aggravatedWastelands The New Apocalypse edited by John Joseph Adams, part 4
Come On Down
Showgirls do 'The Price Is Right' after the apocalypse. This has no redeeming aspects.
Don't Pack Hope
A man packs to flee a zombie (?) apocalypse. There are no dark and desperate decisions here. This tries for emotional manipulation and fails.
Best Lines:
“Gym-strong.”
“Smell like hot, broken death.”
Polly Wanna Cracker?
After the end the balance of power between birds and humans shifts. A beleaguered anguished flock finds a new source of food. This apocalyptic scenario was quietly ominious.
Otherwise
This was an utterly incoherent tale of snotty kids in a post-apoc world. This was infuriating as the morons run around in hopeless circumstances. This was ridiculously un-dramatic.
Best Line:
“Started hollering for help like it might come.”
And The Rest Of Us Wait
People in a shelter surive after a comet causes an ELE. A disabled girl whines her way through the apocalypse, going on and on about her personal advancement. This is not unsparing and there is a vindictive atmosphere and recriminations and suffocating pressure. I don't care about her ideological fervour and how she expects to be socially exalted in the apocalypse.
Best Lines:
“Already left on generation ships or taken shelter in permanent basements.”
“Outside was ruination.”
The Last Child
A tale of unspeakable violence that is overly grim and full of murdeorus quarrels, impotent rage and existential disquiet. I had complete disfavour for this.
Burn 3
The world as it existed is gone and horrors have become the accepted thing. A girl tries to save her sister from evil and harm. There are no moral standards or common community conscience in this okay tale.
Snow
I've read this before. Friends in a plague ravished world hide from monsters. This was very good with a a bleak ending.
Best Line:
“No help to be had.”
The Air Is Chalk
A bodyguard accidently unleashes the apocalypse. He's a jackass and as things get increasingly difficult, survival just come downs to human will. This was okay.
Best Line:
“Which can get you hated.”
Francisca Montoya's Almanac Of Things That Can Kill You
In post apoc world, a cure has been found but tragedy intervenes. This was excellent.
