The Old Sergeant

Great Story!

The Old Sergeant is a wonderful fantasy short story. It takes place in a foxhole where a crusty old sergeant and his younger, better-looking superior officer are on a watch. The two of them couldn't be more different in every way, which creates some terrific tension. Broderick Longbarrel is a battle-hardened war veteran, while Jakobus Gwilt is young, soft, and wealthy. Add some racial tension and you've got quite a story. Mr. Nastos's descriptive prose is lovely and he does some nice world-building, especially considering that this is a short story. The characters are well-developed and the old sergeant himself is quite endearing. I highly recommend this story, along with Mr. Nastos's other story "Cora and the Clockwork Men."