Wow! I loved reading this one. I guess the saying, saved the best for last, rings true with Cifiscape Vol II.
(It is true, yes. I have not yet read all of the stories. I like to skip around as titles catch my eye.)
"Amos Was Here" is an inspiring story about how one person can make a difference in the life of a community. I've been trying to write such a story for a while. Now, I believe that I've found a good model.
The story begins with speculation as to the origin of mysterious graffiti that appears at the scene of benevolent work. Then, the narrator tells one possible myth. The myth is of a community organizer who has adopted the alias Amos, after his favorite Biblical prophet. He does his good work from a barbers' pulpit.
What I liked the most about this story was the mixture of secular activism and religious. I'm not religious, but I enjoyed the sermon posing as a story, very much. It was done, I think, seamlessly.
Instead of a call to God, in my writing, I call for environmental action. I know my writing can seem thinly contrived skeletons only wearing the skin of story as a delivery device for my ecological message. Thus, I learned something about writing from Donley's story - it is possible to teach and entertain.
Thank you, Donley.
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Yup! I have a story in Cifiscape Vol II. I'm just trying to get the word out about the anthology.
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