Beneath Ceaseless Skies #353, April 7, 2022

“Eshat’s Temple” by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

“Ten Fruits and Other Memories of Rialynas” by AnaMaria Curtis

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

Two quiet stories appear in this issue.

In “Eshat’s Temple” by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, the title character is in charge of a sacred repository of books. The most important volume leads each person to a text that is appropriate to his or her life, offers the proper response in any natural disaster, and serves as a guide to judgment in criminal cases. Eshat faces the theft and loss of this vital book, forcing her to seek guidance from a goddess. The deity relates the origin of the holy library, leading Eshat to a decision regarding its future as well as her own.

This multilayered story can be read as an allegory for finding one’s way in life without depending on outside direction. It also serves as a thoughtful tribute to booklovers, and as a reminder that sorrow is a part of every life. As well as creating a protagonist with whom one can empathize, the author also paints a portrait of a goddess with unusual depth and believability.

As the title suggests, “Ten Fruits and Other Memories of Rialynas” by AnaMarie Curtis consists of ten sections of text, each one describing an imaginary fruit that relates to the narrator’s experiences in some way. The minimal plot of this brief tale deals with the narrator being taken into the home of an aristocrat, and eventually leaving.

Besides the imaginary fruits, the fantasy content of the story consists of references to griffins and unicorns. These seem out of place in an otherwise realistic narrative. The detailed descriptions of the fruit are vivid and imaginative. The characters, on the other hand, remain vague.

Victoria Silverwolf likes books and fruit.