Challenge 1065

Shadow of Ruins

1. The epigraph in the Readers’ Guide is taken from which of Cassandra’s Voices: Warnings to the Modern Age, and why?

2. In James Hanna’s Known by Its Fruit:

   1. In what ways does Jeb’s farm reflect political attitudes and economic policies entertained by various parties in the U.S. presidential election of 2024?
   2. In what ways does Jeb’s farm reflect the economic, social and political attitudes and policies prevalent in the USA between the 17th and 20th centuries?
   3. In what way does Jeb’s proposal to Molly suggest a return to the Middle Ages?
   4. Why is Molly appalled by Jeb’s farm and morals? Why does she agree to marry him anyway?

3. In Gary Inbinder’s Bubbly Creek:

   1. How does chapter 15 contrast with chapter 14?
   2. What contrasts does the author use particularly in chapter 15?

4. In Charles C. Cole’s The Island and the Sailor: What might Iochetes and Khondro Felisaf represent other than a literal island and sailor?

5. In Robert Earle’s Life Services:

   1. What appears to be the reasoning behind the law assigning a child to the bachelor Patrick Feely? Does it promote a benefit or inflict a punishment?
   2. What are the causes of conflict between Penny, Mel, Patrick and Margaret?
   3. How does Margaret achieve a resolution to the family problem raised by the presence of the infant? By reason or self-sacrifice?

6. In Allegra Gulino’s Aquasphere:

   1. Is the story a “dream story” by Bewildering Stories’ guidelines?
   2. Even if the Aquasphere is the location of a kind of dream experience, why is the story nonetheless acceptable with BwS’ guideline?

7. In Robert Walton’s Call Me Charles:

   1. Why does the space alien chose to hijack Mark as his vehicle for tourism on Earth? Could the action in the story occur without “Charles”?
   2. Why might the wine-store robbery seem to be unlikely to happen as described?

Responses welcome!

Copyright © October 21, 2024 by Bewildering Stories
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