Review: Tantalizing story
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 26, 2013
This is a tantalizing (short) story of an Egyptologist, Joslyn, who finds herself working on an ancient manuscript and then transported to the time when the manuscript was written. The mechanics of this "transport" is unclear--a parallel universe? time travel? magical realism?Her boss Sam, his contact in Egypt Ali, Joslyn herself and even her stock-broker husband, Peter, each appear to be the reincarnations or wandering souls of those who were in the court of the formidable Queen/Pharaoh Hatchepsut who ruled in the early 15th century B.C. (Her nephew was the even more formidable Tuthmosis III).The cave which contains her tomb is where Joslyn, et al, are transformed to their ancient Egyptian "selves." Merely reading the manuscript conjures up the radiance of the sun in the hieroglyphs as well as a whirring "like the flapping wings of thousands of ibises." It is a letdown and confusing that this whirring which grows to a deafening roar ends with a loud clap that softens the sound to a hum.This story is tersely told and leaves this reader wishing for more.