The jade bracelet in this story by Mary Frances Chong represents the strong bond between a young Malaysian girl and her dying grandmother. The girl’s mother has devoted herself to caring for her mother in her final years and, when the end is near, moves her to a Buddhist cave temple for prayers and cremation. The grandmother’s wish was for the girl to have her bracelet. Unfortunately, her mother’s insistence on following Chinese hereditary practice causes her to disrespect this wish and give it to her irresponsible brother. Themes include love, care and respect for the aged, tradition, “face”. More…
Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?
Private First Class Paul Berlin faces three antagonists in this story by Vietnam veteran Tim O’Brien: the enemy (it is after all a war story!), his fellow soldiers (he will be punished and/or branded as a coward if he fails in his duty), and himself (the ability to control his fear). Although the major theme is clearly fear, the story also highlights the naivety and youthful innocence of many of those sent to fight in the war. Fear is presented as two-dimensional. While giving in to it can have grave consequences, facing and harnessing it can save a soldier’s life. More…
The Tenant
In this story by Bharati Mukherjee, a young Indian-American college professor struggles to make a new life after a series of “indiscretions”. She has sullied her reputation among her Brahman caste by marrying and later being left by an American graduate student, and compensated for the loss and shame through promiscuity. She finds solace as the lover of her armless landlord but, in the hope of reconnecting with her culture, abruptly leaves him when re-contacted by a “god-like” Indian man she had met through a matrimonial advertisement. Themes include identity, cultural confusion, social class, nonconformity, rejection, shame, alienation, loneliness, connection. More…
A Boy and His Dog
Written at the peak of the Cold War, this Harlan Ellison story takes place in a dystopic, post-apocalyptic world. ‘Civilized’ people have retreated to secure underground cities, leaving the desolate surface to ‘solo’ wanderers and lawless gangs who survive by foraging, violence and murder. The plot involves a young solo, his genetically manipulated telepathic dog, and an attractive young woman from the underground who almost comes between them. Despite the title, there is nothing “boyish” about the protagonist given what he and the girl get up to! Themes: anarchy, division, violence, loyalty, manipulation, betrayal, love. More…
Diamond Cuts Diamond
In this Thai folktale, a poor man has only plain rice to eat during a trip to visit a sick relative. Along the way, he smells some delicious curry being cooked for a rich man’s lunch. He stops nearby to eat his own lunch, and enjoys the plain rice more than ever because he imagines eating it with the curry. The rich man finds out about this and tries to make him pay for the smell of his curry. Thanks to a village chief who is cleverer than the rich man, things don’t go as he had planned. More…