Howard Who?

A few very good stories, some okay stories, a number of bad stories - typical short story book.

The Ugly Chickens - About the last of the Dodo's - Hilarious and Sad all at the same time.

Der Untergang des Abenlandesmenschen - Dracula story set in Nazi Germany.

Ike at the Mike - I liked it - alternate universe setting, reverses sets up Eisenhower as a famous jazz clarinetist, and Elvis Presley as a Senator.

Dr. Hudson's Secret Gorilla - Mad scientist switches Ape and Human Brain. Enjoyable, a bit cliched (or maybe it was the original)

"... The World, As We Know't." - Victorian Science Experiment gone horribly horribly wrong. A good story, rather horrific in the outcome.

Green Brother - In which a medicine man grandfather saves his grandson in the grandest way possible - Good story with an unexpected savior.

Mary Margaret Road-Grader - a tale set in a post apocalyptic tale of how the last of the large machines are used. Story about how society is changing, and maybe for the better. Good story.

Save a Place in the Lifeboat for Me. - I didn't understand this story. I get that it was about the fate of Buddy Holly, but I'm not exactly sure who these people were. It might be that I'm not of the right generation.

Horror, We Got - This story is horrible. Its sad, its despicable, it is disgusting. I know that there is satire involved, a bit like Jonathan Swift's "A Simple Proposal", but still, not a good story.

Man-Mountain Gentian - Sumo wrestling, Zen style. Another story I didn't really get - it was well written, but the story didn't interest me.

God's Fish - story about a really big fish and religion. Uninteresting.

Heirs of the Perisphere - Another post-apocalyptic story about robots trying to find there place in the world. Sad, but also ends on a happy note. ( )

There's a reason people call Waldrop a master. Not a single story out of the dozen in this collection failed to satisfy. They're the real deal, with imaginative plots and spot-on characterizations. Not to mention the risks he takes on theme and subject matter that pay off. When I finished the story "Horror, We Got" I thought to myself, Oh no, he didn't!. You'll either have to take my word, or check it out yourself. ( )

No raves from me, though I did love "The Ugly Chickens" for some reason. Fine for existing Wladrop fans, not likely to make converts from those outside the fold, and not something I will be passing to the grandkids with exhortations to read or be cut out of the will. ( )

http://nomiddlename.blogspot.com/2006/10/mickey-mouse-made-me-cry.html ( )

Howard Who? is a short story collection by Howard Waldrop with an introduction by George R. R. Martin.

It consists of the following stories.

The Ugly Chickens
This story won the Nebula and the World Fantasy awards as well as being nominated for a Hugo.
It puts forth the question What if the Dodo hadn't been wiped out.

Der Untergang des Abendlandesmenschen
I have no idea what this story was about, but I was never the less tremendously entertained by it.

Ike at the Mike
Did you ever wonder how the world would be different if Eisenhower and Patton had been in a band with Louis Armstrong rather than leading the allies in Europe? Well Me neither, but Howard did, and its a wonderful story.

Dr. Hudson's Secret Gorilla
Classic old school horror movie plot. Or old school bugs bunny cartoon either way .

. . . the World, as we Know't
I don't see the word Phlogiston used enough anymore. This story is a cautionary tale of a science experiment gone bad. Really, Really, horribly bad.

Green Brother
This is the first of two Native American centered stories. I much preferred the next one.

Mary Margaret Road Grader
Or Mad Max meets the county fair. This is a post apocalyptic story where Native American again rule the plains of the US, and they engage in tractor pulls.

"Save A Place in the Lifeboat for Me
Abbot and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, and others are sent to prevent "The day the music died." This was also one of my favorites perhaps because I've been to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA many times.

Horror, We Got
You've got to love a time travel tale crossed with a Zionist conspiracy don't you? I loved this story.

Man-Mountain Gentian
Zen Sumo. 'nuff said.

God's Hooks
Izaak Walton goes fishing for a nightmare.

Heirs of the Perisphere
Another post apocalyptic tale. This time Mickey, Goofy, and Donald are the only survivors and they are trying to figure out why no one is coming to Disneyland.

I enjoyed this collection, but I've found I have a hard time getting into reading short fiction. I have a zone I get into in a book I really like, and short stories are over before I ever get to that point. Its much more of a chore to read short fiction for me. But taking that into account the writing itself is very good. Waldrop is very eclectic, and is certainly a master of the short story.

8 out of 10 ( )