Sometimes the good short tarradiddle are the single which suggest at a much larger characterization , almost as if they ’re a windowpane onto one person ’s experience of a imposing saga . That ’s what Sigrid Ellis ’ “ No Return Address ” is like .
“ No Return Address , ” posted at StrangeHorizons.com , is one of those fantasy stories that let you sketch in a flock of particular for yourself , but the photo winds up being super intense nonetheless . The whole story is tell through curt postcards and letters that a char is indite to her daughter , who ’s melt down off from household . Except that the girl did n’t precisely just run away from home — she go to Europe to become involved in a collossal conflict , and as the mom learns more about her daughter Amanda , she also starts to learn more about herself . I do n’t to give too much away , but it winds up being incredibly moving , and yet also very funny in parts .
Here ’s how it starts :
Amanda Haines , you are the most hurtful , selfish , ungrateful little beef . I ca n’t consider I raised you . Two month you ’ve been neglect , and now I get this . Just this . This post card , with no return speech , no promissory note , just a postmark from Madrid , Spain , and your initial . Lowercase initial , such a pretentious affair to do . If you had put an address on this postcard , I would tell you what I retrieve of that , and what I imagine of you . I would send you this letter of the alphabet and secernate you never to come back here . This is n’t your base anymore . I ca n’t even say you this ! I ca n’t reach you at all ! You - you are not my girl any longer . Just - go to hell .
— —
I got another postcard , Amanda . You do n’t have a passport , dear . How did you get to Europe ? When you secern me you had new friends that weigh to you , I call up you ’d adjoin a guy . Did you meet a guy cable ? I did n’t know where Bacezza , Italy , is , I looked it up online . But your first postcard was from Madrid . Do you need money ? Where can I send it ? I hear the trains are cheap . Are they light ?
Are you safe ?
Read the rest over at the inter-group communication . [ Strange Horizons ]
Top prototype via Shutterstock .
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