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A review by latad_books
After the Apocalypse: Stories by Maureen F. McHugh
4.0
This stories were all well written, and was a pretty strong collection.
The Naturalist: 4 stars
It's the zombie apocalypse, and the main character is one of several men in an enclosed city with other convicts, and zombies. The main character begins watching the zombies, and experimenting with what might attract them and what might keep them at bay. I felt like I’d read more stories in this world.
Special Economics: 4.5 stars
After a worldwide bird flu and billions of deaths, we follow Jjjjjjjjj as she lands both a job with a factory making batteries, and a growing pile of debt as the factory owners charge their workers for everything, from food, to uniforms, to accommodations, and trapping their workforce in massive debt, which they try futilely to pay off.
My absolutely favourite story in this collection. I desperately wanted more story when I came to the end.
Useless Things: 4 stars.
A really interesting story about a custom dollmaker whose life is changed after a migrant (she's known as a way station for people travelling through the area) purportedly breaks into her place.
The Lost Boy: A Reporter At Large: 4 stars.
A young man suffering from memory loss is reunited with his family. He had gotten separated from them for some years after a school trip that had to be cut short.
I liked the wistful feel of this story.
The Kingdom of the Blind: 4 stars.
Has a program controlling the services (e.g., lights, etc.) in some hospitals become sentient?
Interesting discussion between two of the characters on what constitutes awareness.
Going to France: 3.5 stars.
The main character helps some people, who can fly, get to the coast so they can meet up with other flyers.
This felt like it was a little short, or missing something to me.
Honeymoon: 4 stars.
A young woman doesn’t get her honeymoon, and realizes her now husband is a dolt. She decides to make money after the disappointment by volunteering for drug trials.
The main character felt really well drawn.
The Effect of Centrifugal Forces: 3.5 stars.
A daughter deals with her mothers, one of whom is ailing from Avian Prion Disease. A story with a fair bit of anger, though I had a little trouble following this.
After the Apocalypse: 4 stars.
This one was good! A mother and daughter are walking from Texas, northwards, in the hope of finding some place safe. The mother is getting frustrated with her daughter, and the girl’s inability to deal with the fear, and privation of the road.
The atmosphere was great, and I liked the slightly horrifying ending.
The Naturalist: 4 stars
It's the zombie apocalypse, and the main character is one of several men in an enclosed city with other convicts, and zombies. The main character begins watching the zombies, and experimenting with what might attract them and what might keep them at bay. I felt like I’d read more stories in this world.
Special Economics: 4.5 stars
After a worldwide bird flu and billions of deaths, we follow Jjjjjjjjj as she lands both a job with a factory making batteries, and a growing pile of debt as the factory owners charge their workers for everything, from food, to uniforms, to accommodations, and trapping their workforce in massive debt, which they try futilely to pay off.
My absolutely favourite story in this collection. I desperately wanted more story when I came to the end.
Useless Things: 4 stars.
A really interesting story about a custom dollmaker whose life is changed after a migrant (she's known as a way station for people travelling through the area) purportedly breaks into her place.
The Lost Boy: A Reporter At Large: 4 stars.
A young man suffering from memory loss is reunited with his family. He had gotten separated from them for some years after a school trip that had to be cut short.
I liked the wistful feel of this story.
The Kingdom of the Blind: 4 stars.
Has a program controlling the services (e.g., lights, etc.) in some hospitals become sentient?
Interesting discussion between two of the characters on what constitutes awareness.
Going to France: 3.5 stars.
The main character helps some people, who can fly, get to the coast so they can meet up with other flyers.
This felt like it was a little short, or missing something to me.
Honeymoon: 4 stars.
A young woman doesn’t get her honeymoon, and realizes her now husband is a dolt. She decides to make money after the disappointment by volunteering for drug trials.
The main character felt really well drawn.
The Effect of Centrifugal Forces: 3.5 stars.
A daughter deals with her mothers, one of whom is ailing from Avian Prion Disease. A story with a fair bit of anger, though I had a little trouble following this.
After the Apocalypse: 4 stars.
This one was good! A mother and daughter are walking from Texas, northwards, in the hope of finding some place safe. The mother is getting frustrated with her daughter, and the girl’s inability to deal with the fear, and privation of the road.
The atmosphere was great, and I liked the slightly horrifying ending.