Challenge 946

Bound Away

In Christopher DeRosa’s The Nadir of the Labyrinth:
1. Did the king deliberately allow Elena and Andreas to form their romance or did the couple successfully manage to keep it a secret?
2. Should Elena have anticipated that the king would find her request offensive that Andreas become her bodyguard?
3. What does the reconciliation of Elena and Sophia symbolize?
4. Elena and Sophia cannot remain in the cavern. Does Elena consider escaping by way of the river a real or a forlorn hope?
5. What is the function of the quiet man, the one who doesn’t get to tell his story? Would anything substantial change if his role were omitted?
In Michael Jess Alexander’s Unthought Experiment Anders’ assumption of guilt is at least partially contradicted by his father’s rebuttal. Why might one think that the father’s account is untruthful? How and why would he lie?
In Douglas Young’s I Think So:
1. What does the title refer to in the story?
2. Was the concert held indoors or outdoors? In either case, would it be unusual for the audience to stand throughout the concert rather than remain seated?
3. Was any lesson learned from the incident besides “Don’t aggravate the people behind you”?
In Mike Acker’s Chaoticism:
1. What does the title “Chaoticism” imply that “Chaos” does not?
2. Does “chaos” bend time? Does it thwart aspirations? Might all or some of the effects listed be the result of entropy? Of an immoral cause?
3. Can any meaning be “gleaned” from a theory of “unintelligent design”?

Responses welcome!