(Post-Apocalypse) Pris abandons 22nd-Century Fairbanks and moves to a commune that floats above the ruins of San Francisco. (6,400 words; Time: 21m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Recommended By: GDozois:5"Because Change Was The Ocean And We Lived By Her Mercy," by Charlie Jane Anders [bio] (edited by Jonathan Strahan), appeared in Drowned Worlds (RSR review), published on July 12, 2016 by Solaris.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: This is the story of how Pris joined the "Wrong-Headed crew" and lived with them until he/she outgrew them. Pris begins by wanting to help restore the world, but ends by realizing that the world will restore itself in its own time. The description of how the farmers apparently murdered Weo and the others simply to avoid paying for their work was really chilling, especially since Pris describes the facts without seeming to understand what actually happened.
Con: The extent of destruction is so great that one has trouble believing in the sort of high technology required to build floating cities.
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Charlie Jane Anders Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Con: The extent of destruction is so great that one has trouble believing in the sort of high technology required to build floating cities.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Charlie Jane Anders Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
I enjoyed reading this story but agree with the rating and the comments. There was too much implied, and not explained.
ReplyDeleteWhile the ending was optimistic, it did not match with the rest of the story. Given the way Pris's relationship ended, it was too comfortable.
Pris was born well after the disaster that changed the world, and comes from the generation that finally knows that humans will make it, without having to worry every day about basic things. This gives this story a new perspective to the standard Post-apocalyptic story where people are transitioning and struggling to survive.
ReplyDeleteA good 3.