Michael D. Resnick

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Dreamwish Beasts and Snarks

Michael D. Resnick

Synopsis:
At times humorous, at other times serious, this endearing collection of short fiction explores many concepts regarding fantastical or futuristic safaris. In the Hugo-and-Nebula-nominated story "Hunting the Snark," a classical big-game hunt on a newly discovered planet finds more that it bargained for, when the hunt becomes similar to Lewis Carroll's famous poem. The ending, however, is classic Resnick, where all is not as it seems. Other stories have the element of humor that is so prevalent in his stories, whether he's describing the pitfalls of stalking the unicorn or the vampire, presented as a pair of after-dinner lectures, or meeting a Tarzan-like British Lord deep in Africa (who is hiding from his creditors while trying to bring Fabian socialism to the great apes); one wonders who is being made fun of? Other stories are more serious and thought provoking, such as "Bwana," where the Kikuyu have left an industrialized Africa to create a paradise on a new world, but find that it can be fragile to have any contact at all with those that seek progress and fortune. A pure adventure story pits Teddy Roosevelt against a vampire in the streets of New York. A sad warning to today's world is given in "Safari 2103 A.D.," where the number of truly wild animals can be counted on one's fingers. The collection ends with the tale of the Soul Eater, told in separate stories from the perspective of the hunter and hunted, with nods to Moby Dick and the legend of the Flying Dutchman, and is one the strangest love stories you'll ever read.

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Other editions: Softcover - 2010, Hardcover - 2009, Hardcover - 2009, Softcover - 2009, Softcover - 2009, Softcover - 2009, Softcover - 2009, Hardcover - 2008, 2008, Hardcover - 2008