‘m currently plowing through Infinite Jest (a massive book, and I don’t think the exchange will be reciprocal). Anyway, kiddies, that means it’s time for another one of my short stories from The End, a massive collection of the best the late Jurassic Publishing could offer.

I was a little surprised at this one.

Genius without Education comes from the string of western stories Jurassic commissioned (I should know – I submitted one). In this short story, we have a mysterious woman (named Genuine Truth) comes to the town of Pandemonium. That she comes with a Chinese servants (siblings, a huge sister and a little brother) is curious. But that she does not respond to the cards and inquiries of the town’s lady busybodies, that is galling. However, from the leaking backstory, we get the idea that Genuine is actually a werewolf. Her beau had it and gave it to her when his truth (and fir) was revealed. And now she’s out west, attempting to gain back the family fortune that has drained away with vertical-pupilled eyes locked on the town’s failed silver mine.

Like a Scoobie Doo mystery, there is something happening at the mine, and the deaths (which look like accidents) and the warnings are meant to keep people away. But armed with a lady’s parasol to keep off the moonlight, she and her servants investigate and open a can of desperate worms.

I didn’t quite like the ending. I won’t say what it was – it was a bit strange and deflating. I could see (on a second read) what the author was shooting for, a bit of an ironic twist. But no, I couldn’t quite get my pulse up for this one. Also, tried to get a line of this story to share but couldn’t find it. So I guess you’ll have to come over to my place and borrow my The End  to read it yourself. No food on the pages, okay?

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for this week. I’ve got to get back to Jest now. Whew!

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