Shivani Senguttuvan: "Dear Mr. Chuck Wendig: A Bittersweet Read"

Dear Mr. Chuck Wendig: A Bittersweet Read

By

 Shivani Senguttuvan

The juxtaposition between the confusion and excitement entailed by a fantasy piece drives my motivation to read further. Fantasy pieces place the reader in an abstract world, involving plots and characters that evoke skepticism. This aspect often times bothers me because I give importance to understanding laws and rules of the world presented in the piece. By not being expected to ask questions and fully understand this world, I find it difficult to immerse myself in the piece. In an example, we read a short story named “26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss” by Kij Johnson. In summary, this story revealed the mystery of the disappearance of twenty-six show monkeys. Specifically, the logic behind their disappearance and reappearance evokes skepticism from the reader, but they have minimal information about the monkeys’ background as well as the explanation to this miracle. I do believe that one of the main themes in this story is that life is unpredictable, and lacking some proper explanations. The story outlines this claim: “They [monkeys] have created wonders for you and performed mysteries. But there is a final mystery they offer you – the strangest, the greatest of all.” However, similar to Aimee (the main character), there is not a way to seize the mystery because of its absurdity in nature. This is unsettling to me because, as stated before, having inconsistences in comprehension hinders my ability to connect with the story. 

On the other hand, fiction stories have the ability to uncover a world that is unimaginable and difficult to create; the story creates different laws and rules that has to be embedded in the plot in a meaningful way.  I appreciate this aspect of fiction stories because it allows the reader to step out of “the given world.” The ability to learn about other lives and situations while subconsciously relating it back to our own lives is a beauty in itself.  In an example, our class read the short story, “Still Life” (A Sexagesimal Fairy Tale) by Ian Tregillis. This piece experimented with the idea of endless time, as time does not have pity on the residents. When traveling through this story, I kept imagining the contrast between “the given world” and the “endless now” world presented in this story. When analyzing this difference, I began to appreciate the beauty of time and the way it can be manipulated to present a unique world. Specifically, the way Tregillis described the main character illustrated this aspect: “Tink was the object of time’s affection. It attended her so closely, revered and adored her so completely, that it couldn’t bear to part from her, even for an instant.” This excerpt makes time seem more tangible, and this theme plays a major role in the character architype of Tink; the specific themes presented by fantasy pieces continue to draw me in. Moreover, the norms and laws of this world (for example, time is neither compassionate nor pitiful to others) influence the actions and outlooks of the characters as well. For example, the main character, Tink (a clockmaker), cannot age, and the years are measured by the ticking of her heart. This aspect puts me in awe, and often times I regret the disability of living in a fictional world!

The abstract plot sequence and characterizations evoke both fear and interest. The disability to use logic when reading the fictional pieces bothers me because I find the comprehension of character development and reason to be important. In the end, I still become awestruck by the fantasy stories because of its peculiar approach in both plot and characters; it is a bittersweet experience!  

“Still Life” Hyperlink: http://www.apex-magazine.com/still-life-a-sexagesimal-fairy-tale/