A Dark Planetarium

by Scott William Carter

When they arrived at the planetarium, the clerk was affixing a sign to the glass window: No shows today. Equipment malfunction ... A powerful tale about a special father and son trip that will haunt you long after the story's conclusion. SCOTT WILLIAM CARTER's first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a "touching and impressive debut."

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction

Nook

First published December 12, 2010

About the author

Scott William Carter’s first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “touching and impressive debut” and won an Oregon Book Award. Since then, he has published many books and short stories, his fiction spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. His book for younger readers, Wooden Bones, chronicles the untold story of Pinocchio and was singled out for praise by the Junior Library Guild. He is the author of the popular Garrison Gage mystery series set on the Oregon coast, as well as the provocative Myron Vale Investigations, about the private investigator in Portland, Oregon who works for both the living and the dead. He’s also the cartoonist behind the Run of the House comic strip.

If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, in his “day job” life he works as an Instructional Designer and Digital Production & Publishing Specialist at Western Oregon University, where he manages the Digital Media Center and provides training and expertise to the campus community on a variety of topics, including Web page creation, digital video production, print-on-demand and ebook publishing, and many software applications related to publishing, distribution, and education in all its forms. He also teaches occasional classes for both the English department and the College of Education.

In past lives, he has been an academic technologist, a writing instructor, bookstore owner, the manager of a computer training company, and a ski instructor, though the most important job — and best – he’s ever had is being the father of his two children. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an extremely SHORT story; only took about 15 minutes to read it. It was well-written, and interesting...but the ending kinda left me hanging. I'd like to believe the dad was about to tell his son about heaven in the real sense: going home to be with God. But previously in the story it was said that the father was an atheist, so I don't really know what he was about to tell his son.

At the end of the story was a preview of the author's novel President Jock Vice President Nerd. Very fun stuff! :P

[MsBDiamondDiva1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of couple of short stories. The first short story has me wanting to cry, but the second one had me wanting more!!! Love the roller coaster of emotions!!! This is a quick entertaining read:o

[Ana Campanha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very very short story.. I guess it took me 10 minutes to read it and I found it interesting enough. It's about a father wanting to give his "sick" son a few great experiences. It is not a very deep and touching text but I was touched by the way it ended.

[Josef · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short touching story.

[Carmen K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short, emotional story.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really short and sweet - only a couple of pages. It ended on a bittersweet note and is actually quite sad.