Ralph Nachtmann Nachtmann itibaren Plewno, Poland
** spoiler alert ** I'm in the middle of Volume 1 of a compilation of Martin's short stories entitled "Dreamsongs", but I couldn't wait until I got through the entire thing to write about my thoughts on this particular story. The basic story centers around two telepathic lovers pulled apart by an insatiable need to be understood, to be truly loved for what they are. This story is set on a distant planet, among an alien race who practices a religion that can be described as a cult - they move through various phases of their lives as a community which ultimately culminates in the “Joining”, or a ritualistic form of suicide in which the beings allow themselves to be consumed by a plasma-like parasite that eats away at the flesh until it consumes the person entirely. The catch is that these people go willingly, even happily, because they believe they are “joining” each other in a way they cannot experience in their current form. This non-living parasite ‘calls' to them, and the people go to their fate with smiles on their faces. There’s more to it, but I’m not going into it in this review. What hit me with this story were the underlying themes. The themes this short story explores are deep, to say the least. God, love, human emotion and neediness. I suppose the experience of human emotion and the walls we put up- whatever the reason- is what hit me so hard as I was reading this story because it's something I have struggled to reconcile within my own mind and heart and in my own relationships. I'm sure I'm not the only one. The layers of emotion and where, how, and why we build these walls is so complex and intricate.... and intimate. As I sit here writing this review I can't begin to think of the words that I would use to describe them, but I think most people would know what I'm talking about when I say it's complicated and personal. And sometimes - gender related. Bottom line: Martin definitely hit a nerve. This short story easily just shot up to the top of my favorites list. It should be required reading for anyone taking a psychology class, even if just to open up conversation on human psychological needs, sacrifice, and the indescribable emotion we call 'love'.