Awesome Lavratt
Anne Wilkes

Reviewed by Abner Goodwin

Awesome Lavratt is a short story about Prince Tyrantz who's spirit has been trapped inside a small box called The Awesome Lavratt for over three hundred years. Even though he is unable to move things physically, he can communicate telepathically and control those around him.

Tyrantz had been lost and buried for centuries when an archaeologist discovered him. Tyrantz took control of the archaeologist's mind as well as others who come into possession of The Awesome Lavratt in an attempt to rule again on his home world. This story follows the individuals whose lives are ruined by the power hungry, megalomaniacal Prince Tyrantz.

It seemed like a decent premise but I felt that the execution of the story was lack luster and despite it's length, it seemed to drag on at times. I felt no investment or interest in the main characters who were at best unconvincing and unsympathetic. It could be argued that it is extremely difficult to make interesting and three dimensional characters in a short story and I agree. The thing is, she starts the story off with three main characters and three quarters of the way through the story, she switches the story's entire focus to a bunch of other characters (accept for Prince Tyrantz) who are completely new and equally unappealing.

Another thing that bothered me and, really distracted me as a reader was her seemingly random use of the allegorical character names “Tyrantz, and Yooserp” which suggests that there would be some other meaning or interpretation to be found in this story, however, I found none. Instead, I found her use of these names to be distracting and irritating.

The back cover of this book describes it as “silly science fiction at it's best”. I do not agree: I'm not sure that I laughed once or was even slightly amused while reading Awesome Lavratt. I wouldn't describe reading it as a painful experience, but I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it either. I suggest that anyone who is looking for “silly science fiction at it's best” look somewhere else.