What Doctor Gottlieb saw is very much an introduction to Gretel. If you have read Bitter Seeds you’ll know that Gretel is probably the most dangerous of all the characters. Even before she was experimented on she wasn’t right, the farm merely gave her the talent to be very very good at being bad.

Dr. Gottlieb works on the farm, he is pretty much the farm’s shrink. Everyone needs a bit of help coping with what is going on there, but Gretel is really starting to come into her own her and Gottlieb is getting worried.

I was a bit concerned when I started this that I would remember enough from Bitter Seeds but as it all came back as I read the first paragraph. I don’t think you need to have read any of the Milkweed books to appreciate this, but it is probably better to read it after the first.

Tregillis has really created a monster in Gretel. At first you don’t really think that her talent, prescience is hugely dangerous, but think about it. If you know the consequences of all your actions and others actions then you can plan out how you would rather it go. And Gretel plans things to the minutest detail, no butterfly wings of chaos here, all is laid out and intricately devised. Really makes me wonder how far back her plans go with regards to the events of Bitter Seeds.

I really will have to read on in this series now. ( )

A great little story which complements Ian Tregillis' Milkweed Triptych books. This dark and creepy little tale takes place before the events of Bitter Seeds, the first book in the triptych, and delves deeper into the psyche of Gretel, who is undoubtedly the series' most fascinating character. It is very cleverly written, culminating in an ending which shows just how potentially evil Gretel may become. For fans of Bitter Seeds, it is worth a read as it is a well-executed story which, as I said, fleshes out one of the trilogy's most prominent characters. For non-fans, it is still recommended, as although there is little setup as to why Gretel and others are at this 'farm', why they are being experimented on, why they have wires coming out of their heads, etc., it is still powerful enough and taut enough to be enjoyed. It will also give newcomers a sense of Tregillis' writing style and hopefully persuade them to pick up Bitter Seeds, which is a fantastic novel. A fine example of the potential of the short story medium to make an impression on a reader. ( )

Short, sweet, and adding another layer to the whole background of Gretel and Klaus. ( )

Short, sweet, and adding another layer to the whole background of Gretel and Klaus. ( )

What Doctor Gottlieb Saw is offered for free on Tor.com. A few comments on this short story in the Milkweed Triptych setting can be found my blog. ( )