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Reading Room XIV - Pros and the Supernatural
Fire by PFL
Apologies if I’ve butted in a bit by posting early. I’m now working tomorrow night, so I thought better early than late ...
I had never read this story until now although admire and enjoy PFL’s writing. This link takes you to the individual story, but the original link in the list took you to an online zine containing five stories - all of which are worth reading.
“Fire” starts with Bodie and Doyle holed up in a ruined croft (croft is a Scottish term for a small area of land which would include the crofter’s dwelling), following a car accident. Or rather Bodie driving off the road to avoid “something”. His recollection is vague. Both are injured and Doyle’s injury to his leg appears to be life-threatening. I’m not totally convinced that he would have survived the blood loss, but that’s the joy of writing fiction I guess!
There was an initial panic in my mind that Doyle was going to die and there had been no helpful warnings/spoilers so I very naughtily went to the last page (I was reading this on my Kindle). I know, it’s a very bad thing to do, but I do it. I then became very confused. The last page was, of course, not the ending to “Fire” but the ending to the final story in the zine. So I had my comeuppance! Just in case you need reassurance, Doyle doesn’t die!
In some respects this story has a very small supernatural element. The implication that “something” made them leave the road and crash is never satisfactorily explained even though there is a tale of an unexplained death in the croft and the fact that Bodie was not the only driver to leave the road at that point as explained later in Cowley's office.
Apparently, Bodie's is not the first car to go off the road just there. They're thinking about possibly putting up a guard rail of some type."
"I dare say, and they'll still be talking about it ten years from now. Any sign of why three-seven went off the road?"
"No. There were skid marks, so he did try to brake, but there was no obvious reason, other than possibly trying to take the curve too quickly."
The road is located in a remote area of Scotland with a lack of communication typical of that era and, indeed, area. There’s lightning and darkness, but I never felt a particular threat to the boys.
The background to their stranded circumstances is a hint of an operation which should have been relatively routine degenerating into a much more dangerous situation. This explains the lack of back-up and gives the writer the opportunity to have them stranded and injured for long enough to examine, discuss and finally understand their complex relationship. Finally, it’s all very simple, they are meant to be together!
PFL takes the opportunity to reveal and explore characters as well as highlight Bodie’s survival techniques and medical training. Doyle’s soul-searching and the dialogue are well written and keep the reader’s attention. I felt that the characterisation was good and although perhaps not a story I will re-read, I enjoyed it and its very satisfactory, happy ending. Apologies for being so shallow!
So, did you like it?
Did you feel a lack of any tangible (!) supernatural elements?
Do you like a happy ending?
Apologies if I’ve butted in a bit by posting early. I’m now working tomorrow night, so I thought better early than late ...
I had never read this story until now although admire and enjoy PFL’s writing. This link takes you to the individual story, but the original link in the list took you to an online zine containing five stories - all of which are worth reading.
“Fire” starts with Bodie and Doyle holed up in a ruined croft (croft is a Scottish term for a small area of land which would include the crofter’s dwelling), following a car accident. Or rather Bodie driving off the road to avoid “something”. His recollection is vague. Both are injured and Doyle’s injury to his leg appears to be life-threatening. I’m not totally convinced that he would have survived the blood loss, but that’s the joy of writing fiction I guess!
There was an initial panic in my mind that Doyle was going to die and there had been no helpful warnings/spoilers so I very naughtily went to the last page (I was reading this on my Kindle). I know, it’s a very bad thing to do, but I do it. I then became very confused. The last page was, of course, not the ending to “Fire” but the ending to the final story in the zine. So I had my comeuppance! Just in case you need reassurance, Doyle doesn’t die!
In some respects this story has a very small supernatural element. The implication that “something” made them leave the road and crash is never satisfactorily explained even though there is a tale of an unexplained death in the croft and the fact that Bodie was not the only driver to leave the road at that point as explained later in Cowley's office.
Apparently, Bodie's is not the first car to go off the road just there. They're thinking about possibly putting up a guard rail of some type."
"I dare say, and they'll still be talking about it ten years from now. Any sign of why three-seven went off the road?"
"No. There were skid marks, so he did try to brake, but there was no obvious reason, other than possibly trying to take the curve too quickly."
The road is located in a remote area of Scotland with a lack of communication typical of that era and, indeed, area. There’s lightning and darkness, but I never felt a particular threat to the boys.
The background to their stranded circumstances is a hint of an operation which should have been relatively routine degenerating into a much more dangerous situation. This explains the lack of back-up and gives the writer the opportunity to have them stranded and injured for long enough to examine, discuss and finally understand their complex relationship. Finally, it’s all very simple, they are meant to be together!
PFL takes the opportunity to reveal and explore characters as well as highlight Bodie’s survival techniques and medical training. Doyle’s soul-searching and the dialogue are well written and keep the reader’s attention. I felt that the characterisation was good and although perhaps not a story I will re-read, I enjoyed it and its very satisfactory, happy ending. Apologies for being so shallow!
So, did you like it?
Did you feel a lack of any tangible (!) supernatural elements?
Do you like a happy ending?