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laurenkd89's review against another edition
5.0
Universal Love is a collection of short stories that hits all the marks of what a short story collection can - and should - be. So often, collections like this are off on something, something hard to put a finger on, like flow, length, tone, or message. But this book is inventive, moving, human, and captivating all at once. Not only does Weinstein construct haunting near-future worlds of dystopian technology, but he connects each of them to a lesson about true human connection. What we gain in efficiency due to technological upgrades, we may lose in empathy and interpersonal interactions - the things that make us human.
Weinstein creates brilliant worlds of future tech. I can visualize all of these technologies existing in some form - an app that reconstructs deceased people in hologram form programmed with their personalities so you never truly lose them; a world in which “patching” memories to selectively forget things is the new club drug; a video game that allows teenagers and middle-aged men to kill in real life via weaponized droids controlled by game players; a service called “comfort porn” that allows you to insert your name and receive videos of friends welcoming you and making you feel part of a group. However, he doesn’t go overboard with these conceits. They are always a backdrop to the stories, providing mere context for the real stories of their effects on the people living in these worlds. Each story has a new and inventive concept, but Weinstein doesn’t let it carry the plot or overburden the reader with newfangled tech names and histories. Quite the opposite actually - I’m impressed at the restraint he exercises in choosing what lesson he wants the reader to walk away with, what relationships he’s commenting on, and the perfect moment to end the story.
I loved the length of the book and the length of each story within. Some short story collections make each chapter so short that you don’t even connect to the plot while reading it; some make each story so long that they could be novellas. Weinstein draws the story out just enough for you to understand the technological conceit and get to know the characters, getting the pace just right. You anticipate the moment of ending as a natural conclusion of the plot, but he still snaps the story closed with some moving, reflective moment. I needed a few minutes to really digest each story after it ended, particularly since you don’t see the same tech or same characters in any two chapters.
Side note: I often hear books like this touted as the new Black Mirror, which used to grab my attention as someone hungry for more of that addictive show. But I was let down too many times, and now that reference is so overused it means next to nothing to me. However, Universal Love is the first book with this tagline that actually lived up to the show. Not just because I can see the tech in these stories existing in the show, but because the best episodes of Black Mirror do the same thing that Weinstein does here: they comment on technology’s effect on humanity, what it does to our minds and souls and relationships. The technology almost becomes a side character, just another factor in the main characters’ lives.
I can’t recommend these stories enough - this is a quick read, but packs a punch. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and Netgalley for the Arc.
Weinstein creates brilliant worlds of future tech. I can visualize all of these technologies existing in some form - an app that reconstructs deceased people in hologram form programmed with their personalities so you never truly lose them; a world in which “patching” memories to selectively forget things is the new club drug; a video game that allows teenagers and middle-aged men to kill in real life via weaponized droids controlled by game players; a service called “comfort porn” that allows you to insert your name and receive videos of friends welcoming you and making you feel part of a group. However, he doesn’t go overboard with these conceits. They are always a backdrop to the stories, providing mere context for the real stories of their effects on the people living in these worlds. Each story has a new and inventive concept, but Weinstein doesn’t let it carry the plot or overburden the reader with newfangled tech names and histories. Quite the opposite actually - I’m impressed at the restraint he exercises in choosing what lesson he wants the reader to walk away with, what relationships he’s commenting on, and the perfect moment to end the story.
I loved the length of the book and the length of each story within. Some short story collections make each chapter so short that you don’t even connect to the plot while reading it; some make each story so long that they could be novellas. Weinstein draws the story out just enough for you to understand the technological conceit and get to know the characters, getting the pace just right. You anticipate the moment of ending as a natural conclusion of the plot, but he still snaps the story closed with some moving, reflective moment. I needed a few minutes to really digest each story after it ended, particularly since you don’t see the same tech or same characters in any two chapters.
Side note: I often hear books like this touted as the new Black Mirror, which used to grab my attention as someone hungry for more of that addictive show. But I was let down too many times, and now that reference is so overused it means next to nothing to me. However, Universal Love is the first book with this tagline that actually lived up to the show. Not just because I can see the tech in these stories existing in the show, but because the best episodes of Black Mirror do the same thing that Weinstein does here: they comment on technology’s effect on humanity, what it does to our minds and souls and relationships. The technology almost becomes a side character, just another factor in the main characters’ lives.
I can’t recommend these stories enough - this is a quick read, but packs a punch. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and Netgalley for the Arc.
janwe's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed ALL of these short stories in this collection. The short stories gave me Black Mirror vibes. The short stories are all sci-fy ranging from post-apocalypse, dystopian to more technological based short stories.
cassidycrane's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars rounded down, only because goodreads limits me. Future and dystopia done right. This collection was done so well, each story being independent but all together in two themes: a not-so distant future and love. From dating to grief to memory to connection to parenting, this collection had it all. Sci-fi lovers and skeptics alike should pick this one up. Also the story with the programmed children made me cry. No I will not elaborate, you just have to read it for yourself.
sorrycalamari's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
bookishbulletin's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t typically read science fiction books but after reading great reviews, I made an exception for this one. Universal Love is a collection of short stories, each showcasing a reality wherein our existing technologies are taken a step too far. What’s scary is each story paints a near future scenario - one that feels eerily close to home. If you enjoyed the stories in the Black Mirror series, you’ll likely enjoy this book. But personally, the stories in here I felt were more easily digestible.
Click here for the full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUMfHjSP4Vl/?utm_medium=copy_link
Click here for the full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUMfHjSP4Vl/?utm_medium=copy_link
benevolentelfking's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
3.75
atxana's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I really wish this wasn't so bleak and grim from start to finish