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La Chanson de l'Observation (The Space Within These Lines Book 3) by [Bernard M. Cox]

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Bernard M. Cox

La Chanson de l'Observation (The Space Within These Lines Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Bernard M. Cox (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

6 ratings

Book 3 of 3: The Space Within These Lines

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It's never a good idea for sociologists to fall in love with someone they're studying-especially if they're alien sociologists.

Node AR1x40 lives his life on Earth as human Javier Flores, observing and reporting on human behavior as part of The Commonality's sociological study. When he meets Theo Zedek, a pastry chef and owner of the La Chanson Cafe, Node AR1x40 violates the main parameter of the experiment--he falls in love. And their love may ruin far more than his career.

Told in the style of a scientific research paper, La Chanson de l'Observation is the third in The Space Within These Lines Collection of romantic magical realist, fantasy, and science fiction stories exploring memory and loss in an effort to show that which connects all people, the power of love.

This story was first published in Issue 8 of A cappella Zoo, was chosen by guest editor Gina Ochsner for Issue 10, The Best of A cappella Zoo: A Five-Year Retrospective, and in Issue 15 Queer & Familiar: the trans, gay, and lesbian collection.

Cover designed by Sabine Krauss

A short story of approximately 15 pages.

Print length

25 pages
Language

English
Publication date

January 13, 2014
File size

171 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you're a sci-fi fan, this is good stuff.... [It's] written in the formatof a scientific research paper. This is a unique format to use to tell a shortstory and again, as before, Cox tells it well. Sheldon Cooper fans rejoice;you're going to love this one!"--Shelly's LGBT Book Review Blog atShellysbookstore.com

From the Author

La Chanson de l'Observation is the third story in The Space Within These Lines collection of short stories.

Other stories in the collection include:
The Memory of a Salt Shaker -- now available on Amazon.
The Space Within These Lines Is Not Dedicated -- now available on Amazon.

ASIN : B00BEHE20M
Publisher : Bernard M. Cox; 1st edition (January 13, 2014)
Publication date : January 13, 2014
Language : English
File size : 171 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 25 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #4,264,008 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,945 in 45-Minute LGBT Short Reads
- #4,563 in LGBTQ+ Short Stories
- #25,042 in 45-Minute Literature & Fiction Short Reads

Customer Reviews:
6 ratings

Customer reviews

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Angela

OKay

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

This was a short quick read that was ok. This book was like some kind of space opera that I wished was longer. Javier Flores who is not human was sent to observe human behavior as part of The Commonality's sociological study. He meets Theo Zedek, a pastry chef and owner of the La Chanson Café them meet and fall in love which is a violation and may ruin his career. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.

Helpful

Short sci-fi story with baker

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

This instafreebie download is the second short story of this series for me. I didn't rate this as high as the first story in the series, as it isn't as clever. The pseudo sociology went on too long, and the story of the pair suffers for it. There is no rooting for the baker and/or his mate.

Helpful

Ron Fritsch

Ingenious Story Left Me in Tears

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

"La Chanson de l'Observation" by Bernard M. Cox, the third in his The Space Within These Lines collection is an ingenious story. It's science fiction, fantasy, and gay romance as well.

It used to be that gay fiction often dealt with forbidden or doomed love simply because one or both of the would-be lovers were LGBTQ. That isn't the case for the lovers in this story, Javier Flores and Theo Zedek.

Their delightful love affair has to end because one of them isn't a human being but a "node" posing as one in order to observe what earthly humans do. His falling in love with a human renders him useless as an observer.

From the point of view of the observers, that does make sense. From the point of view of a human, though, it's also cold, hard, and cruel.

I can't give away the ending of this excellent story, but I can tell you it left this reader in tears.

(As originally reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews. Please visit [...] for other reviews that may be of interest.)

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Alexis Latshaw

A lovely, compelling read

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

I stumbled across this short and the summary intrigued me, so I bought it despite never having read anything else by this author. And I am very glad I did. It's a melancholy little story and Cox mixes the scientific style with wistful romance beautifully. In less talented hands it could have been jarring, but it blends seamlessly and I loved it. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like "La Chanson de l'Observation", which isn't something I can say very often. Highly, highly recommended.

(And yes, I will be buying his other stories and reading those, too.)

Helpful

Timothy M Lison

Well written and fun!

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2014

Readers be advised: some story-spoiling in this review.
In an ordinary (while of course at the same time the most amazing thing in the world, as all love is) and very charming romance, one of the couple is actually an alien. Through dispassionate report, the alien tells the love story of the human being he's portraying. While this participant visiting our planet to observe its people in a purely scientific capacity, the researcher comes to question -- and the reader will find out to what extent -- the very core of his alien civilization and all his assumptions about community and individuality and the path to happiness. A surprising and compelling read, it read quick and left me wanting more.

Helpful

Matty Roo

Marvelous, touching, kitchy...

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2013

Bernard Cox is a fantastic short fiction writer. This sci-fi romance is a testament to his skill. It draws you in with a quirky narrative style and teases you along with beauty, love, and curious observations. There is a melancholy throughout, but one of inspiration, not desperation.

Cox is truly marvelous. This story is truly marvelous. While this tale is currently second (to Memory of a Salt Shaker; I've also read The Space Between...) in my mind, it's a gorgeous work which deserves to be savored.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of La Chanson... it is wonderful, rich, and truly a pleasure.

Helpful

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La Chanson de l'Observation (The Space Within These Lines Book 3) Kindle Edition

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