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A review by relearning2read
Forward: Stories of Tomorrow by Blake Crouch, N.K. Jemisin, Paul Tremblay, Amor Towles, Veronica Roth, Andy Weir
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
This is a collection of 6 sci-fi short stories/novelettes that offered a chance to try out several new authors. Overall it was excellent, with each story being unique in themes, technology & style, though unfortunately one story was a huge let down (interestingly the only story from and author I'd read from before) without that story could have been a 5 star collection (I consider a 5 star collection one with all 4 or 5 star stories)
Stories:
Randomize by Andy Weir: 1 star, I would recommend skipping it, the characters were flat and the plot didn't really have stakes
Emergency Skin by N. K. Jemison: 4 stars, This author is known for her unique uses of format, and perspective and this story offered a taste of that that makes me excited to try her full length works, though it did take some getting used to. While a little heavy handed in its themes its an interesting twist on the "a remnant of humanity flees earth to save the species" trope
Summer Frost by Blake Crouch: 5 stars, I can totally understand why Crouch is one of the bestselling modern sci-fi thriller authors. This is an AI story that keeps you on your toes while also touching on themes about what progress really is and how we determine our values
Ark by Veronica Roth: 5 stars, this was an unexpectedly touching story that zooms in on the grunt worked involved in those "humanity flees the planet" endeavors and is ultimately about how we can find hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances
You Have Arrived at Your Destination: 4 stars, starts out as a story about genetic engineering (very gattaca like) but becomes a story about how we envision the stories of our lives and the lives of people around us. Something about the writing felt kind of dude-bro-y though which kept me from fulling emotionally engaging
The Last Conversation by Paul Tremblay: 5 stars, have definitely heard mixed things about this author and I can understand why if this is representative of his style. This story includes some horror elements and a "twist" that I think you are meant to see coming as knowing before the character really added to the tension for me
Stories:
Randomize by Andy Weir: 1 star, I would recommend skipping it, the characters were flat and the plot didn't really have stakes
Emergency Skin by N. K. Jemison: 4 stars, This author is known for her unique uses of format, and perspective and this story offered a taste of that that makes me excited to try her full length works, though it did take some getting used to. While a little heavy handed in its themes its an interesting twist on the "a remnant of humanity flees earth to save the species" trope
Summer Frost by Blake Crouch: 5 stars, I can totally understand why Crouch is one of the bestselling modern sci-fi thriller authors. This is an AI story that keeps you on your toes while also touching on themes about what progress really is and how we determine our values
Ark by Veronica Roth: 5 stars, this was an unexpectedly touching story that zooms in on the grunt worked involved in those "humanity flees the planet" endeavors and is ultimately about how we can find hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances
You Have Arrived at Your Destination: 4 stars, starts out as a story about genetic engineering (very gattaca like) but becomes a story about how we envision the stories of our lives and the lives of people around us. Something about the writing felt kind of dude-bro-y though which kept me from fulling emotionally engaging
The Last Conversation by Paul Tremblay: 5 stars, have definitely heard mixed things about this author and I can understand why if this is representative of his style. This story includes some horror elements and a "twist" that I think you are meant to see coming as knowing before the character really added to the tension for me