REVIEW: “The Bargain” by Thomas J. Weiss

Review of Thomas J. Weiss, “The Bargain,” After Dinner Conversation 3, no. 12 (December 2022): 48-65 — Subscribe here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

This was an intriguing “first contact/take me to your leader” story. Neither of the characters involved in the titular bargain are involved out of choice, and both hope to reach the same outcome, which makes the bargain particularly interesting. With richer characters and more of an actual storyline, this was one of the stronger stories in this issue. While bits of it made it clear how white-western the viewpoint it was written from was, it was also clear that the author tried to diversify the cast list. A solid effort.

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REVIEW: “Male Privilege” by Alan Winnikoff

Review of Alan Winnikoff, “Male Privilege,” After Dinner Conversation 3, no. 12 (December 2022): 27-46 — Subscribe here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

(Note: After Dinner Conversation pairs spec fic stories with philosophical reflection questions. In some reviews, I’ll engage with the questions; in some, I won’t.)

Content note: Sexual assault.

I really did not enjoy this story: Brendon, the main character, has no redeeming qualities. For most of the story, I wasn’t 100% convinced that I was supposed to enjoy it, that Brendon was supposed to generate any sympathy in me or that I should’ve expected any female character in it to be anything other than a foil for a man.

But the opening discussion question asks (paraphrased) “but, really, did he really do anything wrong?” which is a question that can only be asked by someone who thinks there is a possibility that the answer is “no”. So apparently someone must’ve thought there was a shred of acceptability in Brendon.

I try to keep my reviews relatively measured, even for stories that I don’t like. But with this one, I feel compelled to say: Don’t read it.

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REVIEW: “Mrs. Robinson” by Veronica L. Asay

Review of Veronica L. Asay, “Mrs. Robinson,” After Dinner Conversation 3, no. 12 (December 2022): 5-25 — Subscribe here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

(Note: After Dinner Conversation pairs spec fic stories with philosophical reflection questions. In some reviews, I’ll engage with the questions; in some, I won’t.)

This was a proper Gothic tale, hitting the right notes of ludicrousness and horror, and providing a suitable setting for the moral quandary that Asay wanted to interrogate. The final reflection question paired with this story, “To what extent should we judge Benedict or the narrator by modern values given that they were working within the unjust rules of inheritance and prejudice of their time
period?”, is one of the more interesting questions that have been asked concerning the stories I’ve read in this issue, and I suspect is one that would lead to lively conversation.

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REVIEW: “Lev’s Pawn Shop” by Megan Neary

Review of Megan Neary, “Lev’s Pawn Shop,” After Dinner Conversation 3, no. 12 (December 2022): 83-91 — Subscribe here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

(Note: After Dinner Conversation pairs spec fic stories with philosophical reflection questions. In some reviews, I’ll engage with the questions; in some, I won’t.)

For a journal that is ostensibly about engaging with philosophy and philosophical questions, I’ve been surprised at how big a role religion (mostly, pretty conservative Christianity) has played in the stories in this issue. This isn’t because I think philosophy and religion are antithetical to each other, but rather because I think they are not the same thing, and when I’m promised one and I get the other, that’s worth noting. I wonder what this story might have been like if instead of Lev being motivated by Bible passages, he’d read Mill on utilitarianism, or Kant on deontology, or Aristotle on virtue, and that had been what changed his behavior.

But, I enjoyed this story of redemption more than I enjoyed some of the others in this issue, so thumbs up for that.

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