Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

This is the discussion of the 2014 Nebula Award nominated Novelette:


Sleep Walking Now and Then by Richard Bowes

You can read it free on-line @Tor.com, or in the free eBook collection Some of the Best from Tor.com: 2014.

This is an okay story, but other than being published on Tor.com I can't figure out why it's considered science fiction or fantasy (or even which of those it's supposed to be!)

A producer is putting on a new play in New York, an historical murder mystery from the late 1800's (titled "Sleep Walking Then & Now"), and it's being performed in the very same hotel where the original events occurred. There is both an outer story and the play within the story as it introduced an eclectic cast for the play as each pursues his or her own goals. In some ways it reminded me of the one-set plays Deathtrap and even a bit of Sleuth (just not so well done.)

I enjoyed, in an amused sort of way, the way it ostentatiously hung Chekhov's elevator shaft over the mantle (view spoiler)[and then didn't actually use it. :) (hide spoiler)]

The only thing I don't understand is why it's considered science fiction or fantasy.

Bowes often has slipstreamy tendencies and the lines blur a bit between what is real, not real etc.

I think it is supposed to be set in the future from other reviews/ intros.

I tried this one, quite enjoyed the language but felt a lack of narrative drive then a combination of fatigue and a waking baby through me off. Will try again later on.

I find Bowes a frustrating writer - sometimes he writes stuff stuff that utterly captivates me and I get a real sense of place and character and even get my interest peaked as to what is happening/ going to happen next. There are real moments in the collection/ cobbled together novel Dust Devil on a Quiet Street that moved me and I thought were some of the best sf/fantasy/fiction I read in a while but other bits that bored me or that I just didnt care about often in the same story. Still will give the story another try.

Bowes is on the awards radar and there is not anyone else I can think of who likes the type of literate, dark, strange, autobiographical and nostalgic stories he does so I can see how anything solid he writes in a year could get nominations. Need to get properly into the story to say more though.

Ben wrote: "I think it is supposed to be set in the future from other reviews/ intros...."

Yeah, so I infer, but there's nothing in the story itself that required "future" to me. There's no tech beyond an 1890s elevator, it's a mystery theater production done pretty much as today. And I didn't see any supernatural elements, even though the Angouleme Hotel is reputed to be cursed or haunted, if there were ghosts or anything I missed them. :)

Which isn't to say I didn't like it. It seemed like an entertaining short story, I liked following all the characters' various quirks and personal agendas. I just couldn't find the SF/F. (I don't get to read many non-SF short fiction these days.)

I think a lot of Bowes' fiction blurs those lines and whilst say Dust Devil on a Quiet Street has werewolves and all sorts in it with some of the stories they could almost be written without the sff elements or the magical elements seem to exist in the background. I do think with his works as a whole the sff elements help to create this blurry strange sort of world that can reflect the reality of the characters and create extra depth, tension etc and i did think there was a similarly evocative whiff of the supernatural here.

I struggle with stories that jump about in time or time and characters - particularly if they do not make it simple and easy to follow so this story has one strike for me but thats not a strike against which I would judge it for anything other than my personal enjoyment and its accessibility to me.

I will probably reread this one when my brain is working better and I am already looking forward to doing so whereas for a couple of the other stories we are discussing in the novelette group I was happy to read them and got pleasure from doing so but would take some very strong persuasion to read them again.

Only 2 stars from me.

Synopsis: Set in the Agouleme Hotel of future New York, main protagonist Jacoby Cass produces an interactive play based on suicide and murder which happened in the 19th and 20th century at the Hotel.

Review: Great atmosphere, mixing future New York, 1860s and 1960s. Unconvincing, predictable mystery. Flat characters. The few hints about spectator participation and embedded phones doesn't qualify this novelette for SF. I liked the literary style but not the story.