The world has been remade. Women hold the power, and men earn women by prancing across fake battlefields, defeating their rivals with beauty and grace, but never drawing blood in anger.
"Worthy" is an early Reed story, hard to find until now.
"He was a beautiful man, the coach was: A smooth and handsome face, smart dark eyes, and the body a little too strong, perhaps, but blessed with a cat's mindful grace. The coach lived by explaining do's and don'ts to prospective Grooms. A considerable living, it was rumored. But coaches were always bachelors, and how could a perfect man like him not have even one poor Bride? It made the boy doubt his own chances, and true to the coach's words, doubt had ugly ways of worming into a soul, making everything go wrong.
"'What are you doing, boy?'
"The boy gasped and said, 'Nothing.'
"'Exactly. But what are you supposed to be doing?'
"'Retreats,' he replied, wishing he could sound more certain.
"'By standing there?' The coach came closer, a strong hand not quite touching Lank. 'I don’t care what your sisters say. Retreats matter. You're going to have moments when you're overmatched, and it pays -- pays richly -- to retreat with style.'”
Robert Reed is a prolific author, and by temperament, usually anti-war. His novella, "A Billion Eves," won the Hugo Award in 2007. His Great Ship stories are enjoyed across the world.
Genre: Science Fiction
"Worthy" is an early Reed story, hard to find until now.
"He was a beautiful man, the coach was: A smooth and handsome face, smart dark eyes, and the body a little too strong, perhaps, but blessed with a cat's mindful grace. The coach lived by explaining do's and don'ts to prospective Grooms. A considerable living, it was rumored. But coaches were always bachelors, and how could a perfect man like him not have even one poor Bride? It made the boy doubt his own chances, and true to the coach's words, doubt had ugly ways of worming into a soul, making everything go wrong.
"'What are you doing, boy?'
"The boy gasped and said, 'Nothing.'
"'Exactly. But what are you supposed to be doing?'
"'Retreats,' he replied, wishing he could sound more certain.
"'By standing there?' The coach came closer, a strong hand not quite touching Lank. 'I don’t care what your sisters say. Retreats matter. You're going to have moments when you're overmatched, and it pays -- pays richly -- to retreat with style.'”
Robert Reed is a prolific author, and by temperament, usually anti-war. His novella, "A Billion Eves," won the Hugo Award in 2007. His Great Ship stories are enjoyed across the world.
Genre: Science Fiction
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