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The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr
Tired and bloody from her battle with the Seven, Sharra stumbles through the gate onto a pristine planet, the kingdom and prison of a solitary singer doomed to await Sharra's arrival...
Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1976
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About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,503 books120k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 1, 2022
A melancholic, middling entry for my wee threeple George club...
This was multifaceted and well written with lots to recommend it. Ultimately not one of my favourites, though.
There is great use of the short-story format here - Martin gives just enough detail about lore, character and setting to make you want more but still come away feeling like the snapshot he's handed you is complete.
Very little happens, though, and something in the presentation borders on boring. Maybe it is the romance of it all? Laren Dor himself merges in and out of the Creep Zone, even though it is easy to see the sadness of his situation. As Martin originally intended, this would have been a satisfying entry in a collection of shorts surrounding Sharra, the girl walking through worlds searching for her lover. This is the only one that got written, though, and I feel like that takes some of its cleverness away.
Technically remarkable, and otherwise ok.
This was multifaceted and well written with lots to recommend it. Ultimately not one of my favourites, though.
There is great use of the short-story format here - Martin gives just enough detail about lore, character and setting to make you want more but still come away feeling like the snapshot he's handed you is complete.
Very little happens, though, and something in the presentation borders on boring. Maybe it is the romance of it all? Laren Dor himself merges in and out of the Creep Zone, even though it is easy to see the sadness of his situation. As Martin originally intended, this would have been a satisfying entry in a collection of shorts surrounding Sharra, the girl walking through worlds searching for her lover. This is the only one that got written, though, and I feel like that takes some of its cleverness away.
Technically remarkable, and otherwise ok.
December 30, 2015
The Seven are vengeful, monstrous gods. Sharra defied them. Laren defied them. this evocative and surprisingly romantic short story is about the brief time Sharra and Laren have together on a strange and empty world.
I love short stories and novellas that manage to build entire worlds in their short spans. this is one of those; the material here could easily form the backdrop of a plus-sized novel or even a series of novels. but the best part is that those materials are just the details - the focus of Lonely Songs is almost entirely on our two protagonists and their dreamlike time together. lovely.
I've only read this author's Song of Ice and Fire novels, but this brief excursion outside of that series makes me feel certain that he has so many more worlds for me to explore.
I love short stories and novellas that manage to build entire worlds in their short spans. this is one of those; the material here could easily form the backdrop of a plus-sized novel or even a series of novels. but the best part is that those materials are just the details - the focus of Lonely Songs is almost entirely on our two protagonists and their dreamlike time together. lovely.
I've only read this author's Song of Ice and Fire novels, but this brief excursion outside of that series makes me feel certain that he has so many more worlds for me to explore.
May 21, 2012
An eerily beautiful short tale, told with the elaborate imagination owned by few. Another reason to love George RR Martin. It put romance, philosophy and terror into a lovely little bundle that was both a pleasure to read and something to think about. Kind of like a great poem.
December 5, 2012
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr, George R.R. Martin
Written in the gripping and masterfully vivid prose that I have come to expect from George R. R. Martin, The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr is a delightful short story about a mysterious woman who is able to walk between different worlds using special gateways.
As she passes through countless worlds, she is constantly searching for her lover, a young man was taken from her by the powerfully evil Seven. It is on one of these worlds that the woman stumbles upon Laren Dorr, and exiled and lonely god that has been prophesied to love her. Deciding to stay with the god and recover from her injuries, the woman knows that he loves her and that he will try anything in order to convince her to stay there with him...
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr then, is a perfect way to kill a spare hour and paints a picture of a perfectly beautiful, yet sad, world that any fan of fantasy will enjoy.
Written in the gripping and masterfully vivid prose that I have come to expect from George R. R. Martin, The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr is a delightful short story about a mysterious woman who is able to walk between different worlds using special gateways.
As she passes through countless worlds, she is constantly searching for her lover, a young man was taken from her by the powerfully evil Seven. It is on one of these worlds that the woman stumbles upon Laren Dorr, and exiled and lonely god that has been prophesied to love her. Deciding to stay with the god and recover from her injuries, the woman knows that he loves her and that he will try anything in order to convince her to stay there with him...
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr then, is a perfect way to kill a spare hour and paints a picture of a perfectly beautiful, yet sad, world that any fan of fantasy will enjoy.
January 26, 2022
I think this is the most beautiful story that I've read thus far from GRRM. There is so much beauty and sweetness to it all. And still that slice of bitterness. Overall I am satisfied with the ending. It was earned and I can understand and appreciate the why.
GRRM tackles love and loneliness in this one. Powerful and complex themes. They resonate with you. The aspect that I loved was how fleeting love is. It's that fleeting nature that gave it passion. If there is no change there is boredom which may even give way to hate. And this is a recurring theme that I keep on coming back to with many of the stories: change. Immortality and permanence gives way to loneliness and madness. Change is very important which is why Laren is so melancholic and Sharra must move on.
The Seven are monstrous Gods in this story. I never cared much for them in ASOIAF so I smirked when I read of them here.
GRRM tackles love and loneliness in this one. Powerful and complex themes. They resonate with you. The aspect that I loved was how fleeting love is. It's that fleeting nature that gave it passion. If there is no change there is boredom which may even give way to hate. And this is a recurring theme that I keep on coming back to with many of the stories: change. Immortality and permanence gives way to loneliness and madness. Change is very important which is why Laren is so melancholic and Sharra must move on.
The Seven are monstrous Gods in this story. I never cared much for them in ASOIAF so I smirked when I read of them here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2022
A little head shake is in order.
February 11, 2022
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr was a story that intrigued me with the introduction, but my feelings changed as the story progressed. I loved how atmospheric this story was, along with the intriguing world-building, yet I never connected with the characters. There were so many intriguing elements introduced that I wished to see more of, but we never explored them. Thus, I found myself a little disappointed by how something so unique was used with something that didn’t fully deliver.
In the end, I think this is another of George R.R. Martin’s short stories where I wasn’t quite the right reader.
In the end, I think this is another of George R.R. Martin’s short stories where I wasn’t quite the right reader.
May 28, 2020
I almost hate being asked what my favorite book is, for I do not have but one. This short story, however, is one I can honestly say defies all genres, all reasons and will always be one of the strongest contenders for number one.
It's a very short story, one that gives more questions than answers. I could even argue he story is unfinished. But when you read it, it's as though you get to glimpse into another reality; for a moment it isn't important where they came from or why they are doing whatever they do; you just are experiencing their existence, or perhaps your own existence amplified...
In the pages words are transformed and you enter a very vivid, very alive world. One that is emotionally attentive and delicate for a reader to not experience the hopes and the realities of the main character(s) would be mind blowing to me.
In this world Laren leads a 'life' that mirrors mine; his far more dramatic and visible, tangible really, and perhaps that is one of many reasons it holds such a deep place in my heart.
The writing is epic, of course, and while I normally hate a story that has left questions with no hope of answers, this story inspires me to create a story of my own from the curiosity which is given from beginning and once more to the end.
Or perhaps that is how it should be... Not all things in life are answered; things do not always work out with a fairy tale ending and promises, however sincere, cannot always be kept. The lesson in this short tale is deep and epic, and I would call it required reading if I had such a right.
It's a very short story, one that gives more questions than answers. I could even argue he story is unfinished. But when you read it, it's as though you get to glimpse into another reality; for a moment it isn't important where they came from or why they are doing whatever they do; you just are experiencing their existence, or perhaps your own existence amplified...
In the pages words are transformed and you enter a very vivid, very alive world. One that is emotionally attentive and delicate for a reader to not experience the hopes and the realities of the main character(s) would be mind blowing to me.
In this world Laren leads a 'life' that mirrors mine; his far more dramatic and visible, tangible really, and perhaps that is one of many reasons it holds such a deep place in my heart.
The writing is epic, of course, and while I normally hate a story that has left questions with no hope of answers, this story inspires me to create a story of my own from the curiosity which is given from beginning and once more to the end.
Or perhaps that is how it should be... Not all things in life are answered; things do not always work out with a fairy tale ending and promises, however sincere, cannot always be kept. The lesson in this short tale is deep and epic, and I would call it required reading if I had such a right.
August 31, 2017
"The beginning of her story is lost to us, with the memory of the world from which she sprang. The end?
The end is not yet, and when it comes we shall not know it."
He warned us since the freaking beginning that this would end in a cliffhanger!
I love short stories or novellas that are able to create a whole world in their short lenght. This is one of them, and a great one at that!
This feels both finished and an ungoing project because we are given the middle of the story.
We don't get to know the beginning or the end, simply the middle. This is another reason why I love it, there's a certain mystery about it.
I could see this being developed into a full novel, or even a series to further explore in more detail the content that is presented to us in this. Although I'm not sure if that would make the story lose what it is now, I kind of love the melancholy and the not knowing, it makes it more interesting.
Nonetheless it's a great read!
The end is not yet, and when it comes we shall not know it."
He warned us since the freaking beginning that this would end in a cliffhanger!
I love short stories or novellas that are able to create a whole world in their short lenght. This is one of them, and a great one at that!
This feels both finished and an ungoing project because we are given the middle of the story.
We don't get to know the beginning or the end, simply the middle. This is another reason why I love it, there's a certain mystery about it.
I could see this being developed into a full novel, or even a series to further explore in more detail the content that is presented to us in this. Although I'm not sure if that would make the story lose what it is now, I kind of love the melancholy and the not knowing, it makes it more interesting.
Nonetheless it's a great read!
July 15, 2017
"There was a time long ago—I think the sun was yellow then—when I realized that I would love any voice that was not an echo of my own.”
Grrm's writing is pure. amazing and heart breaking.
PS: this story is supposed to be a part of a movie along with Bitterblooms and In the Lost Lands starring Milla Jovovich, but sadly, no update since 2015.
December 2, 2019
Promethean-inspired Laren Dorr is an interesting character in this tale which future echos in Martin's Rhaegar/Lyanna Stark/Robert Baratheon storyline of ASOIAF. Worth a read.
January 26, 2023
Still can't be a fan of Martin's writing.
I guess trying out his short stories was not a good decision in the end.
I guess trying out his short stories was not a good decision in the end.
November 9, 2017
Lovely read, especially if you see the book as a prequel to A Song of Fire and Ice (Game of Thrones) by associating "The Seven" mentioned with the new gods in the ASOIAF universe.
February 10, 2022
I wasn't able to get fully immersed in this, partly because of the very familiar worldbuilding elements from Ice and Fire. But it's a short, intriguing read and I really liked the twist.
May 21, 2024
Published 1976,
February 10, 2016
This is a very short story by GRRM
It's a fantasy, very melancholic and romantic and fantastical.
It feels both finished and unfinished because we are presented with the middle of the story.
it's not the beginning, it's not the end, it's the middle.
We have Sharra, who for a very long time, fights “the seven” (reminiscent of the faith of the seven from ASOIAF)
She travels between worlds and stumbles one day, injured, into a world where Laren, a singer, finds her.
He was given a prophecy by the seven
and she's looking for someone.
The end is very interesting because I had to think about it, it does connect to the whole book and I love how it came together
It's not obvious, but it's definitely there.
You can get through the whole story in one sitting
I give 3.5 stars, because I did like reading it, it's spiced with all the GRRM imagery.
It's a fantasy, very melancholic and romantic and fantastical.
It feels both finished and unfinished because we are presented with the middle of the story.
it's not the beginning, it's not the end, it's the middle.
We have Sharra, who for a very long time, fights “the seven” (reminiscent of the faith of the seven from ASOIAF)
She travels between worlds and stumbles one day, injured, into a world where Laren, a singer, finds her.
He was given a prophecy by the seven
and she's looking for someone.
The end is very interesting because I had to think about it, it does connect to the whole book and I love how it came together
It's not obvious, but it's definitely there.
You can get through the whole story in one sitting
I give 3.5 stars, because I did like reading it, it's spiced with all the GRRM imagery.
January 1, 2013
Review
I’m a huge fan of the Song of Ice and Fire series but in general I don’t like this type of fantasy story.
I thought that the story was fairly entertaining and it is very impressive that Martin manages to create such clearly defined worlds, particularly in a short story like this one, but I probably wouldn’t have wanted to read a full length story.
Favourite character
Sharra
I’m a huge fan of the Song of Ice and Fire series but in general I don’t like this type of fantasy story.
I thought that the story was fairly entertaining and it is very impressive that Martin manages to create such clearly defined worlds, particularly in a short story like this one, but I probably wouldn’t have wanted to read a full length story.
Favourite character
Sharra
December 31, 2021
One of my all-time favorite of GRRM's short stories, one whose mood has stayed with me for years. I vread it as part of the collection The Complete Dreamsongs.
July 19, 2013
Bought for a dollar on Amazon and I am glad that I did. While it maybe a short story, I was interested from start to finish and sort of disappointed that it ended so quickly. It's the kind of book that I'd love to see a full novel sequel for. I'd highly recommend it, It was a very good book.
June 26, 2015
Some sort of tale that surely can be identified with a few of the classic ones. Nothing new here, but it's an easy reading and the writer has an enjoyable language. The third star is because he refrained from violence in the story.
May 14, 2012
A little slice of melancholic heaven, this was pure bliss. Like a fleeting dream it didn't stay for long, but while it was here it captured me entirely. A real treat.
August 29, 2017
God, this ending! Nobody can't say George R. R. Martin isn't a master at making our eyes bleed within a simple paragraph.
February 10, 2025
Τον G.R.R. Martin, τον οποίο το ευρύ κοινό γνώρισε χάρη στην τηλεοπτική μεταφορά του Song of Ice and Fire (λέγε με “Game of Thrones” ή Γαμωθρόνι από την 4η σεζόν και μετά, όταν η σειρά άρχισε να χάνει το je ne sais quois της και να μετατρέπεται σε «άλλη μια απογοήτευση σε επεισόδια») ο κόσμος πάντα λάτρευε να τον μισεί.
Πολύ πριν η σειρά Game of Thrones γίνει λάμψη στο μάτι του γαλατά, πριν καν ο κόσμος αρχίσει να δυσφορεί με τα τεράστια χρονικά κενά ανάμεσα στα βιβλία της σειράς τους, ο Martin είχε δεχθεί πυρά από κοινό και κριτικούς όταν εγκατέλειψε το Sci-Fi για να προσδεθεί στο άρμα του Fantasy, καθώς το Sci-Fi φαινόταν να πνέει τα λοίσθια, το δε fantasy να παίρνει τα πάνω του και να ξεπερνάει τις μονοδιάστατες περιπτώσεις κονανοβαρβάρων και ημίγυμνων πριγκίπισσών που περίμεναν να σωθούν από μυώδεις αμόρφωτους, παρουσιάζοντας εξαιρετικά βιβλία (όχι ότι δεν πνίγηκε το genre και στις φτηνές μπαλαφάρες, προς Κρομ). Πλέον, βέβαια, τον βρίζει το μισό γνωστό σύμπαν για την καθυστέρηση 15 χρόνων του «Winds of Winter» και οι κακεντρεχείς βάζουν στοιχήματα για το αν θα προλάβει να το ολοκληρώσει πριν γίνει hashtag/obituary/past tense.
Ωστόσο. Πολλά χρόνια πριν αρχίσει να εξάπτει τα πάθη, είχε γράψει μερικές εξαιρετικές νουβέλες και διηγήματα (μην ξεχνάμε ότι η σταδιοδρομία του ξεκινάει τη δεκαετία του 1970) στα οποία διαφαινόταν η εξαιρετική πένα του. Ένα από αυτά είναι και το The Lonely Songs of Larren Dorr (έχει μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά και από τις εκδόσεις Ωρόρα, στον 22ο δεύτερο τόμο της πασίγνωστης ανθρολογίας επιστημονικής φαντασίας, με τίτλο «Ιστορίες με Θεούς και Δαίμονες»), δημοσιευμένο πρώτη φορά το 1976 στο τεύχος Μαΐου του περιοδικού Fantastic (σελίδα 44, αν θέλετε όλη την πληροφορία, ενώ ΑΜΕΣΩΣ επόμενο ήταν το Two Suns Setting του Karl Edward Wagner, για να δείτε τι ΠΕΡΙΟΔΙΚΑΡΕΣ κυκλοφορούσαν κάποτε που βάζανε για πλάκα δύο «βαριά πεντάρια» σε ένα τεύχος).
Η αφήγηση δίνει την αίσθηση «σπαράγματος» από μεγαλύτερη ιστορία, με την Σάρα, «το κορίτσι που πηγαίνει ανάμεσα στους κόσμους», μια πολεμίστρια κυρία για την οποία… δε θα μάθουμε πολύ περισσότερα πέρα από το ότι έχει μόλις ξεφύγει από μια βίαιη σύγκρουση στον κόσμο του Λάρεν Ντορ, με μια σκοτεινή κορώνα στο κεφάλι της που προφανώς της επιτρέπει να χρησιμοποιεί πύλες μεταξύ κόσμων (κάτι που οι Επτά -don’t ask, είναι κακοί, είναι μάγοι και κυνηγάνε τη Σάρα, πλέον όσα ξέρετε ξέρω- δεν εγκρίνουν), να φτάνει στην πόρτα του κάστρου του Λάρεν (ο οποίος είναι και ο μοναδικός φύλακας στον κόσμο του), ψάχνοντας για την πύλη που θα την περάσει στον επόμενο κόσμο (θυμίζω, την καταδιώκουν οι «επτά»).
Ο ίδιος ο Λάρεν που θα τη φιλοξενήσει, είναι μόνος, θεραπευτής, κατ΄πάσα πιθανότητα αθάνατος και… σε επαφή με τους επτά, έχει εικόνα της Σάρα που έρχεται (από τους επτά, τους οποίους μισεί, αλλά τον ενημέρωσαν για τον επικείμενο ερχομό της) και γνωρίζει μέρος τουλάχιστον της ιστορίας της (σε… αντίθεση με τον αναγνώστη).
Στον άγονο και κενό κόσμο του Λάρεν, οι δυο τους ελεύθεροι να κινούνται μέσα κι έξω από «σαν ζωντανό» κάστρο του, θα αναπτύξουν μια αρκετά πολυεπίπεδη σχέση (παρακαλώ όχι χάχανα στα πίσω έδρανα!), ενώ η Σάρα θέλει μεν να φύγει αλλά… όχι τόσο, ενώ ο Λάρεν προσπαθεί να την κρατήσει στον κόσμο του, κοντά του, κάτι που εξηγεί πώς ένα μεγάλο τμήμα της ιστορίας έχει να κάνει με μονολόγους του Λάρεν σχετικά τη μοναξιά και τις ελπίδες του από την άφιξη της Σάρα για την ανακούφισή του (είπαμε, όχι χάχανα εκεί πίσω!) από αυτήν.
Τα πράγματα θα πάρουν το δρόμο τους (δεν έχει σπόιλερ εδώ) και ο αναγνώστης θα βγει κερδισμένος με ένα υπέροχο διήγημα, στο οποίο το συναίσθημα και η πρόζα κερδίζουν κατά κράτος την πλοκή και ίσως και τους χαρακτήρες.
Μπορείτε να το διαβάσετε εδώ, στα αγγλικά, είναι public domain:
https://psychopomp.com/fantasy/march-...
Πολύ πριν η σειρά Game of Thrones γίνει λάμψη στο μάτι του γαλατά, πριν καν ο κόσμος αρχίσει να δυσφορεί με τα τεράστια χρονικά κενά ανάμεσα στα βιβλία της σειράς τους, ο Martin είχε δεχθεί πυρά από κοινό και κριτικούς όταν εγκατέλειψε το Sci-Fi για να προσδεθεί στο άρμα του Fantasy, καθώς το Sci-Fi φαινόταν να πνέει τα λοίσθια, το δε fantasy να παίρνει τα πάνω του και να ξεπερνάει τις μονοδιάστατες περιπτώσεις κονανοβαρβάρων και ημίγυμνων πριγκίπισσών που περίμεναν να σωθούν από μυώδεις αμόρφωτους, παρουσιάζοντας εξαιρετικά βιβλία (όχι ότι δεν πνίγηκε το genre και στις φτηνές μπαλαφάρες, προς Κρομ). Πλέον, βέβαια, τον βρίζει το μισό γνωστό σύμπαν για την καθυστέρηση 15 χρόνων του «Winds of Winter» και οι κακεντρεχείς βάζουν στοιχήματα για το αν θα προλάβει να το ολοκληρώσει πριν γίνει hashtag/obituary/past tense.
Ωστόσο. Πολλά χρόνια πριν αρχίσει να εξάπτει τα πάθη, είχε γράψει μερικές εξαιρετικές νουβέλες και διηγήματα (μην ξεχνάμε ότι η σταδιοδρομία του ξεκινάει τη δεκαετία του 1970) στα οποία διαφαινόταν η εξαιρετική πένα του. Ένα από αυτά είναι και το The Lonely Songs of Larren Dorr (έχει μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά και από τις εκδόσεις Ωρόρα, στον 22ο δεύτερο τόμο της πασίγνωστης ανθρολογίας επιστημονικής φαντασίας, με τίτλο «Ιστορίες με Θεούς και Δαίμονες»), δημοσιευμένο πρώτη φορά το 1976 στο τεύχος Μαΐου του περιοδικού Fantastic (σελίδα 44, αν θέλετε όλη την πληροφορία, ενώ ΑΜΕΣΩΣ επόμενο ήταν το Two Suns Setting του Karl Edward Wagner, για να δείτε τι ΠΕΡΙΟΔΙΚΑΡΕΣ κυκλοφορούσαν κάποτε που βάζανε για πλάκα δύο «βαριά πεντάρια» σε ένα τεύχος).
Η αφήγηση δίνει την αίσθηση «σπαράγματος» από μεγαλύτερη ιστορία, με την Σάρα, «το κορίτσι που πηγαίνει ανάμεσα στους κόσμους», μια πολεμίστρια κυρία για την οποία… δε θα μάθουμε πολύ περισσότερα πέρα από το ότι έχει μόλις ξεφύγει από μια βίαιη σύγκρουση στον κόσμο του Λάρεν Ντορ, με μια σκοτεινή κορώνα στο κεφάλι της που προφανώς της επιτρέπει να χρησιμοποιεί πύλες μεταξύ κόσμων (κάτι που οι Επτά -don’t ask, είναι κακοί, είναι μάγοι και κυνηγάνε τη Σάρα, πλέον όσα ξέρετε ξέρω- δεν εγκρίνουν), να φτάνει στην πόρτα του κάστρου του Λάρεν (ο οποίος είναι και ο μοναδικός φύλακας στον κόσμο του), ψάχνοντας για την πύλη που θα την περάσει στον επόμενο κόσμο (θυμίζω, την καταδιώκουν οι «επτά»).
Ο ίδιος ο Λάρεν που θα τη φιλοξενήσει, είναι μόνος, θεραπευτής, κατ΄πάσα πιθανότητα αθάνατος και… σε επαφή με τους επτά, έχει εικόνα της Σάρα που έρχεται (από τους επτά, τους οποίους μισεί, αλλά τον ενημέρωσαν για τον επικείμενο ερχομό της) και γνωρίζει μέρος τουλάχιστον της ιστορίας της (σε… αντίθεση με τον αναγνώστη).
Στον άγονο και κενό κόσμο του Λάρεν, οι δυο τους ελεύθεροι να κινούνται μέσα κι έξω από «σαν ζωντανό» κάστρο του, θα αναπτύξουν μια αρκετά πολυεπίπεδη σχέση (παρακαλώ όχι χάχανα στα πίσω έδρανα!), ενώ η Σάρα θέλει μεν να φύγει αλλά… όχι τόσο, ενώ ο Λάρεν προσπαθεί να την κρατήσει στον κόσμο του, κοντά του, κάτι που εξηγεί πώς ένα μεγάλο τμήμα της ιστορίας έχει να κάνει με μονολόγους του Λάρεν σχετικά τη μοναξιά και τις ελπίδες του από την άφιξη της Σάρα για την ανακούφισή του (είπαμε, όχι χάχανα εκεί πίσω!) από αυτήν.
Τα πράγματα θα πάρουν το δρόμο τους (δεν έχει σπόιλερ εδώ) και ο αναγνώστης θα βγει κερδισμένος με ένα υπέροχο διήγημα, στο οποίο το συναίσθημα και η πρόζα κερδίζουν κατά κράτος την πλοκή και ίσως και τους χαρακτήρες.
Μπορείτε να το διαβάσετε εδώ, στα αγγλικά, είναι public domain:
https://psychopomp.com/fantasy/march-...
April 6, 2020
Naturally, not a fan of fantasy genre. Listening to the audio version, the story of Sharra and Laren Dorr captivated me from beginning to end. I heard what sounded like my name..Shara. That was cool. The description of the worlds by Laren Dorr to Sharra on the balcony and the swirling from worlds to worlds was vivid and very mentally visual. This short story still lingers in my mind. I want more. Bravo!
December 23, 2024
I keep returning to this short story once or twice a month. George can write sad boys really well, but beyond that it is his ability to write loneliness and depression that has kept this story in my mind even after I read it.
May 21, 2017
Great short story! Really liked the characters and the open end is perfect.
May 22, 2020
Beautiful
December 12, 2020
A beautiful short story with very deep characters. This is one of George's most enjoyable and lighthearted of his early works.
7.75/10
7.75/10
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February 19, 2022listened to the alt shwift x recording of this and its a great story! especially with his narration
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