Three and one-half stars

Review of eBook

Once upon a time, as the story goes, the Crown Prince of Jupiter glimpsed a miniature of Esmerelda, Princess of the Sun, and, in a single instant, fell hopelessly in love. Despite his advisors’ efforts to dissuade him, the Prince steadfastly refused any of their efforts to persuade him to seek another love.

When the Prince stops eating, one of his advisors, Alisterisk by name, seeks the help of the Crown Prince’s maternal aunt. Declaring that a resolution to the Prince’s problem is beyond her power, she suggests that Ursula the Earth Witch might have a solution.

Will the Crown Prince journey to the Earth of the terrestrials? Will he find a way to unite with his true love, the Princess of the Sun?

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This short story follows the Crown Prince’s adventures as he seeks to find a way to unite with his true love, the Princess of the Sun. [Of course, this love is the result of one glimpse at a miniature of the Princess; the two [obviously] have never met.]

The Prince and Alisterisk and their seemingly-impossible quest may remind readers of Stanislaw Lem’s series of humorous [and sometimes satirical] science fiction tales. Indeed, readers will even find a character named Stanislaw included in the telling of this tale.

The unfolding story, gently lampshading the reader, remains focused on the pretext of the Prince’s desire to unite with Esmerelda; ultimately, the narrative leaves readers in the position of interpreting the end of the story for themselves. ( )