Farrago’s Wainscot, Part VI: Obscura

Farrago’s Wainscot clearly wants readers to believe that it is a radical, experimental e-zine. Part VI: Obscura explores themes of estrangement from society, with some interesting, multilayered storytelling, but on the evidence of the six stories presented, it would be a mistake to assume that this e-zine is in any way inaccessible or too far removed from familiar narrative techniques.

“Shadows in My Mind” by S.C Bryce attempts to convey the decaying state of mind of an old woman. Various friends and relatives come to visit Claire, but she frequently has no idea who they are. As readers, we piece together a picture of her life, which Claire herself is increasingly unable to grasp. The gradual reveal of Claire’s situation provides a narrative arc of sorts, but there isn’t much of a story here in any traditional sense. Perhaps it doesn’t matter, and certainly, the writing is effective.

“All Roads Are One” by Deena Fisher exhibits many of the same strengths and weakness of “Shadows in My Mind,” but it appealed to me more. The prose has a desperately downbeat poetic sensibility as, again, we see fragments of a life, mostly childhood memories of a family constantly on the move, year after year, and the narrator, who has distanced herself from relationships and from life. It says something about how detached people can become who are always travelling and have no sense of home.

“Three Views of the Maiden in Peril” by Catherine Lundoff does what it says on the tin and is an exuberant postmodern romp. The protagonist slips from one story to the next, frequently doomed to die horribly in an endless series of perilous clichés. But can she imagine an alternative? This is a delightful story, though it does make its point with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. And I feel slightly disappointed that Lundoff was content to parody the clichés rather than demonstrate how it should be done—with a maiden in an original, dramatic situation. But perhaps that’s a job for a different story.

“Running the Road” by Nancy Jane Moore comes as a welcome change of pace, an honest to goodness science fiction story. With cars and bikes. In a world where thrills are virtual, what would someone do for a taste of the real thing? Compared to the other stories here, “Running the Road” showed a greater willingness to explore where estrangement from “normal” society might come from and where it might lead. A confident piece of storytelling with a real sense of urgency to the first person narration.

“She Has a Nice Personality” by E.C. Myers is the shortest story of this issue. Nevertheless, it is sharp and effective. Eric is married to some kind of manufactured, or at least non-human, girl with multiple personalities. While this is initially seen as a plus by the hapless Eric, variety adding a certain spice, when the number of personalities starts to escalate, something must be done. If the premise is somewhat improbable, and the story suffers from clumsy moments where the characters tell each other things they surely already know (as you know, Bob), at least the scenario is played out to a logical conclusion.

The highlight of this issue is “Flowertongue” by Jessica Reisman. Told with a mix of third-person narration and letters of correspondence, it begins with the first meeting between Jonathan Ames and Giacometta Cini in the year 1858. He is an adventurer, restless, perhaps, for one more expedition before returning home to help his brother with the family estate. She is the daughter of a “university botanist with some odd ideas. Theories.” Following Reisman’s witty opening, in which the two lead characters flirt with each other just out of earshot of their preoccupied chaperon, Ames is drawn into a Heart of Darkness style journey into Paraguay in search of a rare orchid desired by Gia’s ailing father.

This is a richly textured tale with subtly fantastical undertones and a satisfying conclusion. I was entranced throughout. Feeling completely authentic in its detail, it shows that a writer can be both disciplined and playful at the same time. For my money, it’s one that should appear on the Year’s Best lists.

This issue also includes poetry by Adrienne J. Odasso and Kristine Ong Muslim, and nonfiction by Toiya Kristen Finley.