That's all I can remember. Where he came from, what happened next, is completely lost, though there may have been an indigent female on a snowy night involved, oh, and the deeds of the property included a lease grant to the bar.
Not a lot to go on, I'm afraid - if only I'd learned how to remember names and titles all those years ago!
David
Human Phoenix (1st) and Human Man (2nd). The story with the bar and building is Human Man. Both are excellent reads!
https://storiesonline.net/series/1001/human
Thankyou very much for your help, I'm off to refusnik's page now.
I remember it as being a good immersion antidote to reality. Very much needed at present!
Not strictly relevant, but your query reminded me of the text of a track by Yes (1972).
Down at the end, close by a river
Close to the edge, round by the corner
Close to the end, down by the corner
Down at the edge, round by a river
Human Man and Human Phoenix are two of my absolute favorite stories on SOL. I also wish for a sequel. Frankly, I can see Scott (the MC in both stories) taking over as Sheriff of his home town, and later reluctantly becoming a congressman (wouldn't work now, the way the congressional districts are gerrymandered).
It always was a question for me: Scott's talents could take him virtually anywhere, and enable to do virtually anything, he wants. But where would his personality take him, and where would it allow/not allow, him to go? I don't think he'd necessarily be happy as either sheriff or a politician - in fact, I'd expect him to be quite unhappy. However, I don't think his destiny is to own/run a bar and sit quietly on top of a pile of money, either.
From some of the background in Human Man and the way the story goes Scott just wants a normal, quiet life. So I don't expect any more to the story. He's found what he wants.
lol, true enough for the character. It's just such a fine story that as a selfish reader, I wish for more.
Taking what I can get, always looking for the next great (or even very good) story.
I'm almost glad my memory is so bad! I'm stuck into Human Phoenix and it's like meeting an old friend - I vaguely remember what he's like, but none of his detailed foibles.
So grateful you were able to put me on track for this antidote to our present grim realities.