(SF Romance) For medical reasons, Moena lives isolated from the world, although she’s made a microbiome that works for her. Then she falls in love with a man from outside her bubble. (7,162 words; Time: 23m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Microbiota and the Masses: A Love Story," by S.B. Divya [bio], published on January 11, 2017 by Tor.com.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It’s cute that the same technology that will protect her biome from the outside world will also help cure the outside world of some of its pollution problems. Moena had withdrawn from the world and wasn’t doing anything to help, but her need for love (selfish though it might be) leads her to research that will help everyone.
The story does a great job of making us really believe that Moena needs her bubble, so when she steps out of it to meet Rahul, the tension is intense as we wait to see what will happen. And what the long-term cost will be.
Likewise, we know that Moena’s deception must come to light sooner or later, and that also adds tension to each scene.
Con: It's not good that she becomes a mad scientist and infects all of Bangalore with her experiment.
The magical private biome doesn't seem to be based on real science at all. The last part of the story doesn't even pretend to be scientific--it degenerates straight into wishful thinking.
A minor point: how did she live for 23 years on her own if she needs this much isolation?
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01/11/17)
S.B. Divya Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
The story does a great job of making us really believe that Moena needs her bubble, so when she steps out of it to meet Rahul, the tension is intense as we wait to see what will happen. And what the long-term cost will be.
Likewise, we know that Moena’s deception must come to light sooner or later, and that also adds tension to each scene.
Con: It's not good that she becomes a mad scientist and infects all of Bangalore with her experiment.
The magical private biome doesn't seem to be based on real science at all. The last part of the story doesn't even pretend to be scientific--it degenerates straight into wishful thinking.
A minor point: how did she live for 23 years on her own if she needs this much isolation?
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01/11/17)
S.B. Divya Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
"how did she live for 23 years on her own if she needs this much isolation?" -- Poorly, one would suspect. Plus if she needed to be isolated so much wouldn't she be suffering when her boyfriend moved in?
ReplyDeleteEh, still a good story if you don't try and get caught up in the details though.
Aww, I loved this. So cute how she related everything to plants. Yes, unrealistic -- I was thinking she would have passed out from shock before she even made it to the coffee shop the first time, let alone waded into a toxic lake! But I don't care. Ebees humming, "Kiss him! Kiss him!" ;)
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