Prudentia: A Short Story

by March McCarron

Art is medicine; drink of it and heal.
Art is light; bask in it and brighten.
Art is wings; spread it wide and uplift.

Aboard the LSS Prudentia, mid-generational space travelers must live a life of restrained feeling. The arts are a powerful tool to keep the populace content and diverted, but never emotionally compromised.

Susanna Plumpet believes strongly in her work for the Department of Suitability in Art and Entertainment. When she is stirred by an illicit collection of poetry, however, she is forced to question the mores that govern their transient society. And when a captivating neighbor reveals a secret hidden deep within the ship, she is compelled to make an impossible choice: her lifelong convictions or a desire for something new.

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2017

About the author

March McCarron is the author of The Marked Series. She writes character driven fantasy and science fiction stories. She grew up outside of Philadelphia, but has relocated several times, including a three year stint as an English teacher in South Korea. In addition to writing, March is an avid traveler, a student of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and a sore loser at Scrabble. She believes strongly in the continued value of the Oxford comma. Her other interests include photography, talking about herself in the third person, and coffee as black as her villain’s soul. You can learn more at her website, www.marchmccarron.com.

Reviews

[Patrizio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prudentia: A Short Story confirms that March McCarron has a strong emotional intelligence. Indeed, the story happens in the heads and hearts of the characters while the surrounding environment is just a frame for the narrative. Love, beauty, arrogance, contempt, betrayal play gracefully intertwined roles but, in my opinion, clash with the hardcore sci-fi setting. I don't want to discourage the young and promising March McCarron with a 3-star review, but prompt her to consider this short story a canovaccio of a more structured novel with a deeper world building and different narrative paths.

[Denise Weldon-siviy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fahrenheit 451 Meets Battlestar Gallactica

I found this story a real gem in short speculative fiction. McCarron's skill in turning an elegant phrase while twisting a plausible plot bear watching. Beautifully written prose as well as an engaging story.

[Slugpuppy3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart rending. Excellent writing.

[Sandy Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know such a short novella could be so beautiful. It has its flaws, of course, and perhaps its size makes that more obvious, but this reminds me of when I *really* discovered poetry.

[Jada Ryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent science fiction short story!

[Minda]

Brief but poignant

I loved everything about this book. It's imaginative and yet entirely believable. I usually read short stories because longer books seem daunting but in this I didn't want it too end. I've read a lot of sci-fi. As far as sci-fi short stories this is my absolute favorite.