The Bear Who Sang Opera

Novelette by Scott William Carter

A cyborg hybrid grizzly bear has lost his singing voice, but he doesn't know who stole it since his memories have been tampered with. So he hires a hardboiled private detective who then travels around the galaxy talking to people who don't know anything and seem innocent. There is also a naked woman in boxing gloves. This is a cartoonish little story that is pretty good as far as it goes, but there is nothing really revolutionary about a bizarrely comedic SF/noir detective story. There are options for new ground here, but this story doesn't go into them. Still it was good, light fun. 3 out of 5.