Andy Duncan (1) (1964–)

I finished my first read through most of The Pottawatomie Giant. I say most because I read "Unique Chicken" three times and "Diorama" and "Dragaman" twice, so 'first read' wouldn't be accurate. Love this collection of short stories. Duncan is masterful.

About halfway in, I thought "I'm going to need more copies..." And I started making lists. People to whom I should send copies, before they steal mine; where the good copy will go in the bookshelves (next to the O'Connors? Vexing the Dubus?). show more Duncan has poured Appalachia into my science fiction and it's a great mix. show less

Andy Duncan is one of the great unsung writers of fantasy and this collection of his selected short work readily showcases his best characteristics, including his distinctively Southern, unapologetically wry voice. That voice sets his work apart from the typical in the genre, as does the fact that so many of his stories are infused with Southern folklore and place-consciousness, giving them a realer-than-real tone that makes a reader of fantasy want to soak in the writer's world.

While one show more or two of the older stories here might be read in the current climate as over-soaked in masculine nostalgia, most are smart and culturally conscious. Duncan's penchant for literary reference ranges from the Antebellum-era folktales of enslaved peoples to Thomas More's "Utopia" -- as the title tale makes clear -- providing plenty of food for those who get the nods, as well as for those who don't mind googling as they read. While this isn't necessarily a book to fly through all in one sitting -- its range of moods and references rewards a slower sampling -- it is definitely deserves the proper time to appreciate. show less

Wow, there's some serious literary range on display here. Stories shifting between Science fiction, fantasy, weird, absurdism, ghost stories, southern folklore, history, biography, and so on...along with loads of humor. Something like reading an entire season of X-Files episodes, but funnier.

In a few of the stories, the title one for example, I found the style somewhat incoherent, similar to free jazz....verbal fireworks which are perhaps an acquired taste. But for the most part, reading show more these stories was an engrossing and entertaining experience. I especially enjoyed Zora and the Zombie. Highly recommended. show less

Wakulla Springs is one of those places I've always dreamed of visiting. It's the largest and deepest freshwater springs (some say in the world). It's been the home of manatees and monsters, and, once upon a time, movie-stars, too. Wakulla Springs is also a 2014 Hugo nominated original fiction (novella) and I was able to read it as a free download, courtesy of the publisher, Tor.

I read a huge variety of fiction, so something that carries a bit of speculation, magical realism, and history is show more a treat to read. To me, the best kind of science fiction is that which can actually dip into our daily lives and swirl around in the undercurrents of our world. Sure, big, scary monsters, or sleek metal warriors are science fiction fun, too, but give me the stuff that lurks in the shadows and I'm happy. This novella took a place that has captured my imaginings since childhood, wrapped them up in a historical context and tied them with a pretty ribbon of surrealism. The story is really a multigenerational one, beginning with Mayola, a young black girl who works at the Lodge at the Springs, when Hollywood came to call. It's a wonderful glimpse into the filming of one of the Tarzan movies, with Johnny Weissmuller. The first part of the novella, Mayola's story, captures not only the days before segregation, but also the last days of Roosevelt's reign. I was not alive then, but the world of my childhood arose from that era, so there were many, many everyday things that caused me to reminisce: buffalo head nickels and mercury dimes, pulling a bottle of RC out of an ice cooler at the store and adding salted peanuts, even the feeling of cotton absorbing perspiration on your back on a sunny summer day. When the author wrote "the air felt thick and close, like it was considering changing it's name to steam.", I knew I'd felt that.

The story moves on, often with abrupt endings between sections, which allows the reader to fill in the blanks. I'm sure it bothered some, but I was okay with it. Mayola's son and her granddaughter take the focus of the next three sections, but always Wakulla Springs weaves through the tale. If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of something strange and sinister lurking in the waters and forest. show less