Currently Reading - The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection

[aesmael]

12. “Tangents” by Greg Bear

Peter “I’m not Alan Turing, honest” Thornton takes under his wing a musically and mathematically talented Korean boy who learns to perceive in four dimensions.

You know, I did not start out writing these summaries of the stories, just my responses to them. But sometimes the sarcasm of summarising what happens is part of what I need to communicate with. Or at least I am too lazy in the moment to deviate from standard short story response form.

In this case I was apprehensive early in the story because it reminded me of the H. P. Lovecraft story “From Beyond”, which had been read to me once by blood-and-vitriol, especially since past experience has shown me Greg Bear does not shy away from the gruesome or disturbing (I nearly quit a couple of projects after reading “Blood Music” in the first of these collections). This story ended up being rather the reverse however, and the characters are saved from bullying, homophobia, and U.S. immigration by inspiration and an appreciation for music.

Contrast what I was just saying about “The Pure Product” with this which feels like what I might call more traditional science fiction. I liked this story perhaps largely for that familiarity, but would not recommend specifically unless it already sounds appealing.