Once, at the beginning, you asked why you were brought here. This is what I told you: your parents made a deal. I would rid them of their plague of rats, and they would pay me. I cleared the town of pests, easily done, and returned for my payment. They laughed at me and tried to send me away with less than they promised. Money is not important. Deals are.
Another of the Drabblecast Trifecta series, this time with the theme of Fairy Tale child abduction. A set of stories, written by authors Amanda C. Davis, Megan R. Engelhard, and Steven Saus, featuring kids of all shapes, sizes, and murderous intent levels. Episode also includes details on the Drabblecast’s ‘Become a Tim Pratt character‘ contest. Listen to find out!
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The Drabblecast Forums
Great Trifecta.
"David is Six" very wonderfully captured a child's POV, how something that can be SO IMPORTANT to you is completely trivial to everyone else. The seventh birthday isn't a particularly momentous one, nothing much changes, you're already in school, etc.... But from his point of view it makes all the difference. And that trivial detail is David's downfall as that is used in a ploy to lure him over to another world.
"The Best Boy, the Brightest Boy" was good, I don't think I've read a story from the Pied Piper's point of view, and a reveal of what he does with all the kiddies. A neat, dark story.
But I'm especially excited about "Broken" because this is the first one that I voted on that is on the feed since I became a Drabblecast slushreader. I voted this one a YES (probably after reading a dozen serial killer stories in a row). My comments at the time were.
The ending seemed a bit too abrupt, but other than I liked it, a
modern changeling story overlaid on the anxiety of a parent with a
developmental condition.
I'm not sure if the author meant me to wonder this, but I wonder what
the fairy did with the baby she took. I could imagine it either way.
If she told the truth, and the child's condition gives it benefit over
there, then maybe both children leave happy healthy lives. If she
lied, then perhaps it is a slave. Fairies aren't known for being
trustworthy, after all, and the glamour laid halfway through the story
suggests that this is one of the traditional fairies, not the Disney
version.
(For what it's worth, the ending didn't seem abrupt on the listening, maybe a text vs. audio thing, or maybe I was just ready for it)
"David is Six" very wonderfully captured a child's POV, how something that can be SO IMPORTANT to you is completely trivial to everyone else. The seventh birthday isn't a particularly momentous one, nothing much changes, you're already in school, etc.... But from his point of view it makes all the difference. And that trivial detail is David's downfall as that is used in a ploy to lure him over to another world.
"The Best Boy, the Brightest Boy" was good, I don't think I've read a story from the Pied Piper's point of view, and a reveal of what he does with all the kiddies. A neat, dark story.
But I'm especially excited about "Broken" because this is the first one that I voted on that is on the feed since I became a Drabblecast slushreader. I voted this one a YES (probably after reading a dozen serial killer stories in a row). My comments at the time were.
The ending seemed a bit too abrupt, but other than I liked it, a
modern changeling story overlaid on the anxiety of a parent with a
developmental condition.
I'm not sure if the author meant me to wonder this, but I wonder what
the fairy did with the baby she took. I could imagine it either way.
If she told the truth, and the child's condition gives it benefit over
there, then maybe both children leave happy healthy lives. If she
lied, then perhaps it is a slave. Fairies aren't known for being
trustworthy, after all, and the glamour laid halfway through the story
suggests that this is one of the traditional fairies, not the Disney
version.
(For what it's worth, the ending didn't seem abrupt on the listening, maybe a text vs. audio thing, or maybe I was just ready for it)
Posted: December 12, 2011, 5:26 pm
Unblinking wrote:
I'm not sure if the author meant me to wonder this, but I wonder what
the fairy did with the baby she took.
Do we know that the exchange did happen? I recall it being left in at indecision, then a view years later. If I recall, the child still had issues. This could be the original kid, who grew better than the original prognosis.
Posted: December 13, 2011, 12:59 am
Regarding the ending of "Broken":
I don't know. I really, really don't know.
Glad you liked it, though!
I don't know. I really, really don't know.
Glad you liked it, though!
Posted: December 13, 2011, 1:05 am
I liked the ambiguous ending.
Thanks for the definitive answer about ambiguity. Saved a lot of arguing.
Thanks for the definitive answer about ambiguity. Saved a lot of arguing.
Posted: December 13, 2011, 1:22 am
tbaker2500 wrote:Unblinking wrote:I'm not sure if the author meant me to wonder this, but I wonder what
the fairy did with the baby she took.
Do we know that the exchange did happen? I recall it being left in at indecision, then a view years later. If I recall, the child still had issues. This could be the original kid, who grew better than the original prognosis.
I guess it didn't say it explicitly, but to me there was no doubt in my mind--the exchange happened. If the change in the kid weren't enough, there was also the ending comment of the story that he was a strange kid. Sure, lots of parents say that about their kids, but placed as it was as the closing comment lent it extra weight to me.
What's ambiguous to me is what happened to the kid he gave away.
Posted: December 13, 2011, 4:08 am
I was totally sold on the ambiguity at the end whether it was his kid or the fairy kid. His kid may have been 'excelling' but he was also in both physical therapy and 'the other kind' (which I thought was a cool way of presenting that). David 'isn't quite normal' could describe the child who has overcome lots of developmental delays, or the swapped fairy kid.
To me it was a beautifully expressed and perfectly enigmatic ending.
To me it was a beautifully expressed and perfectly enigmatic ending.
Posted: December 13, 2011, 5:18 am
What a wonderful listen!
All three stories were fantastic, the middle Pied Piper tale being the weakest only because of the ending, and the reads were all splendid.
"Broken" was the hardest to listen to. As the mother of two children with special needs, it hurt in a way many people cannot understand. We received similar news with the diagnosis of our youngest son. I wonder if the trade was made (I believe it was), wonder if I would have done the same...
All three stories were fantastic, the middle Pied Piper tale being the weakest only because of the ending, and the reads were all splendid.
"Broken" was the hardest to listen to. As the mother of two children with special needs, it hurt in a way many people cannot understand. We received similar news with the diagnosis of our youngest son. I wonder if the trade was made (I believe it was), wonder if I would have done the same...
Posted: December 16, 2011, 12:49 am
shagin wrote:
"Broken" was the hardest to listen to. As the mother of two children with special needs, it hurt in a way many people cannot understand. We received similar news with the diagnosis of our youngest son. I wonder if the trade was made (I believe it was), wonder if I would have done the same...
Let's just say that there's some parts of that story that are true, and there's parts that are complete lies.
I'm not telling which is which.
But I will say that I understand. ::big virtual wombat hug::
Posted: December 16, 2011, 10:25 pm
themorg wrote:tbaker2500 wrote:
I sense a sho jo mallet in my direction in the near future BTW.
*Strokes mallet* Shanto shina...kudasai.
Posted: December 18, 2011, 12:56 am
That Trifecta was lip-smacking good. I can only imagine how much trauma would result from allowing a real six-year-old to listen to "David is Six." The narration on that one was gorgeous as well and I thought it was the best of the three.
"Broken" didn't do as much for me because I didn't sense much tension in the father. He didn't seem to want the kid in the first place and I assumed he made the switch, despite the oddly pressured timing of having to make the decision. But I did like wondering whether he told his wife, and whether the child knows or will ever know his true roots.
"The Best Boy, the Brightest Boy..." wow now that was a dark story. I liked it but wasn't too keen on the gimmicky ending.
Overall, another excellent episode. I hope the Drabblecast endures for decades.
"Broken" didn't do as much for me because I didn't sense much tension in the father. He didn't seem to want the kid in the first place and I assumed he made the switch, despite the oddly pressured timing of having to make the decision. But I did like wondering whether he told his wife, and whether the child knows or will ever know his true roots.
"The Best Boy, the Brightest Boy..." wow now that was a dark story. I liked it but wasn't too keen on the gimmicky ending.
Overall, another excellent episode. I hope the Drabblecast endures for decades.
Posted: December 19, 2011, 3:50 am
El Barto wrote:
Overall, another excellent episode. I hope the Drabblecast endures for decades.
Decades? Hmpf. I hope they plop Norm's brain in a jar so we can enjoy DC for the next several millennium.
Maybe there should be a Kickstarter dedicated to this end.
Posted: December 19, 2011, 5:46 am
ROU Killing Time wrote:El Barto wrote:Overall, another excellent episode. I hope the Drabblecast endures for decades.
Decades? Hmpf. I hope they plop Norm's brain in a jar so we can enjoy DC for the next several millennium.
Maybe there should be a Kickstarter dedicated to this end.
Nice of you to be so considerate of your great grandchildren. Or are you counting on your own brain-jar?
Posted: December 19, 2011, 5:21 pm
strawman wrote:ROU Killing Time wrote:El Barto wrote:Overall, another excellent episode. I hope the Drabblecast endures for decades.
Decades? Hmpf. I hope they plop Norm's brain in a jar so we can enjoy DC for the next several millennium.
Maybe there should be a Kickstarter dedicated to this end.
Nice of you to be so considerate of your great grandchildren. Or are you counting on your own brain-jar?
Anyone with at least 3000 forum posts should get a jar. imo
Posted: December 19, 2011, 7:00 pm
I like the fact that Mr. Saus doesn't really know the true ending to "Broken". That's a great touch to an excellent story.
After a couple of listens, I think the exchange did take place and the father never told his wife. A miracle had happened, she would think.
He will take that secret to his grave me thinks.
After a couple of listens, I think the exchange did take place and the father never told his wife. A miracle had happened, she would think.
He will take that secret to his grave me thinks.
Posted: December 19, 2011, 8:24 pm
ROU Killing Time wrote:
Anyone with at least 3000 forum posts should get a jar. imo
Speak the speech oh Cogitor
Posted: December 19, 2011, 9:56 pm
