...After a Few Words

by Gordon Randall Garrett

This is a science-fiction story. History is a science; the other part is, as all Americans know, the most fictional field we have today.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction

12 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1962

About the author

This is a pseudonym for Randall Garrett

Reviews

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of LibriVox Short Science Fiction Collection 006. A very strange perspective on that regrettable clash of cultures known as the Crusades, during which a barbaric but aggressive western culture massacred a more ancient and sophisticated one in the name of patriotic and religious duty. I wish I could have seen the embarrassed looks on their scholars faces when, examining the books looted from the so called savage heathens they discovered advanced astronomy, and mathematics including a very useful concept previously unknown to “civilisation”.....the number zero. I digress , and may be wrong about detail, but this ancient conflict has sadly not yet been forgotten by any of the injured parties despite having now been reduced to a game by some of the more cynical beneficiaries.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is the official synopsis of the story: "A group of medieval knights find time for a break during a lull in battle." Now that synopsis is true as far as it goes, but what a lot it leaves out!

This story is actually about a virtual reality scenario. I enjoyed it as far as it went, but honestly the story felt padded. The scenario went on longer and more realistically than it had to because the actual plot point of the story was really simple and could be explained concisely. It would have made the story too short if it was told the way a person would normally tell it.

To extend to story, Garrett had to make the scenario too elaborate, which rather lopsided the whole story reading experience. I can't quite call it a failure, and I found the inserted advertisement very humorous. This is a really quirky story that I don't think will ever be repeated.

This story is freely available on Amazon for Kindle at no charge. It's worth downloading and reading, both for the gag, and for the unique quirkiness of the story.

[Drew McCaffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine writing, if a bit overeager at points. I saw the twist coming, but that didn't prevent me from laughing nonetheless.

[Timothy Morrison]

Very unrelatable

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well without giving anything away
It's like the synopsis of the tale says
a well done crafty way tell a story

[Tony Ciak · Rating 4 out of 5]

crusade era adventure, commercial , smoking theme

[Vitor Frazão · Rating 3 out of 5]

É uma daquelas estórias em que não nos podemos deixar demover pelo início. Começa por parecer sobre uma coisa e depois revela-se sobre outra totalmente diferente, valendo bem a paciência que tivemos de investir.

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Downloaded from librivox.com as mp3.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. OK but slight, and dated. Minor work.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this in a collection of short science fiction stories from Librivox. It did not initially strike me as a particularly interesting story, a crusade battleground is not to my usual taste. But, the story would not have been included in a sci fi collection if there wasn't some sort of twist. And I found this one to be both satisfying and relevant to the modern era.
I wish my review could be less evasive, but any further details would be spoilers.