Review: Well Crafted Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2013
Michael Bunker is to be congratulated for once again crafting a story that draws the reader in with a powerful mix of rich but concise character description, sci-fi settings with an organic feel, and the underlying theme of individuals striving for truth against societal oppression.  In this case, the story is called "Refuse" and it is set in Hugh Howey's Wool universe.  The central character is Leah, a picker in the Silo who has to sort through her community's garbage and put it into the proper bins for recycling.  As she picks through the day's garbage she thinks to herself, "Plastic Life. Artificial. It's all fake. . . " But there is one thing that is precious to Leah, and that is the scrap paper, because with it she can become part of something real - writing her own stories and reading those of others.But to do this is to court arrest or possible death, because all writing has to be approved by the proper authorities, and paper is rigorously tracked.  Leah and her friends, however, have learned how to make their own paper, by a fascinating process that the author details for the reader. Leah's ability to make her own paper, and write down her own thoughts, have made her a rebel in her society's eyes, but I like how Bunker describes the way the character repeatedly searches her own conscience and finds herself not guilty.  She is not a brazen rebel looking for a thrill, but a person of integrity who will purpose to make her stories known because it is the right thing to do.  I hope Mr. Bunker continues with his.