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A review by jenniferfrye
Apex Magazine Issue 99 by Jason Sizemore, Amy H. Sturgis
3.0
In the comments section of that story on the Apex Magazine website, someone wrote: "Given the very end, it’s arguable that 'Jesse' was just a temporary illusion. Someone asked for an Authentic Indian Experience, and they got one — starting with being a modern poor Indian, shilling his culture for white tourists, and then reliving the Indian experience of whites coming, appropriating his culture, and taking his livelihood. Alternately, you, the reader, got an Authentic Indian Experience." I think this is probably the "correct" interpretation of the story.
Overall, it was...fine. Definitely well-written, but honestly a little lackluster. The twist ending, while thematically interesting and momentarily puzzling, wasn't very inventive. My biggest issue, though, is that I never felt like I connected with Jesse or really cared what happened to him (I wonder if this was a consequence of the choice to write this in the second person). Maybe I'm expecting too much of short fiction.
Overall, it was...fine. Definitely well-written, but honestly a little lackluster. The twist ending, while thematically interesting and momentarily puzzling, wasn't very inventive. My biggest issue, though, is that I never felt like I connected with Jesse or really cared what happened to him (I wonder if this was a consequence of the choice to write this in the second person). Maybe I'm expecting too much of short fiction.