Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

My first introduction to Terry Bisson was his excellent SF short-story entitled "They're Made Out of Meat", a hilarious alien encounter story comprising entirely of dialogue (I really do need to write a review at some point). It was very short, clever and witty. This one feels completely different in terms of style and tone, perhaps indicative of Bisson's versality as a writer. Here, the tone is much more more serious and subdued. Most strikingly, it is devoid of any humor. The mundane is juxtaposed with elements of the fantastic as indicated by the title and while this premise may pique curiosity, it takes a backseat to the true essence of Bisson's narrative. The author is far more interested in exploring family dynamics, delving into themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and processing grief. The protagonist's relationship with his nephew and dying mother form the emotional centerpiece of the story. Unfortunately, while the climax aims for profound significance, it falls slightly short due to some sluggish pacing issues. 

One could certainly argue that this story doesn't neatly fit within the confines of traditional science fiction, given the absence of any attempt to rationalize the phenomenon. These unique bears simply exist within the natural world, devoid of scientific explanation. It is a bold and unconventional creative choice. Nevertheless, the story can be quite dull at times and probably could have used more bears doing cool stuff with fire. 

In keeping with the spirited essence of this blog's namesake, I find myself in the midst of a delightful 'literary frenzy,' voraciously devouring short stories at a rapid pace with the intention of reaching certain ambitious reading goals. Unfortunately, I suspect that "Bears Discover Fire" is bound to be forgotten in the shuffle.