Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

This is our discussion of the story:

“The Deepwater Bride” by Tamsyn Muir

This novelette was originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July/August, 2015. (Not currently available on-line.)

This story is part of the 2015 Nebula Award nominees short story discussion.

That one was really interesting. It read like a hommage to Lovecraft's stories. Only, that Lovecraft never wrote about females, especially not teenage girls. It didn't feel like horror, although the deep water god that would appear could be from a Cthulu story. Muir captured the dread before the first contact to the monster from an interesting perspective. The two girls were very well described, even likeable. And I liked the ending which I didn't predict. Language and tension arc were great, so 4+ stars from me.

Oh, here is my full review.

Andreas wrote: "It read like a homage to Lovecraft's stories. "

It may, therefore, surprise you to learn that despite my aversion to horror, I rather liked this story. As you observed, the story is on the light side (for dark fantasy:), with a lot of humor. The Lovecraftian aquatic monster is more something the spurs the story than anything horrifying.

Protagonist Hester Blake is a teenage seer with a spiffy sense of humor. She has some great banter with her Aunt Mar (her omen-reading mentor.) Omen interpretation delivered amid witty badinage. "The Blake way is to watch the world burn from a distance, and write down what the flames look like."

The relationship between Hester and Rainbow (the local girl Hester has pegged as the titular Bride) is really the force that makes the story work, rather than the "Deepwater Lord who dwells on the tentacle technical throne forever".

I think it was the Barbie Dream Car that won me over early on. Or maybe the Cruncheroos.

When I read this the first time in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July/August, 2015 last year, I gave it four stars. On reread, I think I might even want to go higher. This was a fun read, despite the grim ending. (It's a shame it isn't available online somewhere, cuts down on the number of people who can enjoy it. But it will be in all the "Best of 2015" collections.)

****1/2*

Edit to correct mumbling

G33z3r wrote: "It may, therefore, surprise you to learn that despite my aversion to horror, I rather liked this story. "

No, I wasn't surprised, because I loathe horror, as well, but really liked this story for the same reasons. Yes, the Barbie Dream Car was ... errrg .. yeah :)