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A quiet epic

"Although I may not have picked up on the "influences", I did enjoy this story. It was enthralling and kept me engaged throughout the whole thing. I wanted to know more. Good luck in the sci-fi contest! : )"

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A Metaphor of the Stars

"Beautiful, poetic science fiction tale--bordering on allegory. Indeed, this story seems timeless and breathes the air of old myth. There's a little bit of 2001 here, when Moon Watcher discovers the Monolith and it 'speaks' to him, showing him the profound limitations of his miserable existence. But this story is a quieter epic, as the song and dance the man shares with the box is touching--a kind of mimed friendship. And unlike 2001, no great leap is envisioned. Only loneliness and the realization that the box leaves him with a smaller box--the box of his world--remains. The story is written with great insight and pace, leaving you hanging on every word. It's a gem of a short story that deserves to be read several times, savoring the small details that make this more than sci=fi, but true literature. As Ursula K, Le Guin says, "science fiction is metaphor," and this story breathes that ancient language. Superb and spellbinding!"

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