(Portal Fantasy) Blank and Cipher walked away from Solution City for moral reasons, but once they see what our world is like, they have regrets. (3,700 words; Time: 12m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
Recommended By: SFRevu:4"After We Walked Away," by Erica L. Satifka [bio] (edited by Jason Sizemore), appeared in Apex Magazine issue 90, published on November 1, 2016.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: In this homage to The Ones Who Walk away from Omelas, we learn that meeting the challenge isn't so easy. Cipher handles it better than Blank does, even though it seems to have been her idea to leave. It's quite horrifying that Blank tries to restore paradise by picking a random child to torture.
Cipher may not be happy, but he makes his peace with the world. The fact that he goes back to the desert sands to die suggests that even after a long life, he still thinks he made the wrong decision.
Con: It's bleak and empty. Neither character accomplishes anything, not even in terms of personal growth. Not unless personal growth means learning that the answer to the challenge of Omelas is "don't walk away!"
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites
Cipher may not be happy, but he makes his peace with the world. The fact that he goes back to the desert sands to die suggests that even after a long life, he still thinks he made the wrong decision.
Con: It's bleak and empty. Neither character accomplishes anything, not even in terms of personal growth. Not unless personal growth means learning that the answer to the challenge of Omelas is "don't walk away!"
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites
No comments (may contain spoilers):
Post a Comment (comment policy)