“Clunk!
Rattle, rattle, rattle,” said the iron frying pan as it galloped across
the floor and dived under the rug where it made a large lump. Honeybunny,
the Kunkle family dog, jumped up on the couch and began to bark.
“Betty...”
“Sorry, Mom. I know I should be concentrating. I forgot about the frying pan.”
The frying pan emerged from its rug tunnel and was huddled with the toaster under the couch. Betty―a rather pretty little girl―gave the frying pan an intense look.
“Zoop,” said the frying pan as it leaped back up on the wall. Honeybunny wagged her tail. The toaster purred.
“Ah... that’s better,” said Mr. Kunkle, “a place for everything and everything in its place.”
Literature, like enoki, should not be wasted on children. Fortunately there is no question that Magnetic Betty, another effort by Rob Hunter is literature. For one thing, its cover does not proclaim that it’s word choice is level appropriate, or class specific or meets any other double entendrè friendly rubric. This means that this volume is not approved by the Global Council for Excessive Explanation of Pointless Innuendo’s Dumb Down Project (GCEEPI:DDP). This relieves all serious adults of any responsibility to attend the remainder of this review. Now, for the rest of us: Yes! Rob Hunter has done it again! He has added a highly polished small industrial diamond to the crown wrought by Carroll, Sendak, Thurber, and a few others. Too few others for our own good. With the omelette pan I join in giving this book a full “zoop!”
—Martin Langeland, writing on Dum Luk’s
Magnetic Betty is, indeed, a little gem... it’s got that Avram Davidson shuffle goin’ on.
—James Lecky, writing in the Nautilus Engine Forum
The highlight this issue, for me, is Magnetic Betty. Terrific story.
—Heath, writing in the Nautilus Engine Forum
