Review: An excellent collection of short stories
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2013
The author states that "these are the stories of what people will do AFTER" but with the exception of a few stories it really didn't matter to me what triggered their present conditions.  Considered in total this is a collection of well written stories though I definitely liked some more than others as described in my review.  If possible I'd have given this book 4 1/2 stars.  (Qualifier: having previously downloaded his two earlier works, the author was kind enough to provide me with a copy of this book with his sole request being that I give an honest review in return.  I've done so below having received no other considerations.)1) LUCKY LUCY - An interesting world in which female clones ("Lucys") have replaced women who have apparently been killed off or made infertile by a virus. This story, though somewhat different in direction, reminded me of "I Sing The Body Electric" from The Twilight Zone and "The Stepford Wives".  But what sets this one apart is we find that clones may react very differently to the lack of diversity in the new world.  And if Lucys, though pre-programmed, can react so differently then the consequences of cloning might be very severe indeed.  An oddly compelling story.2) LATE RETURNS - A very odd world in which access to books and reading itself is heavily regulated by the government, creating a new type of addiction in the process. As an avid reader this story intrigued me and I really wanted to know what caused the government to set such tight restrictions on the public. One of the better stories in the collection.3) CATCHPHRASE - Imagine a world in which a government agency regulates product advertising down to the word with the power to shut down a product line or business at its whim.  It's an interesting story with a fun ending but I'm not sure why this one fits in well with the "AFTER" theme.4)IN STORE - Probably my least favorite story in the collection. A futuristic look at eco-radicals but other than the references to future technologies it didn't stand out for me.  And this was another story which, to me, didn't fit the "AFTER" theme. It's just a futuristic view of civil disobedience that already happens today.5) GARDEN LIGHT - A very strange science fiction story of a man who picks up projected images broadcast to his home from a nearby building. Stick with this one as the explanation and, in particular, the ending is worth the trip. One of the better stories in the collection.6) THE FUTURE GUN - A different type of alien story in which the initial contact changes the main character's life forever.  But perhaps there's a purpose for his suffering?7) LIVE - Reminiscent of The Running Man or The Hunger Games.  Why are people running for their lives?  How were they chosen? Is there a way out alive?  It's not a new concept at all but kudos to the author for an unexpected twist at the end that elevated the entire story for me.8) THE EARTH EQUATION - A futuristic murder mystery/love story in which people can survive for a few months at a time only by remaining in suspended animation for the rest of the year. This story reminded me of another Twilight Zone episode (The Long Morrow) though with significant differences.  The murder mystery, and the motive behind the killings, make this one a worthwhile read.I should add: I don't think the author based any of his stories on earlier tales and they all differ significantly from the works that I referenced .  And, btw, I consider any comparisons to The Twilight Zone episodes to be a sincere compliment and not a criticism at all.  Also worth noting: this book includes previews of the author's two other novels and those chapters are included in the 311 total pages.