SINEW AND STEEL AND WHAT THEY TOLD
Click on the link to read the story online
It’s beyond difficult to write about this story without saying anything about it that would constitute a spoiler, so the best way to try and persuade you to read it would be to quote its first sentence:
I am cut nearly in half by the accident. The surviving fibers of my suit hold me together. I am not dead.
Graff is a scout runner, from the ship Visigoth, and some catastrophic accident almost killed him, but that’s only the beginning of the whole journey, because once he’s retrieved by his shipmates and brought to the infirmary the real weirdness begins.
This short story is mostly played between three characters: Graff himself, doctor Ell and Captain Ransom. They have to come to terms with a momentous revelation, one that might change forever their perception of the past and inform their decisions for the future – no matter how their choices will go, there will be a huge change in the way the three relate to each other.
I liked Graff’s voice: it’s both humorous and self-deprecating and so very humanly scared of what the future will hold for him. Just as his true reason for being where he is, for doing what he does, is a poignant one that’s bound to resonate with everyone who loves stories…
Yes, I realized I’ve used a lot of words to say practically nothing, but if you choose to read this one you will understand why, and I hope you will love it just as much as I did.
Happy reading.
My Rating: 
Space and Sorcery 
What an opening line! I am very intrigued! 🧐
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And it gets more interesting along the way! 😉
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Ooh that first sentence is intriguing! You’ve convinced me that I should check this out. I’ve bookmarked it for after work, thanks Maddelena:-)
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You’re more than welcome, and happy reading! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
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The opening line was quite catching! And Graff seems my kind of character! I have never read a book by this author but maybe I can try this story and see how it goes! Thanks for sharing!
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You’re very welcome! The name of Carrie Vaughn did come up now and then while browsing around, but I never read any of her works: this sample encouraged me to know more… 😉
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That first sentence though!😍😍😍😍 Loved it, Mads! Also, I gotta tell you HOW MUCH I ADORE THAT OWL IN YOUR AVATAR 😍😍😍 It’s just TOO CUTE FOR WORDS! ❤️😭🥺🦋
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That reading owl represents me perfectly and it’s become my alter ego, not only on the blog, but practically *everywhere*… 😉
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Awww!! LOVE IT! 😍❤️
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Well that opening line is certainly intriguing, I’ll give it that! I’ll have to check this out!
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There is a great number of online short stories that I love to explore – and a lot more that I still have to/want to read…. 🙂
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Oh I LOVE this story, Maddalena! But then, I figured that I probably would – it’s Carrie Vaughn, after all. I’ve read the two books in her Bannerless Saga series and they were OUTSTANDING. Thank you so much for sharing this!
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Bannerless Saga? This one goes straight to my “wanted” list! 😉
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It charts the adventures of an investigator into suspicious deaths in a post-apocalyptic America. No zombies or stuff like that – just really, really good writing and bags of tension…
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Sounds perfect! You don’t really need zombies or other monsters to keep the adrenaline flowing 😉
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No… you really don’t:)))
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Yes, I think that I will have to read this one now – that first sentence is terrifying, compelling, horrible and, well, just horrible (I know I said it twice but…). I’ll have to read it immediately.
Lynn 😀
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Wow, possibly one of the best short stories I’ve read -and I don’t usually like short stories so I think I’m a tough audience. Puts me in mind of Becky Chambers, or at least that knack she has for making likable, relatable characters and complicated relationships.
Lynn 😀
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Oh, that’s an interesting parallel: I’ve wanted to try Chambers’ novels for a while now – I have The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet on my reading queue – and your comparison makes me even more curious! 🙂
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I think you would like Becky Chambers and I am definitely curious to read your thoughts. The three books I’ve read offers were all completely different. LWTASAP is almost like being on board the starship enterprise as it sets off on its adventures. It has A very small crew and a sentient ship and we follow their adventures, particularly through the latest new member. Closed and Common Orbit was probably my favourite but I don’t want to say too much because it could be spoiler(y). The third book is then different again. In fact the titles are very appropriate and you’ll know exactly what I mean if you get a chance to read them. She excels at characterisation and bring out all the feelings of her readers.
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Your reply tempts me to move the first book at the top of my reading queue! 😉
I like the idea of a crew facing ‘adventures’ and I like even more the words “sentient ship”: I guess this is a major selling point for me… It’s interesting that this trilogy does not seem to follow the same set of characters but rather to explore different settings – another point in its favor 🙂
Thank you for the info!!!!
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That is indeed a very mysteriously-intriguing first line! Sounds like a solid short story with its fair share of twists to make us want to read it. Thanks for sharing! 😀
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You’re more than welcome and… yes, there are so many delightful twists here… 🙂
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