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sevireads's review
4.0
"The one on the left cradled an ocher jar in her hands, held out toward the viewer. The one on the right held out her hands as well, though they were empty, the fingers crumbling away into dust. And the one in the center, her limbs twined about with snakes and ivy, offered up a half-eaten fruit that might have been an apple, or a pomegranate. Where her lips should have been there was a kermes stain, a shade lighter than her skin.
“Pandora. Lot’s wife. Eve.” Henri walked forward, indicating each figure in turn. “The women who can’t help seeking, and bring destruction when they do."
I have to admit, the beginning of the story made me fear it would take a different path than what was described in the blurb, but luckily it did not disappoint - this is not so much a story about how to make it to heaven, but rather discovering a sinister truth beneath the promised perfect paradise. As with most of the Tor Shorts that I have read and loved, I'm conflicted over whether I wish there was more or not - as much as I want to find out more, I still think the ending works perfectly.
“Pandora. Lot’s wife. Eve.” Henri walked forward, indicating each figure in turn. “The women who can’t help seeking, and bring destruction when they do."
I have to admit, the beginning of the story made me fear it would take a different path than what was described in the blurb, but luckily it did not disappoint - this is not so much a story about how to make it to heaven, but rather discovering a sinister truth beneath the promised perfect paradise. As with most of the Tor Shorts that I have read and loved, I'm conflicted over whether I wish there was more or not - as much as I want to find out more, I still think the ending works perfectly.
bellatora's review
4.0
A free short story on Tor.com about a future where people can upload their consciousness to a digital afterlife (yes, a lot like Amazon's TV showUpload, but definitely not an exact replica). Zoe is one of the Ethical Empire's employees. At the climax, Zoe learns the Ethical Empire's secret and will make a decision that will change the future of all its users.
Like most short stories, this ends a little early - Zoe's made her decision, but all the consequences are not yet clear. It ends on a moment of choice and change. This feels like it should be expanded into a novella to get a more complete story. But it's an interesting take on the uploaded consciousness question.
Like most short stories, this ends a little early - Zoe's made her decision, but all the consequences are not yet clear. It ends on a moment of choice and change. This feels like it should be expanded into a novella to get a more complete story. But it's an interesting take on the uploaded consciousness question.
venus6277's review
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, or The Good Place, this might just be the short storyb for you.
In this world, ethics is a company instead of a state of mind based on your actions, the employees choose what happens to you after you die depending on your actions when you were alive.
Which begs the question: How would job interviews go in this company? Choosing the best person for the job or did they take anyone who applied? Training?
In this world, ethics is a company instead of a state of mind based on your actions, the employees choose what happens to you after you die depending on your actions when you were alive.
Which begs the question: How would job interviews go in this company? Choosing the best person for the job or did they take anyone who applied? Training?
bluemoons's review
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
whipcreamsucks's review
i don't know what to say about this. it's well-written and i want the @ of the artist who designed the gorgeous cover, but the whole point of this story is that even the afterlife isn't safe from capitalism. which is kinda funny and absolutely terrifying if you think about it.
this has seriously good potential, but it turns out to be like your typical utopian-dystopian. our protag zoe has a job where she essentially sees everyone's sins and accounts for whether they get into heaven or h-e-double hockey sticks. she moves to the paris branch of her work and has a bad relationship with her mum and her dad died by suicide after they signed up for the heaven app. and then it's revealed that the plot twist is that.
i wanted so badly to love this story. i have every reason to! i could put aside being a horrible snob about my hatred for utopian-dystopian because the whole idea of being so advanced and all-seeing and yet only finding out that despite all this is that no one actually really knows what happens after death is such a freakingly good concept. maybe the whole reason why it feels so open-ended and non-concrete is an allusion to that too, or i'm looking too much into it. but the main reason why i'm ultimately going to not rate this is because i truly do not know what to think. i've had enough crises of faith to have any real opinion about these things.
this has seriously good potential, but it turns out to be like your typical utopian-dystopian. our protag zoe has a job where she essentially sees everyone's sins and accounts for whether they get into heaven or h-e-double hockey sticks. she moves to the paris branch of her work and has a bad relationship with her mum and her dad died by suicide after they signed up for the heaven app. and then it's revealed that the plot twist is that
Spoiler
heaven is not actually real? and everyone who is dead is just.....in a simulation of paradise or not there? and in the end zoe just chooses to go where her father (or the digital copy of her dead father) is and leave the literal world behindi wanted so badly to love this story. i have every reason to! i could put aside being a horrible snob about my hatred for utopian-dystopian because the whole idea of being so advanced and all-seeing and yet only finding out that despite all this is that no one actually really knows what happens after death is such a freakingly good concept. maybe the whole reason why it feels so open-ended and non-concrete is an allusion to that too, or i'm looking too much into it. but the main reason why i'm ultimately going to not rate this is because i truly do not know what to think. i've had enough crises of faith to have any real opinion about these things.
charlenejx's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
drewvan's review
5.0
I love a story that makes you think, that shows you things in a different light, from a new perspective, that opens your mind and expands your horizons. This brilliant little short story does all of that. I’m off now in search of more writings from Katharine Duckett.