aggravatedWastelands The New Apocalypse edited by John Joseph Adams, part 3
Four Kittens
In an overly brutal post-apoc a man engages in reckless disobedience and deliberate defiance by saving a potent symbol of hope. This was okay.
Best Line:
“Plenty of other wannabe dictators to work for out there in the wastes.”
The Eyes Of The Flood
Little meaningful here.
Best Line:
“Died so long ago that their bones are dust.”
The Last Garden
A woman is the sole survivor of the human race after humanity wipes itself out. All she has for company is an ethically neutral AI. This had dreary pacing.
Best Line:
“Doomsday vault.”
Through Sparks In Morning's Dawn
This seems to be a sequel to a story from the 1st 'Wastelands' anthology. The great landship Zephyr needs urgent repairs, the inevitable raiders show up. This was okay.
Best Lines:
“Undo what you've done!”
“All civilizations lived among the ruins of the ones that came before.”
“Collapse mother.”
Cannibal Acts
In a post-plague apocalypse desperate people resort to desperate measures in this good story.
Best Lines:
“Man-eaters.”
“A pleasure to be the center of everyone's concern and attention.”
“There's a place on the map marked Troy but nobody has lived in those ruins or called it Troy in centuries.”
Echo
By Veronica Roth. A woman recalls her ill-remembered sister in the aftermath of an irreconcilable standoff between humans and AIs. This was okay.
Shooting The Apocalypse
By Paolo Bacigalup. Is this connected to 'The Water Knife'? In a divided USA riddled with drought, something is about to change. This was excellent and done in grim vivid detail. Things are souring and a terrible truth is slowly realised.
Best Lines:
“The reality narco show Hard Bangin'.”
“State Sovereignty Act.”
“Armed lunatics.”
“Brought their apocalypse down on their own damn selves.”
The Hungry Earth
Has a lack of ambivalance.
Last Chance
In a post-apoc world which is a quasi medieval hellhole, an idiot child tries to survive in the relentlessly brutal world. A weapon that has long been forgotten is found. While not conceptually daring – this was okay.
A Series Of Images From A Ruined City At The End Of The World
A frivolous rationalisation of complaints.
Best Line:
“A man who only likes you when you see him a certain kind of way. When you get a glimpse of the real person, he runs.”
~
The Time Of The Reaper by Andrew Butcher
This YA novel was supposed to be the first in a series. But no follow ups have appeared since 2007. A plague wipes out everyone over 18. So hoodie mobs now rule and then in the twist ending aliens show up. This was woefully bad.