Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

This is the discussion of the 2014 Nebula Award nominated short story:


When It Ends, He Catches Her by Eugie Foster

You can read it free on-line @DailyScienceFiction.com.


This story is part of our 2014 Nebula Award-Nominated Short Stories Discussion.
It is also part of our The Long List Anthology — Nore from the 2014 Hugo Nominations discussion

I enjoyed this one although the twist at the end was pretty obvious and aside from the dancing going on it was all very familiar.

Well, this is definitely a different take on a post-zombie apocalypse. I mean, Ballet... and zombies! (May I suggest Coppelia)?

Short, a little predictable, but kind of cute, well paced, appropriately short, very readable and generally likable.


Ben wrote: "aside from the dancing going on it was all very familiar. "

"Familiar" would have been ghosts :)

Ballet seems to crop up in sci-fi/fantasy from time to time. Why is it never breakdancing? :)

Strangely, last year's awesome novella Grand Jeté isn't about ballet.

I am surprised people loved this enough for it to have made the short list for the nebula although I enjoyed it and was glad to read it.

It does have a real likeability that enables me to forgive its overly familiar trappings and overly predictable nature.

The story would work with ghosts too - and then my unintentional pun would work better.

The story was published a day after Foster's death.

Synopsis: Asa is a ballet dancer in a world turned zombie. She continues her performances on a derelict stage without audience, missing only her perfect partner Balege. He returns after his daily routine to remember her and dance with her.

Review: The ugly sides of zombieness feel a bit unmotivated and rushed, but I liked how this story kept on the beautiful side with only some tense moments creeping in. The setting shows up only after a while and doesn't storm the reader but Foster introduces it gently. In the end, it is more atmosphere than story, but as such it is a good one.

Not bad. Better than most zombie stories.

Andreas wrote: "The ugly sides of zombieness feel a bit unmotivated and rushed, but I liked how this story kept on the beautiful side..."

I've noticed an increasing number of "intelligent zombie" stories lately. Deadtown, White Trash Zombie, iZombie, and Warm Bodies to name a few.

I mentioned ghosts earlier, because this reminded me of stories of "people" going about their daily business without realizing they're dead.

G33z3r wrote: "going about their daily business without realizing they're dead. "

I always thought that was the whole point of zombies: Dead who don't know that they are dead :)

Andreas wrote: "I always thought that was the whole point of zombies: Dead who don't know that they are dead :)"

I thought the point was brraaaaaiinnssss!

Andreas wrote: "The story was published a day after Foster's death."

Sorry to hear it. :(

Because I don't want to lose my ability to say, 'I have never read a zombie story', I'll read another of hers instead. There's a range free online.

Bryn wrote: "Because I don't want to lose my ability to say, 'I have never read a zombie story', I'll read another of hers instead. There's a range free online."

Well, then I'm sorry we spoiled this for you, because it's not obvious starting off that it's a zombie story.

G33z3r wrote: "Well, then I'm sorry we spoiled this for you..."

I don't mind spoilers. I didn't have to read discussions ahead, but prefer to.

I'd like to think that while the two zombies imagine they are gracefully dancing together, they are in fact just crawling around biting each other, because they're zombies.

Brendan wrote: "I'd like to think that while the two zombies imagine they are gracefully dancing together, they are in fact just crawling around biting each other, because they're zombies."

Ah, such a Romantic. :)