Aphelion

... If you liked Seabiscuit, you'll love this story. Even if you didn't, it's an interesting look at horseracing with enough detail and grit to make it clear that the author has spent a lot of time (and money?) down at the track. The idea of a man-machine-horse interface allowing both finer control of the horse and elimination of physical risk for the jockey seems plausible and even doable, although the software might be a bitch to design. As with Seabiscuit, the story centers around a horse that loves to run, and wants to win, but in this case it also gives us a cynical jockey who is forcibly reminded of why he loves horses.<br><br>Maybe Mark can write an 'Old Grey' story -- about a brave but overmatched greyhound who, alas, will come to a sad end. (A whole new subgenre -- cyberanimal sports stories?)<br><br>Well done. (A few typos, but in honor of Valley Princess, I'll let them go THIS time.)<br><br>Robert M.