Challenge 564

Awake Too Soon

1. In Sherman Smith’s “Omaha Bound”:

   1. Does Irene’s demeanor reflect or contradict her competence?
   2. What does Irene consider to be a “sin”? Under what circumstances might her remorse create a potential tragedy for her?
   3. Anticipate possible plot developments. When Elroy comes to, what might he do to Alex, Dr. Garrity and Irene?

2. In Don Liddick’s “Mewly Bob,” are Drew Kinsey’s drinking buddies right to disbelieve his story? Are they right to scoff at it? What might he really be telling them?

3. In Charles C. Cole’s “A Brief Public Rest”:

   1. What does the hypnotism experiment seem to show? What are its effects?

   2. “A Brief Public Rest” does not end with “but it was all a dream” or the equivalent. How does it show and explain why Bewildering Stories officially frowns upon stories that do?

4. In Ron Van Sweringen’s “A Crying Baby,” how do we know that Margaret only thinks she hears a baby crying? What information allows the reader to infer that there has been a baby in her life?

5. In David Flynn’s “Haunted Clothes”:

   1. To what extent do South’s grievances apply to South himself?

   2. Do South’s two checklists represent a particular socio-political agenda? Does South attempt to achieve anything? Do his grievances explain — let alone justify — his nihilism?

   3. How likely is it that Detective Diamond would be heading the only search for South? When faced with a mass-murdering terrorist, wouldn’t the police chief at least call in the FBI?

Responses welcome!

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