The Putnam Tradition

"The Putnam Tradition" by Sonya Dorman is a science fiction story that takes place in a generational home by the sea and tells of a family's struggle with upholding tradition in the face of a changing world. The narrative follows three generations of Putnam women, highlighting the tension between maintaining old customs and embracing change: Cecily, the grandmother, is deeply rooted in the past, while Simone, the granddaughter, is married to Sam, an engineer tied to the new age, and finds herself torn between family and her own modern life. The underlying conflict explores how their family’s powerful identity may alter through Simone's lineage. The arrival of Nina, the great-granddaughter with special abilities, signifies both the promise and the dread of disrupting their established family heritage. In the end, the narrative resolves with a sense of optimism.