Two Stories * Moles & Rowe

The Third Part by David Moles (Year's Best SciFi) is intriguing in that it starts off as Romeo & Juliet, morphs into James Bond, and ends up as Ace Ventura with a touch of bi-lateral history. In the end, it's simply too much and not enough. I learned nothing and felt nothing by the end. It almost feels like it's the start of something bigger instead of a true short story. Romeo ends up either back in the world, or on a spaceship - or most likely both in a bi-lateral universe. And, so what? Juliet may or may not end up aiding and abbetting Romeo's "enemy", but who cares?

The Voluntary State by Christopher Rowe (Year's Best SciFi) is a prose comic book without pictures. Enjoyed reading the settings & animation type situations; but the story had nothing to anchor on to fulfill me as a reader.

Going to a teacher conference for the next week. Hate these things - sitting in class 8 hours a day. Only one good thing I can see about these things is it shows how truly bored a student (myself) can be going to class & it keeps me motivated to never treat my students in such a poor manner that they will definitely be bored all week long. These things keep me thinking of ways to keep the class hopping & joyful (and awake).