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gabeisdabomb's review against another edition
I didn’t feel connected to the characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Body horror, and Suicidal thoughts
30something_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
These visions of modern life wrestle with themes of death and technological consequences, guilt and sexuality, and unmask the contradictions that exist within all of us.
There are some absolute bangers in this collection of short stories.*
*Edit: I actually just increased the star rating. The more that I think about it, every one of these short stories were bangers in their own right. I was trying to come up with what I may not have liked but even the story that I liked least had some phenomenal moments that made my skin crawl so like... bravo?
I think the ones that resonated the most with me were:
Pre-simulation Consultation XF007867- This is like the darker side of the holodecks from Star Tek.
Time Cubes- A dystopian nightmare, honestly.
#ClimbingNation- Me, a non-thriller reader: this would be an amazing plot for a Thriller novel. I will always support women's wrongs.
Twenty Hours- Remember that Netflix show, Altered Carbon? But make it with 3D printers and the weird middle-aged white couple next door.
Bridezilla- Actually this one reminded me of an essay titled "We Swarm" by Sabrina Imbler in How Far the Light Reaches where they are discussing salps (which kind of have a similar if not entirely more benign description as the sea monster in this short story.) Totally unrelated I guess but I think about that essay a lot.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
dredgeful_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts
madelaine__grace's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
annemaries_shelves's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was so excited to pick up this collection when it first made the rounds online and it did not disappoint!
This would be a great intro collection for those wanting to dip their toes into the weirder speculative fiction/fabulism elements of literature. Fu's writing is clear, imaginative, and compelling and it was a joy to read each story and figure out what the small (or sometimes large) tweak to the world was.
Also major points for a gorgeous cover design and amazing, luxurious paper (Zephyr Antique Laid paper from second growth forests for those interested).
Stories and my brief thoughts:
Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867 - 5 stars: All dialogue with really good banter and cool concept
Liddy, First to Fly - 5 stars: Puberty already sucks, why you gotta grow ankle wings too?
Time Cubes - 4.5 stars: I could see this tech fucking everybody up - and that's why I avoid the random mall stands
#ClimbingNation - 5 stars: I could see this being a true crime story easily
Sandman - 4 stars: Insomnia's never been so sexy - or disturbing
Twenty Hours - 5 stars: The best opening paragraph... and they should just go to therapy instead
The Doll - 5 stars: The kind of imagination that you don't know if it's all in the kids' heads or not
In This Fantasy - 4 stars: The narrator would be a fantastic storyteller when having drinks at the bar
Scissors - 4 stars: exhibitionism with an edge
June Bugs - 5 stars: So many creepy crawly feelings and it wasn't just the bugs (infestation as a metaphor for abusive relationships is brilliant and disturbing)
Bridezilla - 5 stars: That's one way to get out of a wedding
Do You Remember Candy - 5 stars: Probably inspired by covid and an awful possibility for those of us who love food
This would be a great intro collection for those wanting to dip their toes into the weirder speculative fiction/fabulism elements of literature. Fu's writing is clear, imaginative, and compelling and it was a joy to read each story and figure out what the small (or sometimes large) tweak to the world was.
Also major points for a gorgeous cover design and amazing, luxurious paper (Zephyr Antique Laid paper from second growth forests for those interested).
Stories and my brief thoughts:
Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867 - 5 stars: All dialogue with really good banter and cool concept
Liddy, First to Fly - 5 stars: Puberty already sucks, why you gotta grow ankle wings too?
Time Cubes - 4.5 stars: I could see this tech fucking everybody up - and that's why I avoid the random mall stands
#ClimbingNation - 5 stars: I could see this being a true crime story easily
Sandman - 4 stars: Insomnia's never been so sexy - or disturbing
Twenty Hours - 5 stars: The best opening paragraph... and they should just go to therapy instead
The Doll - 5 stars: The kind of imagination that you don't know if it's all in the kids' heads or not
In This Fantasy - 4 stars: The narrator would be a fantastic storyteller when having drinks at the bar
Scissors - 4 stars: exhibitionism with an edge
June Bugs - 5 stars: So many creepy crawly feelings and it wasn't just the bugs (infestation as a metaphor for abusive relationships is brilliant and disturbing)
Bridezilla - 5 stars: That's one way to get out of a wedding
Do You Remember Candy - 5 stars: Probably inspired by covid and an awful possibility for those of us who love food
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
kb_sherman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
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