Scan barcode
A review by fxdpts
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders
5.0
It’s really striking to read something that clicks instantly. I was not at all surprised by the author’s note that he became alienated from overly descriptive language. This is writing that carries the tone of the story in the simplicity of its sentences, and the despair of its characters in the flat descriptions of the settings. Everything’s been hollowed out and corporatized, so why bother bloviating?
I loved all of the stories. They’re really rich; here are just some short thoughts on each.
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline
Plastic experiences are dull. When you peel off the veneer, you’ll be in pain. The experiences you’ll face are visceral and real, but god is real life bloody and painful.
Isabelle
In spite of all the pain, you can find a nice honest moral niche.
The Wavemaker Falters
The end reminds me of The Trial.
The 400-Pound CEO
Mostly just made me sad.
Offloading for Mrs. Schwartz
Ode to all the fuck-ups of the world. There’s a morality to guide your path but you’re going to stumble, and often split your head before getting back up.
Downtrodden Mary’s Failed Campaign of Terror
When I first read “see-through cow,” I thought they figured out how to make a translucent cow, in the ghost/spectre sense. The reveal of what was really going on was a *gut* punch.
Bounty
Everything goes wrong, everyone is awful, everyone’s too afraid to change anything.
I loved all of the stories. They’re really rich; here are just some short thoughts on each.
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline
Plastic experiences are dull. When you peel off the veneer, you’ll be in pain. The experiences you’ll face are visceral and real, but god is real life bloody and painful.
Isabelle
In spite of all the pain, you can find a nice honest moral niche.
The Wavemaker Falters
The end reminds me of The Trial.
The 400-Pound CEO
Mostly just made me sad.
Offloading for Mrs. Schwartz
Ode to all the fuck-ups of the world. There’s a morality to guide your path but you’re going to stumble, and often split your head before getting back up.
Downtrodden Mary’s Failed Campaign of Terror
When I first read “see-through cow,” I thought they figured out how to make a translucent cow, in the ghost/spectre sense. The reveal of what was really going on was a *gut* punch.
Bounty
Everything goes wrong, everyone is awful, everyone’s too afraid to change anything.