THIS LONG VIGIL

The author sent me his short story to read and review:

Bravo to veteran sci-fi writer Rhett C. Bruno who sent me his 20 page space saga. Well not really a saga, but it did remind me of Arthur C. Clarke’s 1968 novel, 2001: a Space Odyssey. I think that only an accomplished writer (like Mr. Bruno seems to be) can keep my undivided attention on such a short story. Since outer space goes on forever, it seems logical that a ship on a lengthy voyage would need a lot of people in suspended animation to take over the ship’s duties as their predecessors died off. In this story, there are 999 humans in various stages of growth in life chambers watched over by the ship’s computer, Dan. The one awake human (the 1,000th human aboard) is Orion, whose 25 year reign as ship's monitor is about to end. Will he let it end?

Orion is the sixth monitor of the interstellar Ark, Hermes, and Orion has about 23 hours left before he turns 50 and has to pick his successor to assist Dan in the ship’s daily duties. Then Orion must lay down in his chamber and go back to sleep until he turns 70 and gets recycled... “sucked up through a dark hole in the innards of Hermes.” There he will most likely become fertilizer for the crop growing somewhere on the ship. The ship is heading towards the star system Tau Ceti that the Pervenio Corporation on Earth (I’m assuming) says has a 83% chance of supporting life. This star system is assumed to have a planet that can support human life. The trip will take a 1,000 years until it arrives at it’s destination.

Orion witnesses the birth of a child, who will be put in a chamber to grow and mature as a possible monitor of the future. He has picked out his replacement (#2781, a female) but seems reluctant to lie down in his chamber while Dan wakens his replacement. Does Orion want to live? Possibly, but he knew that his time as the ship’s monitor would ultimately end. He really wants to put a space suit on and go outside to see space as he has never seen it before. Will he go outside or lie down in his chamber like a good company man? Read this hunky-dory short story for yourself...it will only take a half hour or so.

RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

Comment: This has to be my shortest review ever, but you have to keep in mind that the story was only 20 pages long. Oh to be that talented...and say so much in so short a time. I think Rhett C. Bruno’s work has to be read in earnest now and in the future. Good job!