The Last of the O-forms

by James Van Pelt

James Van Pelt's first collection, Strangers and Beggars, was voted one of the Best Books of 2003 by the American Library Association. Now, in this new collection, Van Pelt continues to explore the ever-changing boundaries of science fiction, fantasy and horror. The Last of the O-Forms is an important collection filled with stories that transport us to far-flung worlds and to the harder-to-find inner worlds that define the human condition.

Genres: Short Stories

Library Binding

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Isidore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised to find myself writing the first Goodreads review of this collection, given how frequently some of the stories in it have been anthologized, and how well Van Pelt's work has been received by his peers.

Van Pelt told the author of the book's introduction that, when he was little, he wanted to grow up to be Ray Bradbury. His work shares Bradbury's elegiac tone, an avoidance of 'hard' science, and thoughtful, deeply-felt characterizations. Occasionally the debt is more direct: the title story faintly echoes "Hail and Farewell", "The Long Way Home" has a little of "Kaleidoscope" (not to mention A Canticle for Leibowitz), and so on. I must make very clear that these are in no sense pastiches of another man's work. Van Pelt has his own ideas and objectives. But if you like Bradbury in his good period---1947-1965 or so--- then it's likely you will also enjoy Van Pelt.

On the whole, I was enthralled by these stories, and sometimes quite moved by them. The title story deserved its Nebula nomination, but several others strike me as even better: there's the stylistic virtuosity, world-building, and compassion of "Nothing is Normal"; the effortless development of very tricky ideas, juggled with effective characterization, in "Once They Were Monarchs" and "The Pair-a-Deuce Comet Casino All-Sol Poker Championship"; and there's the despair and disillusionment of "Do Good", which will touch you if you've ever felt your better self has been bent by the realities of an ugly world.

I'm mean-spiritedly docking one star from this splendid collection because I'm dubious about two stories which celebrate admirable pop culture icons of yesteryear: Casablanca and Fred Astaire. They're not bad stories, but their intent reminds me of Bradbury's overwrought celebrations of his cultural heroes from the less self-critical phase of his career. Unlike Bradbury, Van Pelt doesn't slobber, but I feel I must do what I can to discourage any tendency in this direction.

[Danyel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story is regarding a father and daughter who run a travelling zoo full of mutated animals after the outbreak of a genetic plague. This plague effected not only animals but humans as well. Healthy children became a rarity. I liked the story telling and the ways in which the author portrays the willingness of the father to exploit not only the animals but his daughter to survive.

[Noah Rozov · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Van Pelt "The Last of the O-Forms" of 2002. Worth of mentioning but not filmmaking.