A lesser known story by the late great Alice Sheldon, Beam Me Home has all of Tiptree's trademarks: a certain slant towards an extreme emotional payoff, a credulous dissatisfaction with the world, a nausea inducing testament of the world we are a part of. But it is also extremely perceptive science fiction, in that it is, as Hartwell has suggested, exemplary of the masterly feel Tiptree had for the tropes of SF, especially the trope of the alien. I cannot say much more of the story without revealing it. It is interesting to compare this story with Waldrop's Flying Saucer Rock and Roll to understand why, in spite of both articles being 'literary' in the best sense of the word, Tiptree succeeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment