A review by zillanovikov
Into the Unknown A science Fiction Anthology by Rohan O'Duill, Emma Berglund, Lower Decks Press, Jason Clor

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I was given an Advance Reader Copy of Into The Unknown in exchange for an honest review.

Eleven stories. Eleven takes on what the unknown holds for us. Eleven worlds, waiting to be explored.

These stories are reminiscent of golden-age science fiction, with non-stop adventures and strange worlds that don't follow the laws of earth. The characters, all too human, regularly face that sinking feeling when the pieces click into place and they realize exactly what the rules are. There are some excellent pieces of horror, from sentient maggots to forgetting the coffee grinder on a twenty-year space journey.

While the style reminds me of the best of classic science fiction, the themes are decidedly modern. Like The Expanse, Into The Unknown is science fiction with a political bite. Humanity's relationship with technology is explored through multiple angles. Pet, by Wendy Wee, asks what it means for humanity if we allow AI to make our decisions for us; Marriage Clause, by HL Hinkle, questions our humanity if we abuse AI which is bound to serve us. Climate change is also a recurring theme, with stories of dying colony ships, or of life on an uninhabitable earth.

These stories explore the push and pull that drive us into the unknown, and the adventures that await us there. A must read for all fans of classic science fiction.