Diabolical Plots #95, January 2023
“Dog Song” by Avi Naftali
“Tell Me the Meaning of Bees” by Amal Singh
Reviewed by Kevin P Hallett
There are two new short stories in the 95th issue of Diabolical Plots. Both were entertaining reads.
“Dog Song” by Avi Naftali
Set in the future, this short SF story explores the possibility that dogs ever really existed. The myths about a dog’s characteristics are considered to see if they could be true. For instance, could any animal make a whining sound like meow?
This story explored how history buried the truth in myths and misunderstandings. It left the reader wondering what animals had disappeared.
“Tell Me the Meaning of Bees” by Amal Singh
Ullarian is one of two keepers of words in this short fantasy. It’s his job to create new words when the original disappears without any memory of what it was or represented. The term ‘caulk’ has just vanished, causing boats to sink and windows to become drafty. Ullarian decides the word ‘merk’ will fill in this new gap in meaning.
But as more gaps appear, he and his partner decide they must risk visiting the Tapestry. They are in their sixties, so can they complete the two-thousand-step climb to the Tapestry’s pyramid?
This story was more haunting than its premise would suggest. Anyone who has seen dementia or memory loss in someone can appreciate the clutching fear of forgetting something that once was an everyday word.
You can follow Kevin P Hallett’s writing on www.kevinphallett.com. There are links there to join his mailing list for a weekly newsletter on the recent release of his second novel, The Fifth Kingdom.