|
|
|
The Cat's Pajamas | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
s Terry Bisson notes in his introduction to this latest collection of short, sharp shocks from one of the finest fantasists around, James Morrow has made his reputation mainly with his excellent satirical novels, including the three theological fantasies that constitute the Godhead Trilogy. But Morrow's shorter tales possess all the virtues of his longer works: a keen sense of folly and morality, a witty inventiveness, a flair for prosaically acceptable absurdities and a cast of engaging characters.
"The War of the Worldviews" finds Martian invaders using Earth as a battlefield to settle their philosophical disputes. And only three ostensible "lunatics" hold the key to saving our planet. Will public acts of copulation ever be accorded the status of high art, with the performers becoming global pop figures? That's the premise of "The Wisdom of the Skin," which finds one such performer in the throes of a personal disaster. "Martyrs of the Upshot Knothole" brings John Wayne onstage in the last days of his life, looking for a mystical cure to his government-fostered cancer. Anyone who ever spent a Saturday morning watching a creature feature or ghoul matinee will identify with "Come Back, Dr. Sarcophagus," the story of a threatened film-show host who proves to have some alien backing. This tale sees print here for the first time.
Why do men love sports so much? An unconventional answer awaits in "The Fate of Nations." Magic fishes and magic wishes go back a long way in literature, but they still offer fresh twists in "The Eye That Never Blinks." "Director's Cut" imagines the real story behind DeMille's The Ten Commandments. Dystopias don't come much blacker than the one portrayed in "Auspicious Eggs," where the city of Boston hosts a vile theocracy. "Apologue" is a touching short-short involving famous monsters commemorating the events of 9/11, while "F***ing Justice," also previously unpublished, chronicles a secret pre-Civil-War-era ritual.
Columbus stepping ashore in 21st-century Manhattan? All things are possible with a convenient timeslip, in "Isabella of Castile Answers Her Mail." On view for the first time, "The Zombies of Montrose," cast in play form, depicts the charming little business run by Arabella LeGrand, a voodoo priestess: loaning out the undead for household chores. Finally, the title story conflates Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) with The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
Savagery mixed with compassion
James Morrow writes comical SF. That statement is true, but it's like saying that Evelyn Waugh or Peter DeVries or J.P. Donleavy writes comical mainstream books. The literary mastery and moral depth that all these men exhibit push their work into a realm where tragedy and comedy wear the same burnished, reflective mask. Fiction from these writers limns a universe where absurdity and solemnity are kissing cousins.
This is not to say that Morrow is not frequently flat-out hilarious, like Mel Brooks. The quest by the narrator of "The War of the Worldviews" to gather up the three "insane" folks who will repel the Martian invasion is full of slapstick and great funny lines. The dialogue of the deadpan zombies in "The Zombies of Montrose" provokes frequent laughter. The love triangle of "Come Back, Dr. Sarcophagus" is pure farce. And the gruesome yet laughable fate of the protagonist of "The Cat's Pajamas" will have you chuckling continuously.
Thus does Morrow slip past your defenses to deliver his ethical lessons. Sometimes, as in "Auspicious Eggs," lessons overpower the package. The story is like the anti-birth-control skit in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) minus any offsetting buffoonery. But even here, Morrow's outrage is uplifting and bracingly transparent. But most of the time, his stories merge delivery and moral, sugar and medicine, into a tasty treat. Consider the high pomposity and self-righteousness of Columbus and Isabella's letters ("Isabella of Castile Answers Her Mail") contrasted with the humorous realities of Manhattan, and you'll get a hint of how Morrow casts his spells.
James Morrow possesses in abundance the three qualities necessary for writing his Swiftian fables. A keen eye to discern foibles and failings; a tender heart to sympathize with a humanity that is at once victim and victimizer; and the literary wit and courage to cast his visions into their most potent forms.
Tachyon Publications is a small press with unerring taste. Visit their Web site for more of their catalog.
What are the chances that two collections of short stories, both titled The Cat's Pajamas, would be released within months of each other? Tiny, but not zero, obviously, since Ray Bradbury's newest book bears the same title as Morrow's! Long may both cool cats write. — Paul
Also in this issue: Double Eagle, by Dan Abnett
|
 |
|
| Home |
Copyright © 1998-2006, Science Fiction Weekly (TM). All rights reserved. Reproduction in any medium strictly prohibited. Maintained by scifiweekly@scifi.com. |
