“The Canyon” by Alex Popkin
If there is a theme for this month’s issue of The Sword Review, it must be reflection. Several of the characters presented have choices to make or past decisions to reassess and deconstruct in order to move forward. While the stories might seem fairly straightforward, some of the ideas they might generate are not.
“The Canyon” by Alex Popkin could very well be a lesson in history. Some of the attitudes expressed by Governor Banron about the Beasts and their “needs” are very similar to attitudes expressed in the past about Native Americans in this country, the Aborigines in Australia, and various African cultures, especially regarding land. It was a European—and subsequently American—practice to only recognize a limited number of land rights for indigenous peoples. Conflicts arose with each subsequent bit of property taken, and violence frequently resulted.
In “The Canyon,” it’s up to the protagonist, Father Varrenaz, to find a way to keep the conflict from spiraling out of control. Popkin imbues Father Varrenaz with many characteristics: idealism bordering on naiveté, firmly rooted faith, the wisdom of age, and, when needed, a backbone of steel. I wish that the other characters shared the same level of complexity. Nevertheless, “The Canyon” is a decent read that may inspire you to explore nonfiction with similar themes.
“Justice” by L. S. King deals with two themes that should be familiar to The Sword Review readers: faith, sacrifice, and redemption. Zaqain was the High Priest of his kingdom before an assassination attempt set him on a path to a new life. A brush with death and the influence of good people do wonders for Zaqain’s spirit. This new lease on life requires him to revisit his past in the hope of ensuring a better future for his new family and the subjects of the kingdom.
“Justice” has a few problems. Primarily, Zaqain is the only character who feels real. More input from other characters, especially Trevor, Kalleen, or Hollin, would have made the story fuller. The reader also doesn’t know why there is an assassination attempt, especially if the protagonist is as shallow and faithless as he purports to be. Even so, the story is well written and has enough going on in it to maintain interest.
Zaqain’s quest mirrors one that people make everyday. We must choose between doing what’s right and doing what’s easy, without any guarantee that the right thing will be what benefits us most. Most of us will never be a high priest or an advisor to kings like Zaqain, but at some point, everyone has to make hard choices. His quest is relevant because it is all too familiar, making “Justice” a good read with an even better message.
In “Treasure from the God” by Daniel Ausema, a beggar and penitent, Tantus, petitions his town’s god, Aishis, to give him enough gold so he doesn’t have to beg anymore. The god hears his prayers, but Tantus soon learns that the price for his comfort is high. The choices Tantus makes then shape the heart of this character driven story. While other characters besides Tantus are named, they only exist to help frame “Treasure from the God” and move it forward. Its strongest attributes are the questions it raises regarding the cost of human generosity and the frailty of gods. Delving into this will leave you with many ideas to ponder and a gentle, yet reaffirming, message.