[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, January 6, 2025

“Dead Dog Mans the Lighthouse” by Max Franciscovich

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

As its title implies, “Dead Dog Mans the Lighthouse” by Max Franciscovich features a narrator who used to be a deceased canine but who is now a living human. This magical transformation was accomplished by the sole inhabitant of an island containing a lighthouse. The former dog performs routine tasks for the lighthouse keeper, who wishes to remain completely isolated from the rest of humanity. The discovery of a working radio leads to a crisis.

The author does a fine job narrating from the point of view of an animal finding itself in a new body. Despite the fact that the lighthouse keeper clearly has powerful magical abilities, the character’s back story is that of a typical mad scientist from a B movie. This background, combined with a melodramatic climax, gives an otherwise serious, moody story a touch of campiness.

Victoria Silverwolf prefers cats to dogs.