Review: The Bear Who Sang Opera by Scott William Carter

If you don't already, take a break from devouring the novels on your to be read pile, and read a few short stories. You can become lost in another world without a large time commitment. I am continually amazed at the amount of plot a good short story author can cram into just a few pages.

In the July/August 2009 issue of Analog, Scott William Carter shares the story of Karvo Portano, a biological-robot hybrid grizzly bear who sings opera. Well at least he used to, until someone pilfered his voice module. Karvo had been singing opera as part of the Mortagai Galactic Circus and pursuing a solo singing career. Now he has hired private investigator Dexter Duff to find his missing voice module and return it to him so he can continue singing opera.

This is a great story. I have to admit I was drawn to it by the title, proof that this decision shouldn't be taken lightly. But the story dazzled me. It is a witty, zany trip across the universe with a nice twist at the end and even a message of hope. Check this one out, weighing in at eleven pages it is well worth your time.