Monday, April 1, 2013

Review of "Past Tense" by James Beamon

"Past Tense" by James Beamon appeared in Daily Science Fiction on April 1, 2013.  "You will travel into the future, fulfilling your scientist husband's dream."

"Past Tense"(the title itself is a play on words in the context of the story) is actually told in the second person future tense.  Normally, a story in second person POV does not earn above 3 rocket-dragons, but, somehow, Mr. Beamon makes it work.  Read the story, and you will see what I mean.  The story is a little difficult to follow, but, here again, Mr. Beamon somehow makes this, normally a flaw, into a strength.  Time travel, where future and past may collide, almost by definition makes for a confusing story, and Mr. Beamon leverages this as a storyteller.  5 out of 7 rocket-dragons.