Story 7: "Tikkun Olam" by RivkaT and MustangSally

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Since we had a rather long interlude with no story at all (my fault!), wendelah1 and I have chosen a special bonus story. So here it is, "Tikkun Olam" by RivkaT and MustangSally, one of the controversial classics of the fandom. Hopefully it will provoke some discussion.

This story is rated NC-17 and is not for sensitive or impressionable souls. I'm not kidding. But it's really good.

"Deaths and disclosures, universal and particular, denouements both unexpected and inexorable, transvestite melodrama on all levels including the suggestive. We transport you into a world of intrigue and illusion ... clowns, if you like, murderers -- we can do you ghosts and battles, on the skirmish level, heroes, villains, tormented lovers -- set pieces in the poetic vein; we can do you rapiers or rape or both, by all means, faithless wives and ravished virgins -- flagrante delicto at a price, but that comes under realism for which there are special terms."

Interesting discussions:

Usenet thread on prologue

Spoilerific Usenet review thread

Comments

Re: To Repair and Transform the World

[wendelah1]

I assumed that the crime was committed by some version of Mulder in some universe. But the universes kept bleeding together, and Robert's memories were so distorted. Plus, he is such an unreliable narrator. I thought he was nuts, but incapable of that kind of violence. Why would his implant make him kill his family? What would be the point of that? Just another consortium experiment, like the one in "Blood?"

I think it has to be satire. It doesn't work for me nearly as well unless it is. But that is me. I really need to read that children's book. I wonder if it is still in print?

Re: To Repair and Transform the World

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Well, I could be wrong. There is no real justification offered for the murder. I don't know whether that's the whole point or whether the authors just couldn't be bothered to go back and tie up all the loose ends of their spectacularly shocking opener.

The novel I was talking about seems to be out of print, but available secondhand through Amazon. It has very good reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Futures-Tycho-William-Sleator/dp/0140345817

Re: To Repair and Transform the World

[wendelah1]

I will go order it now. It sounds wonderful and scary.

Maybe there isn't supposed to be any clarity about that murder? That doesn't make sense though. I will go back and look at all of the passages he is in. The problem is that the point of view whenever he is there is him, isn't it? And he's nuts.