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A review by severina2001
Burn the Ashes by John Joseph Adams, Christie Yant, Hugh Howey
4.0
The second in the Dystopian Triptych anthology trilogy.
Another overall really good set of stories, each of which continues the 'verse they started in the first book in the series, Ignorance is Strength.
My favourites among this group:
01. Our Lady of Perpetual Disdain – Deep/Fake 2 by Rich Larson
His lead off story for this universe in book one was not one of my favourites, but the writing in this one just blew me away. The story, which sounds kind of crazy distilled into a sentence, involves a near-future in which people are (often willingly) controlled by an insane AI. Think groups of murderous children who believe they are killing monsters in a video game. This story involves people in a hospital plunged into chaos and the frenetic writing perfectly matches the story.
02. The Proscribed Words – Target 2 by Adam-Troy Castro
Castro gives us another look at the ultra-right-wing world he created in his first story, The Truth About The Boy, and this one is equally shocking because, quite frankly, it's really not all that difficult to imagine it happening. That's Mr. Castro's gift, I think. He's a great writer.
03. Conscription – Harvest 2 by Seanan McGuire
This one involves forced organ donation to pay off debt. There's a slow, oozing creepiness to this one that just made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
04. The Fruits of Their Labour – Robots Rise 2 by Tobias S. Buckell
What struck me about his one is just how much I really like the main character, a massive self-aware construction robot. I think it takes great skill to give humanity to a character like this. Looking forward to see how it all turns out in book three.
05. Believe in the Law, For the Law is Real – Lawless 2 by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
A bit Handmaid's Tale-ish and a bit difficult to read for the same reason – I just want to shout at these women to stand up and fight – but with a great ending that left me looking forward to part 3.
Another overall really good set of stories, each of which continues the 'verse they started in the first book in the series, Ignorance is Strength.
My favourites among this group:
01. Our Lady of Perpetual Disdain – Deep/Fake 2 by Rich Larson
His lead off story for this universe in book one was not one of my favourites, but the writing in this one just blew me away. The story, which sounds kind of crazy distilled into a sentence, involves a near-future in which people are (often willingly) controlled by an insane AI. Think groups of murderous children who believe they are killing monsters in a video game. This story involves people in a hospital plunged into chaos and the frenetic writing perfectly matches the story.
02. The Proscribed Words – Target 2 by Adam-Troy Castro
Castro gives us another look at the ultra-right-wing world he created in his first story, The Truth About The Boy, and this one is equally shocking because, quite frankly, it's really not all that difficult to imagine it happening. That's Mr. Castro's gift, I think. He's a great writer.
03. Conscription – Harvest 2 by Seanan McGuire
This one involves forced organ donation to pay off debt. There's a slow, oozing creepiness to this one that just made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
04. The Fruits of Their Labour – Robots Rise 2 by Tobias S. Buckell
What struck me about his one is just how much I really like the main character, a massive self-aware construction robot. I think it takes great skill to give humanity to a character like this. Looking forward to see how it all turns out in book three.
05. Believe in the Law, For the Law is Real – Lawless 2 by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
A bit Handmaid's Tale-ish and a bit difficult to read for the same reason – I just want to shout at these women to stand up and fight – but with a great ending that left me looking forward to part 3.