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The Monopoly Man: 01/31/09
I'm finishing up my January reviews with a ghost story by Barry B. Longyear. He's probably best known for the novella "Enemy Mine" which inspired the film of the same name. "The Monopoly Man" is the first story of his I've read, although I have seen the film Enemy Mine. "The Monopoly Man" follows Cheri, a woman who is hard on her luck. She's just been mugged and expects to die of her injuries. Except, she doesn't. A well to do man, a man she dubs "the Monopoly Man" offers her his warm coat and lets her sleep in safety under his coat as they sit on a bench in Central Park. When she wakes, she finds herself at a detox center. She is offered a chance to turn her life around but under certain expectations. Cheri turns her life around and as she does she learns more about the Monopoly Man. Who he is and how he is tied to Cheri and the rehab center is the crux of the story. In tone it's the opposite of "Rising Waters" even though both deal with death. The story is full of love, warmth and hope. Despite it's up beat tone, it avoids being as schmaltzy as The Ghost Whisperer and for that I'm grateful. Comment #1: Saturday, January, 10, 2009 at 19:34:44 That sounds like a very fun story. More like a fantasy than a science fiction story...I say that because I am a dog owner and lover and believe me, they aren't smart enough to take over anything. LOL!!! I was sad for the magazine owners/contributors that the magazine is going bi-monthly but after thinking about it for awhile it actually made me glad that they are actually making an effort to keep the magazine going as opposed to folding altogether. I hope that the day will come when things are financially viable enough for them to go monthly again. Comment #2: Saturday, January, 10, 2009 at 20:43:44 Pussreboots Which ever genre you want to put it in, it's still a humorous story. I'm also hoping that someday F&SF can go back to its old schedule of publishing. I'm glad though that they are doing what they can to stay afloat during these tough economic times.
1997-2024 Sarah Sammis |
