Review: A Franz Kafka type tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 16, 2011
This is sci-fi tale about the future. It has an interesting surprise ending that should, in my view, prompt people to think about rushing to get something done on time. The story has a feel of a Franz Kafka tale.Charlie, age 30, is a virgin, very timid, and very obsessive. He hasn't really gotten anything out of life. Throughout the story he is worried about being on time. This is his only thought. He received a summons and considers this to be the best day of his life, and he wants to be on time. Hobbes, the author, doesn't tell us until the end what the summons is for. Significantly, Charlie isn't called by the officials by his name but by his number. As in the Kafka story The Law, he is kept waiting for a long time, and in front of him is a door. The narration of Charlie's experiences is fascinating and the surprise ending, although shocking, perhaps some readers might think appropriate for Charlie.