Review: So What, Mr. Babbers!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 21, 2014
Merry Christmas Mr. Babbers! may be "a short sci-fi story," but the average reader may find it to be quite a bit more long winded than necessary. There's no reason to be too hard on Marco Guarda's little treatise on the Christmas tradition, however. Because this writing exercise does offer at least one novel concept about the ancient Germanic tradition of bringing a conifer in from the cold once a year, to adorn, pamper and idolize like a genuine (though perhaps long neglected) member of the family.As old Mr. Babbers discovers, the Christmas Tree is really the annual visit of a dear old friend that has suddenly slipped away into the night when he was otherwise occupied. That's really what Mr. Babbers is all about. He's just lost someone dear, you see. And that will obviously be just as painful and self awakening an experience in the future as it is now. As it always has been.So, heed the careful whispers of the ghosts of Christmases past, present or future, as yet another "auld lang syne" passes quietly into the unknown of afterlife. Or... just read Merry Christmas Mr. Babbers! when you don't necessarily have anything else better to do and can handle dull prose that doesn't really get to its point very quickly. Unfortunately, there isn't even a satisfying punchline at the end. Be patient though. The story does close with the customary seasons greetings. Happy reading everyone.