daxxh
6/22/2014
Wakulla Springs by Andy Duncan and Ellen Klages
3.5 Stars
Wakulla Springs is a novelette nominated for the Hugo Awards. Set primarily in the Jim Crow era in Florida, the story spans three generations around Wakulla Springs and the hotel there. For the main characters, swimming is their passion. All swim very well. As black people, they were not allowed to swim in the Springs with the white people, but got around this by swimming at night or being able to stay underwater longer than normal.
The hint of the creatures in the Spring is pervasive throughout the story, but never really divulged or elaborated on. Were the genes of these aquatic creatures somehow incorporated into this family of swimmers?
Wakulla Springs is a well written story with well fleshed characters, a realistic portrayal of life in the Jim Crow South and enough intrigue to make the reader wonder without being frustrated that not all questions are answered.