The Air of Castor Oil

"The Air of Castor Oil" by Jim Harmon is a science fiction story about a man named Hilliard Turner whose fascination with World War I aviation spirals into an all-consuming obsession, blurring the lines of time and reality. Turner, seeking refuge in a vintage bookstore filled with old air-war magazines, finds himself increasingly drawn to the past, causing him to disconnect from the world around him. His actions lead to clashes with authorities who misunderstand his intentions, painting a portrait of a society that struggles to comprehend Turner's longing for a bygone era. When a psychiatrist reveals a startling truth about Turner's mental state, his fight becomes one against the very fabric of his identity and the power of nostalgia to shape human experience.