the previous two, “Incident at Huacaloc” feels less like science fiction and more like a soft, undercooked horror novella. Set in a remote Incan village, Cowper slowly builds a faint sense of dread, which initially reminded me of the A24 film, “Midsommar”. It’s a classic concept of westerners coming in contact with ancient cultures they don’t quite understand.
But Cowper never fully commits. While the atmosphere and premise hints at something uncanny and strange—even pagan or occult—the story fumbles its ending. By the end, all that potential for something haunting or evocative fizzles out, leaving you wanting and wondering what the point was.
”What Did the Deazies Do?” - 3/5
A bit long for what it was going for, ”What Did the Deazies Do?” follows the young narrator who befriends a strange old lady who’s clothed in mystery. The old lady appears to have otherworldly powers, being able to heal, read palms, and predict the future.
Unfortunately this story doesn’t really seem to go anywhere. The dialogue was rough, written with an accent that made it difficult to understand what the main expositor of exposition was saying! Even so, the narrator himself admit that the ending is an anticlimax and, like the last story, you wonder what Cowper was going for with this one.
”The Scent of Silverdill” - 5/5
Wistful and full of longing, “The Scent of Silverdill” feels like a hot summer daydream. It reminded me of “Brothers” earlier in this collection since both center around a younger narrator learning from someone older, more world-weary. There’s this gentle innocence to the storytelling, paired with a deep nostalgia that Cowper really nails.
The prose here carries a more poetic feel, and it works. And the story doesn’t outstay its welcome.
What I loved the most was the contrast between Earth and Mars. Earth has moved on, lost its sense of spiritual connection to its land. Yet Mars still holds onto this connection. Through the boy’s wide-eyed wonder, the jaded spaceman remembers what he thought he’d left behind. That kind of multigenerational passing of emotion always gets me.
It’s tender, simple, and quietly moving.
”A Message to the King of Brogdingnag” - 2/5
This story didn’t carry the emotional weight that the rest of the collection carries. Even the stories that didn’t work for me possessed some evocative prose or a unique angle.
This story follows a well-worn trope: scientists meddle with forces they don’t fully understand—and end up unleashing a catastrophic evil that brings about the end of the world. This time, it’s killer algae.
Not only is this trope nothing new, it’s portrayed in the flattest way possible. The prose and characters seemed distant, even stoic.
It ends this collection with a whimper, not a bang.
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