Mysterion, February 2023

“The Binding of the Ram” by D.G.P. Rector

Reviewed by Chuck Rothman

Mysterion’s lone story for February is D.G.P. Rector’s “The Binding of the Ram.” It’s set during a long war where the people on the front line—the Pilots—are cloned warriors who have the ability to see briefly into the future, allowing them to anticipate enemy movements. The Chaplain on the ship has seen too many of them die, but isn’t sure about what she can do about it. The setting is familiar but the main story is about the conflict between the Chaplain’s faith and her duty. I do find the ending required two characters behaving in ways that come out of nowhere.

Chuck Rothman’s novels Staroamer’s Fate and Syron’s Fate available from Fantastic Books. His story, “Her Old Man” recently appeared in Horror for the Throne.