Comments on: PC039: Honest Man

By: The Fix | From the Podosphere: January 2009

The Fix | From the Podosphere: January 2009 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:46:01 +0000

[...] Kritzer’s “Honest Man” (read by Ann Leckie) is an engaging story of a series of possible confidence tricks, whose [...]

By: LaShawn

LaShawn — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:26:14 +0000

I didn’t expect to like this story–Iris seemed almost too goody-goody and nice for me to enjoy. It was only the last part when she was old that I finally took interest. The ending was predictable, but still, I liked seeing the mischievous side of her. It made her more real and fun. Thanks for the story.

By: The Dave Formerly Known as Nev the Deranged

The Dave Formerly Known as Nev the Deranged — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:48:38 +0000

I liked this story when I read it in RoF, and I liked it again here. Few writers (Stephen King aside) do elderly protagonists well. Thanks!

By: Blaine Boy

Blaine Boy — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:54:11 +0000

Ah, to be old and ripping off the people who stole your money… However, I must say it was just a story to pass the time; while it may have been a good way to pass the time, it was nothing more than that. Sorry for the negative comment.

By: carrie

carrie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:29:33 +0000

I really liked this story. Stories with interesting elderly protagonists are few and far between…

The detail of slipping the hundred into the filing case for her children or grandchildren to discover really worked for me.

Enjoyable!

By: James

James — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:07:49 +0000

There was a great warmth to this. It made me feel good.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:34:05 +0000

To be fair, a brief google search turns up other literary examples of this same con, not all in science fiction and fantasy. Presumably not everyone is drawing from Gaiman.

By: PK

PK — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:57:10 +0000

I know I’ve heard that violin con somewhere before.

Neil Gaiman. I wish the story had disguised the origin a little better; the resemblance makes it obvious what individual book provided the inspiration, rather than letting it just be a generic specimen of a venerable short-con.

By: scatterbrain

scatterbrain — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:24:25 +0000

Despite the opening chapter being rather juvenily written, this was a wonderful story to listen to.

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Very sweet story, almost quaint. I liked it.

It reminded me of a story based on a series of Norman Rockwell paintings, based on a David Mamet story.

The only thing missing was the dog being in on the scam.

By: JD

JD — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:11:24 +0000

I know I’ve heard that violin con somewhere before. Another story? TV show? Someone help me out here…

By: Jeffrey Hite

Jeffrey Hite — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:28:20 +0000

I liked this story, but having lived in Xenia, Ohio, you pronounced it wrong. Just a little thing but it kept throwing me off. Z(ee) nee ah.

Otherwise a wonderful reading and very nice story. In all fairness I lived In Jamestown, the next town over, not Xenia. But in those days there was not much in Jamestown so to do anything you have to go to Xenia, or Springfield.

Thanks for the good story. Keep up the good work.

- Jeff

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:05:42 +0000

I really liked this story. This is my first PodCastle listen; i’ve been working my way up the time ladder for Pseudopod and today I felt like fantasy. From my perception there wasn’t much in it, but that didn’t take away the fact that it’s a great story and a great read, goodjob.

By: phignewton

phignewton — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:30:44 +0000

nice story, the honest con-man issa bit of a cliche.. like the hooker with the heart of gold, would make a good TV show though, the fellow showing up at a door each week to mess with somebody new, seriously, i’d like to see this, somebody get to work on it!