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raven_morgan's review
5.0
NOTE: Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Cold Comfort is a collection of three stories from Australian author David McDonald; two of the stories are reprints and one is original to this collection.
Cold Comfort (originally published in Fablecroft Publishing's Epilogue)
Ice spiders, snow bears and deadly cold are only most obvious of the dangers a young trader faces as she searches for the secrets of the Elders on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
Epilogue is an anthology which focused on apocalypse, and more, strove to explore the world beyond it--is there hope beyond the end of the world? Cold Comfort explores these themes in a frozen world, where people survive only in sealed domes and heat itself is a currency. The story follows Vanya as she travels through the icy wilderness, fighting off wild creatures as she searches for a dome in which she can trade, and discovers so much more.
There is a deceptive sparsity to McDonald's writing which well suits this story. Everything feels truly bleak and utterly real: the reader struggles with Vanya as she searches the frozen world. It really feels as though there is a whole world here, and that McDonald has only just begin to explore it (and as a reader, I hope that he does return to it, because it is fascinating).
Through Wind and Weather (originally published in eMergent Publishing's Deck the Halls)
A rebellious pilot races against time to make a vital delivery to a planet in need. But in the face of the worst solar storm in years, his only ally is a sentient spaceship who is an outcast even to its own kind.
From the Christmas-themed anthology Deck the Halls, this one is (obviously) Christmas themed.
This is a slighter story than the others in Cold Comfort, but it has no less impact. Without spoiling anything, this is the kind of story that I'm not usually a fan of, but McDonald makes it work by adding in just enough fascinating worldbuilding. I kind of want one of these spaceships, and now please.
Our Land Abounds
In a world divided by war and wracked by food shortages, the Republic of Australasia is an oasis protected by its isolation and the Border Patrol. But, a chance encounter leaves a weary veteran asking whether the price of plenty is too high.
This story is original to this anthology, and is my favourite.
In the possibly-all-too-near future, Australia has suffered through a war, and in order to protect itself and its wealth, has closed its borders. But all is not well in the Republic: a teacher is taken away for daring suggest that Australia has enough wealth to share, and illegal immigrants are hung for their "crime".
This closed-off republic is not a kind one, however--a teacher is taken away for daring suggest to her students that Australia has enough wealth to share, and "criminals" are hung for being discovered as illegal immigrants.
This story in particular cuts very close to the bone, with respect to the Australian government's current policies, and it feels far too much like a plausible future. I feel like, as with Cold Comfort, McDonald has shown us only the tip of a horrifying and fascinating Australian dystopia, and I would love to see him return to or expand upon it.
In summary
This is a brilliant collection, and especially recommended if you haven't read any of McDonald's work before. The stories are well described by the collection title Cold Comfort: these are not easy worlds, but McDonald manages to place hope even in the middle of despair. Vanya discovers that her world isn't as lost as she thought, Nick and his sentient ship will find a way through, and even in the depths of dystopia, people still speak out.
Highly recommended.
Cold Comfort is a collection of three stories from Australian author David McDonald; two of the stories are reprints and one is original to this collection.
Cold Comfort (originally published in Fablecroft Publishing's Epilogue)
Ice spiders, snow bears and deadly cold are only most obvious of the dangers a young trader faces as she searches for the secrets of the Elders on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
Epilogue is an anthology which focused on apocalypse, and more, strove to explore the world beyond it--is there hope beyond the end of the world? Cold Comfort explores these themes in a frozen world, where people survive only in sealed domes and heat itself is a currency. The story follows Vanya as she travels through the icy wilderness, fighting off wild creatures as she searches for a dome in which she can trade, and discovers so much more.
There is a deceptive sparsity to McDonald's writing which well suits this story. Everything feels truly bleak and utterly real: the reader struggles with Vanya as she searches the frozen world. It really feels as though there is a whole world here, and that McDonald has only just begin to explore it (and as a reader, I hope that he does return to it, because it is fascinating).
Through Wind and Weather (originally published in eMergent Publishing's Deck the Halls)
A rebellious pilot races against time to make a vital delivery to a planet in need. But in the face of the worst solar storm in years, his only ally is a sentient spaceship who is an outcast even to its own kind.
From the Christmas-themed anthology Deck the Halls, this one is (obviously) Christmas themed.
This is a slighter story than the others in Cold Comfort, but it has no less impact. Without spoiling anything, this is the kind of story that I'm not usually a fan of, but McDonald makes it work by adding in just enough fascinating worldbuilding. I kind of want one of these spaceships, and now please.
Our Land Abounds
In a world divided by war and wracked by food shortages, the Republic of Australasia is an oasis protected by its isolation and the Border Patrol. But, a chance encounter leaves a weary veteran asking whether the price of plenty is too high.
This story is original to this anthology, and is my favourite.
In the possibly-all-too-near future, Australia has suffered through a war, and in order to protect itself and its wealth, has closed its borders. But all is not well in the Republic: a teacher is taken away for daring suggest that Australia has enough wealth to share, and illegal immigrants are hung for their "crime".
This closed-off republic is not a kind one, however--a teacher is taken away for daring suggest to her students that Australia has enough wealth to share, and "criminals" are hung for being discovered as illegal immigrants.
This story in particular cuts very close to the bone, with respect to the Australian government's current policies, and it feels far too much like a plausible future. I feel like, as with Cold Comfort, McDonald has shown us only the tip of a horrifying and fascinating Australian dystopia, and I would love to see him return to or expand upon it.
In summary
This is a brilliant collection, and especially recommended if you haven't read any of McDonald's work before. The stories are well described by the collection title Cold Comfort: these are not easy worlds, but McDonald manages to place hope even in the middle of despair. Vanya discovers that her world isn't as lost as she thought, Nick and his sentient ship will find a way through, and even in the depths of dystopia, people still speak out.
Highly recommended.
thiefofcamorr's review
5.0
Firstly, to preface, I’m friends with the author but I won’t let that cloud my judgement – it had better be good, David, so this is an easier review to write! (I say before I start reading it…) - we’re friends in a ‘tease mercilessly’ and watch the other be beaten at pool kinda way (even if he won’t be joining us for Swancon/Aurealis Awards in 2015 and is running off to New Zealand instead… we’ll forgive him at some stage…) With that disclaimer aside, onto the review.
Cold Comfort is a collection of three short stories, two which have been published previously, and one that is appearing for the first time.
Cold Comfort (first published in ‘Epilogue’ by Fablecroft Publishing)
Ice spiders, snow bears and deadly cold are only most obvious of the dangers a young trader faces as she searches for the secrets of the Elders on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
Ultimately this is a tale of hope. It starts off a little slow, lulling you almost into a false sense of security that it’ll be a short story of travelling and hardship but ultimately finding strength through everything – but no. The story continues, taking Vanja through injury and attack from wild creatures to what could be safety – a dome in the snow that has an outpost of people where she can trade her wares and such. The short would have been satisfying at that alone, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that. This short could easily be expanded into a novella or novel with all the history and hints it carries with it, much like the slight mentions of what built certain things in Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora.
What I love about this one is what’s not said. We are seeing a world trying to cope after all the horror and excitement have since past – this is dystopian without the melodrama, everything is simply cold hard fact (cold comfort, indeed) and a strong female lead who is willing to make the hard journey in order to spread the truth.
Through Wind and Weather (first published in ‘Deck the Halls’ by eMergent Publishing)
A rebellious pilot races against time to make a vital delivery to a planet in need. But in the face of the worst solar storm in years, his only ally is a sentient spaceship who is an outcast even to its own kind.
Much shorter now (at just five pages on my eReader of choice) we have Nick who is flying a rather lovely semi-sentient ship, who knows just when to have certain minor malfunctions to shut up certain bosses. Rather like the TARDIS in Doctor Who that swears it was she who stole the Doctor, rather than the other way ’round.
Though I hesitate to mention it, reading this so soon after the incident concerning Air Asia flight QZ8501 (thought to be lost due to lightning strike, after losing contact near an incredibly violent monsoon trough) it certainly put the story into a certain kind of respect that shows how truly dangerous it all is.
This piece is much more sciencey than the one previous, and would truly excellent on screen. And it’s so sweet! Truly fitting for the Christmas themed anthology ‘Deck the Halls’, it fits rather well into this collection also, going from the theme of hope to good will.
Our Land Abounds (original to this collection)
In a world divided by war and wracked by food shortages, the Republic of Australasia is an oasis protected by its isolation and the Border Patrol. But, a chance encounter leaves a weary veteran asking whether the price of plenty is too high.
Now we have Kessler in this original piece, showing us hints of what Australia has become. He’s a solider of ‘Cairns’, showing that war has come to Australia. ‘What’s left of Sydney’ is quite ominous, and I know many who would get a kick of hearing how Tasmania now is the home of the new capital of Australia, seeing as Canberra is deemed to be too close to the epicentre of whatever it is that happened.
This turns into quite a chilling tale, showing people hanged for being illegal immigrants and teachers reported for saying things like Australia should share what it has with the less fortunate. We have a sneak peek at what Australia could turn into (and not very far off, too) and it’s really quite unnerving. We really are the lucky country, but seen here it shows how easily that could turn into something sickening.
McDonald surely is one to keep an eye on – you only have to look at his list of achievements for confirmation. I can safely rate this collection five out of five with the knowledge it was deserved, as it has action, thoughtful commentary and excellent characters – I always love the character-driven pieces. And, as stated in my bit about his first short Cold Comfort, I’d love to see his work in a longer sense to see what he can do with more room and time. If he can achieve that much world building in so few pages, what else can he accomplish? No pressure, David.
For more reviews like these, please click here.
Cold Comfort is a collection of three short stories, two which have been published previously, and one that is appearing for the first time.
Cold Comfort (first published in ‘Epilogue’ by Fablecroft Publishing)
Ice spiders, snow bears and deadly cold are only most obvious of the dangers a young trader faces as she searches for the secrets of the Elders on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
Ultimately this is a tale of hope. It starts off a little slow, lulling you almost into a false sense of security that it’ll be a short story of travelling and hardship but ultimately finding strength through everything – but no. The story continues, taking Vanja through injury and attack from wild creatures to what could be safety – a dome in the snow that has an outpost of people where she can trade her wares and such. The short would have been satisfying at that alone, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that. This short could easily be expanded into a novella or novel with all the history and hints it carries with it, much like the slight mentions of what built certain things in Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora.
What I love about this one is what’s not said. We are seeing a world trying to cope after all the horror and excitement have since past – this is dystopian without the melodrama, everything is simply cold hard fact (cold comfort, indeed) and a strong female lead who is willing to make the hard journey in order to spread the truth.
Through Wind and Weather (first published in ‘Deck the Halls’ by eMergent Publishing)
A rebellious pilot races against time to make a vital delivery to a planet in need. But in the face of the worst solar storm in years, his only ally is a sentient spaceship who is an outcast even to its own kind.
Much shorter now (at just five pages on my eReader of choice) we have Nick who is flying a rather lovely semi-sentient ship, who knows just when to have certain minor malfunctions to shut up certain bosses. Rather like the TARDIS in Doctor Who that swears it was she who stole the Doctor, rather than the other way ’round.
Though I hesitate to mention it, reading this so soon after the incident concerning Air Asia flight QZ8501 (thought to be lost due to lightning strike, after losing contact near an incredibly violent monsoon trough) it certainly put the story into a certain kind of respect that shows how truly dangerous it all is.
This piece is much more sciencey than the one previous, and would truly excellent on screen. And it’s so sweet! Truly fitting for the Christmas themed anthology ‘Deck the Halls’, it fits rather well into this collection also, going from the theme of hope to good will.
Our Land Abounds (original to this collection)
In a world divided by war and wracked by food shortages, the Republic of Australasia is an oasis protected by its isolation and the Border Patrol. But, a chance encounter leaves a weary veteran asking whether the price of plenty is too high.
Now we have Kessler in this original piece, showing us hints of what Australia has become. He’s a solider of ‘Cairns’, showing that war has come to Australia. ‘What’s left of Sydney’ is quite ominous, and I know many who would get a kick of hearing how Tasmania now is the home of the new capital of Australia, seeing as Canberra is deemed to be too close to the epicentre of whatever it is that happened.
This turns into quite a chilling tale, showing people hanged for being illegal immigrants and teachers reported for saying things like Australia should share what it has with the less fortunate. We have a sneak peek at what Australia could turn into (and not very far off, too) and it’s really quite unnerving. We really are the lucky country, but seen here it shows how easily that could turn into something sickening.
McDonald surely is one to keep an eye on – you only have to look at his list of achievements for confirmation. I can safely rate this collection five out of five with the knowledge it was deserved, as it has action, thoughtful commentary and excellent characters – I always love the character-driven pieces. And, as stated in my bit about his first short Cold Comfort, I’d love to see his work in a longer sense to see what he can do with more room and time. If he can achieve that much world building in so few pages, what else can he accomplish? No pressure, David.
For more reviews like these, please click here.
tsana's review
4.0
Cold Comfort and Other Tales by David McDonald is a very short collection of three stories. They're all science fiction, but quite different subgenres.
As usual, my thoughts on each individual story follow.
Cold Comfort — A longish story (novelette length, I think) about a frozen world where heat is currency and cold is death. The main character is a trader that travels between settlements (heat domes, basically) and comes across something interesting in a settlement no one else has visited in years. An interesting story. I particularly enjoyed the way more worldbuilding elements were revealed as it went along.
Through Wind and Weather — A short retelling of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer... In space. Amusing, especially if you enjoy Christmas-themed stories.
Our Land Abounds — A dystopian future Australia, in a world where food and water scarcity have replaced oil scarcity. And which treats refugees even worse than at present. I didn’t mind the world building, but I didn’t think it ultimately packed a strong enough punch. Not a bad story, but I think it could have gone further and done more.
A neat little collection if you're after a quick read. My favourite story was definitely "Cold Comfort" — it was the meatiest of the collection. I would recommend getting the collection just for this story if you haven't already read it (it appeared in the FableCroft anthology Epilogue). Overall, this little triad showcases the author's range with different styles, from serious to tongue-in-cheek, and different settings.
4 / 5 stars
You can read more reviews on my blog.
As usual, my thoughts on each individual story follow.
Cold Comfort — A longish story (novelette length, I think) about a frozen world where heat is currency and cold is death. The main character is a trader that travels between settlements (heat domes, basically) and comes across something interesting in a settlement no one else has visited in years. An interesting story. I particularly enjoyed the way more worldbuilding elements were revealed as it went along.
Through Wind and Weather — A short retelling of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer... In space. Amusing, especially if you enjoy Christmas-themed stories.
Our Land Abounds — A dystopian future Australia, in a world where food and water scarcity have replaced oil scarcity. And which treats refugees even worse than at present. I didn’t mind the world building, but I didn’t think it ultimately packed a strong enough punch. Not a bad story, but I think it could have gone further and done more.
A neat little collection if you're after a quick read. My favourite story was definitely "Cold Comfort" — it was the meatiest of the collection. I would recommend getting the collection just for this story if you haven't already read it (it appeared in the FableCroft anthology Epilogue). Overall, this little triad showcases the author's range with different styles, from serious to tongue-in-cheek, and different settings.
4 / 5 stars
You can read more reviews on my blog.
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