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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Guest Blog--Gretchen E K Engel



I Hate Science Fiction....
Once upon a time, so did I. Fantasy too. So how did I go from someone who only liked true-to-life fiction and preferably historical, to someone who just completed a short story for the No Revolution Is Too Big Series about a shape-shifting, time-traveling rescue broker named Stelfson?


It started with a lion and a wizard. Or maybe I should say The Lion and The Wizard. That is Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia and the eponymous Harry Potter. I was drawn into another world and learned to love places with talking animals, mythical creatures, and magic.

If you’re not so sure you want to dive into the world of make-believe, my installment in the series might be a good place to start. “Neatly Arranged” is not so deeply science fiction. In BBC terms, it’s Downtown Abbey meets Dr. Who without Lady Violet or Daleks. The story is about Arianne, a corporate attorney and Fairy noble who is betrothed to an earl she doesn’t love. When her boss, Stelfson, assigns her a new case with J, a parking lot attendant turned personal injury lawyer, her social position and prejudices are challenged.

Always a bit morally ambiguous, Stelfson is more Fairy Yenta than laser gun wielding swashbuckler in this story. But those who are saying “but wait, I love science fiction”, fear not. There’s cool technology that might seem a bit familiar. And a security guard who bears an odd resemblance to the firm’s newest senior partner. And hover roadsters. What’s not to love about an airborne convertible?

I’m part of a critique group with fellow “No Revolution” contributors TJ Akers and Lisa Godfrees. We call ourselves The Scriblerians based on the famed eighteenth century writing group that included Jonathan Swift. Works for me. My love of satire and social commentary is influenced by author of Gulliver’s Travels.

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