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mementomori13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
spikeanderson1's review against another edition
5.0
This was, overall, an excellent compilation of Apocalypse & Dystopia. Notable were the stories/by: The Segment, Valentine;After The Cure, Ryan; Valedictorian, Jemsinin; Visiting Nelson, Langrish;Blood Drive, Ford; How Th'irth..., Maguire;Rust With Wings, Gould; The Marker, Castelluccci. The others were totally solid as well. Also, uncharacteristic to almost every other Intro from the very many compilations that I have read , the Introduction to the book by Editors Datlow & Windling was very well done and informative to understanding the genre.
thelibraryofklee's review against another edition
4.0
Big fan of short stories and love dystopian texts so this was great. on the downside a few of them had my craving more.
courtknee_bee's review against another edition
4.0
For reasons I could not even begin to explain, I have been pretty into post-apocolyptic YA novels lately. If you know me at all, you'll probably find this hilarious since I'm such a worrier already. Seriously, my boyfriend gets mad at me for reading end-of-the-world books because I tend to have bad dreams about them afterwards, waking him up in the middle of the night. But there's just something about the end that's like a car wreck: you know you shouldn't look, you know it's going to be bad, but you find yourself rubbernecking anyway.
This little anthology is enjoyable for those who are both new to the genre and experience with post-apoc alike. As a collection, there's a good mix of stories and situations - some are better than others, of course, but overall I enjoyed most of the short stories.
I think my only critique of the whole work is that no story really sticks with you, at least like a full-scale novel will. I didn't have any scary dreams afterwards - not a bad thing, really, but it also means that no story really touched me like Ashfall or Life As We Knew It both did. That may not be the fault of the authors, though, but rather the nature of the short-story format.
Below is a quick review of each short-story with basic thoughts.
The Segment
2 stars
Eh. This one isn't bad, but I wasn't overly impressed with it, either. The "twist" ending was really predictable from the get-go, and the only character who interested me even a little was Bree, though I don't feel like we got enough of her. Just okay.
After the Cure
4.5 stars
This was one of my favorites. I think it took the most unique perspective of all the short stories by exploring what happens to a monster after they've been cured. The voice here really stood out. Plus you could probably draw a lot of ties to racial tensions in the US, too. The ending was also good. Just a very enjoyable, introspective little piece.
Valedictorian
5 stars
Another favorite. There was a lot of good things happening here. The plot and twist were suspenseful and unpredictable. I loved the main character's drive and her single-tract way of approaching things. The big "main point" at the end hit me because it was something I didn't really think about. I want this to be a long-form novel.
Visiting Nelson
3 stars
Another "eh." Not bad, not great. I'm giving it a slightly higher rating because I can recognize that it did some good things. The dialect was believable without being overbearing or hard to read. I liked some of the world-building concepts. I think others might like this one better than I did.
All I Know of Freedom
3 stars
This one had an interesting main character - pretty naive, but understandably so. Also, this is the only story to deal with cults, which I'd have to imagine pop-up a lot more in post-apoc situations. I think more could have been done with the concept (the only explanation of why she's serving a family in the beginning is murky at best), but it was a solid start.
The Other Elder
1 stars
Full disclosure: I really disliked the book this short story is based on (Across the Universe by Beth Revis), so that probably affected by enjoyment of this story. I'm fine with authors placing their short stories in the universe of their novels, but you have to at least do something different. This story didn't. It takes place an undetermined amount of generations before the novel, but it really reads like a lot of exposition before the main novel. I just felt like it was so predictable. Also the author did a lot of telling and not much showing. Not for me.
The Great Game at the End of the World
3 stars
The voice for this story was probably the most unique. It's a little wacky and I don't think everyone would enjoy it, but it was a good break from the more serious stuff. My big problem was that I felt like the author was trying to set something up but failed to fully communicate it. Like, I get why you want to make the concept a little confusing, but it has to be clear enough that your reader will get it eventually. If someone else has thoughts about what this one meant, please let me know.
Reunion
5 stars
I'm not sure if this is set in the same universe as Life as We Knew It, but it is by the same author - much darker, too. I loved the twist at the end and didn't see it coming. I think it also said something very interesting about humanity and how people react to extreme circumstances that wasn't quite done in the other stories.
Blood Drive
3.5 stars
Clearly an interesting satire about some Republicans capturing the national stage. I didn't feel like the story quite fit the theme, though, but the concept made me chuckle. It's dark and a bit on the nose, but I enjoyed it. I also really liked the LBGTQ representation here because it wasn't forced like "OH LOOK I'M SO PROGRESSIVE." It felt real.
Reality Girl
2.5 stars
Eh. Too much happening in this story to make sense. The author was just really ambitious in the world-building, so I had a hard time following. Like, I really can't even explain how the ending happened in this one because I couldn't entirely follow it, either. There was polluted water, rich Chinese people, and like human/animal hybrids? Just too many things.
How Th'irth Wint Rong by Hapless Joey @ Homeskool.guv
3.5 stars
This one will irritate a lot of people, and it's pretty hard to read. But once you get through it, you understand why the author chose to write this way. Stick it out to the end. I was pleasantly surprised here.
Rust with Wings
2 stars
Another story that's set in an author's book universe. This had one of the more unique apocalyptic scenarios - crazy metal-eating bugs. I didn't really get to know the characters, though. It was very plot-driven, so much to the point that it felt like there wasn't much else but plot. The ending was terrible - one of the those dramatic, one sentence cliffhangers. I'm not against cliffhangers, even, but the problem with this one is that there's nothing in the text to indicate why the cliffhanger is happening.
Faint Heart
4 stars
Another good one - but oh, that cliffhanger! This story was basically like a modern-day (future?) fairytale, but it reads like the first chapter of a full-length novel. It needs to be a novel. I would read the poop out of this novel.
The Easthound
2 stars
I liked the idea of sisterly bonds and how they're tested in a post-apoc setting, but this story didn't take the concept to the full-potential. Also, the character development was pretty weak; everyone was really flat and one-sided. I almost skipped this one halfway through but stuck it out. The ending is what raises it from a one star to a two.
Gray
1 star
A poem, and not even a good one at that. I feel like this is something I would have written in 8th grade.
Before
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did. The POC-persepctive was a good start, but at times it felt almost too stereotypical. I also felt like the resolution was a little too coincidental/perfect. It gets points for trying to be diverse, but in the end this one just sort of fades in my mind.
Fake Plastic Trees
3 stars
Another cool concept marred somewhat by the execution. I liked the world-building, and I even found the character interesting, despite not getting a ton of information about her. But the narrative twist was just very clumsily executed. I also didn't fully understand why the main character made that decision
You Won't Feel a Thing
1 stars
Another case of an author relying too much on the universe they've built in another novel. I don't know what else to say about this one. I just didn't enjoy it.
The Marker
4 stars
This was was good ending to the series. It's a little dark, but you also get an ending with a glimmer of hope. Geo was a relatable character, and he goes through a believable transformation in a short amount of time. When the apocalyptic situation was finally explained, it made sense and was kind of a cool take that most people probably never consider. Cool world-building.
This little anthology is enjoyable for those who are both new to the genre and experience with post-apoc alike. As a collection, there's a good mix of stories and situations - some are better than others, of course, but overall I enjoyed most of the short stories.
I think my only critique of the whole work is that no story really sticks with you, at least like a full-scale novel will. I didn't have any scary dreams afterwards - not a bad thing, really, but it also means that no story really touched me like Ashfall or Life As We Knew It both did. That may not be the fault of the authors, though, but rather the nature of the short-story format.
Below is a quick review of each short-story with basic thoughts.
The Segment
2 stars
Eh. This one isn't bad, but I wasn't overly impressed with it, either. The "twist" ending was really predictable from the get-go, and the only character who interested me even a little was Bree, though I don't feel like we got enough of her. Just okay.
After the Cure
4.5 stars
This was one of my favorites. I think it took the most unique perspective of all the short stories by exploring what happens to a monster after they've been cured. The voice here really stood out. Plus you could probably draw a lot of ties to racial tensions in the US, too. The ending was also good. Just a very enjoyable, introspective little piece.
Valedictorian
5 stars
Another favorite. There was a lot of good things happening here. The plot and twist were suspenseful and unpredictable. I loved the main character's drive and her single-tract way of approaching things. The big "main point" at the end hit me because it was something I didn't really think about. I want this to be a long-form novel.
Visiting Nelson
3 stars
Another "eh." Not bad, not great. I'm giving it a slightly higher rating because I can recognize that it did some good things. The dialect was believable without being overbearing or hard to read. I liked some of the world-building concepts. I think others might like this one better than I did.
All I Know of Freedom
3 stars
This one had an interesting main character - pretty naive, but understandably so. Also, this is the only story to deal with cults, which I'd have to imagine pop-up a lot more in post-apoc situations. I think more could have been done with the concept (the only explanation of why she's serving a family in the beginning is murky at best), but it was a solid start.
The Other Elder
1 stars
Full disclosure: I really disliked the book this short story is based on (Across the Universe by Beth Revis), so that probably affected by enjoyment of this story. I'm fine with authors placing their short stories in the universe of their novels, but you have to at least do something different. This story didn't. It takes place an undetermined amount of generations before the novel, but it really reads like a lot of exposition before the main novel. I just felt like it was so predictable. Also the author did a lot of telling and not much showing. Not for me.
The Great Game at the End of the World
3 stars
The voice for this story was probably the most unique. It's a little wacky and I don't think everyone would enjoy it, but it was a good break from the more serious stuff. My big problem was that I felt like the author was trying to set something up but failed to fully communicate it.
Spoiler
It seemed like maybe the source of the event was because the world was really a video game level that someone reset? Kind of like how Russell deleted all his new levels in the beginning? But I couldn't really tell.Reunion
5 stars
I'm not sure if this is set in the same universe as Life as We Knew It, but it is by the same author - much darker, too. I loved the twist at the end and didn't see it coming. I think it also said something very interesting about humanity and how people react to extreme circumstances that wasn't quite done in the other stories.
Blood Drive
3.5 stars
Clearly an interesting satire about some Republicans capturing the national stage. I didn't feel like the story quite fit the theme, though, but the concept made me chuckle. It's dark and a bit on the nose, but I enjoyed it. I also really liked the LBGTQ representation here because it wasn't forced like "OH LOOK I'M SO PROGRESSIVE." It felt real.
Reality Girl
2.5 stars
Eh. Too much happening in this story to make sense. The author was just really ambitious in the world-building, so I had a hard time following. Like, I really can't even explain how the ending happened in this one because I couldn't entirely follow it, either. There was polluted water, rich Chinese people, and like human/animal hybrids? Just too many things.
How Th'irth Wint Rong by Hapless Joey @ Homeskool.guv
3.5 stars
This one will irritate a lot of people, and it's pretty hard to read. But once you get through it, you understand why the author chose to write this way. Stick it out to the end. I was pleasantly surprised here.
Rust with Wings
2 stars
Another story that's set in an author's book universe. This had one of the more unique apocalyptic scenarios - crazy metal-eating bugs. I didn't really get to know the characters, though. It was very plot-driven, so much to the point that it felt like there wasn't much else but plot. The ending was terrible - one of the those dramatic, one sentence cliffhangers. I'm not against cliffhangers, even, but the problem with this one is that there's nothing in the text to indicate why the cliffhanger is happening.
Spoiler
"It was going to be hard enough on them later, when he went back." Wait, what? Why in the world does Jeremy want to go back? We've spent this entire story establishing why no one would want to live with these metal bugs. There was zero indication that Jeremy was unhappy with leaving. This felt like it was suppose to be a big, dramatic reveal, but it just fell flat.Faint Heart
4 stars
Another good one - but oh, that cliffhanger! This story was basically like a modern-day (future?) fairytale, but it reads like the first chapter of a full-length novel. It needs to be a novel. I would read the poop out of this novel.
The Easthound
2 stars
I liked the idea of sisterly bonds and how they're tested in a post-apoc setting, but this story didn't take the concept to the full-potential. Also, the character development was pretty weak; everyone was really flat and one-sided. I almost skipped this one halfway through but stuck it out. The ending is what raises it from a one star to a two.
Gray
1 star
A poem, and not even a good one at that. I feel like this is something I would have written in 8th grade.
Before
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did. The POC-persepctive was a good start, but at times it felt almost too stereotypical. I also felt like the resolution was a little too coincidental/perfect. It gets points for trying to be diverse, but in the end this one just sort of fades in my mind.
Fake Plastic Trees
3 stars
Another cool concept marred somewhat by the execution. I liked the world-building, and I even found the character interesting, despite not getting a ton of information about her. But the narrative twist was just very clumsily executed. I also didn't fully understand why the main character made that decision
Spoiler
- why did she lie about the baby dying? Isn't that much worse than what actually happened? I'm just confused.You Won't Feel a Thing
1 stars
Another case of an author relying too much on the universe they've built in another novel. I don't know what else to say about this one. I just didn't enjoy it.
The Marker
4 stars
This was was good ending to the series. It's a little dark, but you also get an ending with a glimmer of hope. Geo was a relatable character, and he goes through a believable transformation in a short amount of time. When the apocalyptic situation was finally explained, it made sense and was kind of a cool take that most people probably never consider. Cool world-building.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
This was a largely enjoyable anthology of post-apocalyptic / dystopic stories from YA and adult authors. The editors chose not to nitpick the definitions of either setting, so I will follow their lead.
As with every other collection I've read, there are great stories and there are stinkers. Many of the authors were guilty of what I call a "huge sin": over-capitalizing things. Because, you know, after The War happens, we all live in the Compound where the Dinner Bell rings and we eat our Soy Glop while listening to a Message from the Leader. And so forth. Pretty cliche. Then again, Caitlin Kiernan put her terms in ALL CAPS, and I liked that (as well as her story). Kudos to Matthew Kressel as well (his story could just as well fit into a New Weird collection).
As with every other collection I've read, there are great stories and there are stinkers. Many of the authors were guilty of what I call a "huge sin": over-capitalizing things. Because, you know, after The War happens, we all live in the Compound where the Dinner Bell rings and we eat our Soy Glop while listening to a Message from the Leader. And so forth. Pretty cliche. Then again, Caitlin Kiernan put her terms in ALL CAPS, and I liked that (as well as her story). Kudos to Matthew Kressel as well (his story could just as well fit into a New Weird collection).
mehitabels's review against another edition
3.0
as with most short story collections, some good, some great, some meh.
overall, however, well worth the read.
overall, however, well worth the read.
bevin1279's review against another edition
2.0
Short story collections are always up for debate with me. I did find four stories I liked in this collection, and a few that I thought were okay. There were a couple that made me close the book and go to sleep, and a super emo poem that made me kind of angry -- but I'm sure some emo kids would dig it. That being said, this is a YA collection, so, I shouldn't really be surprised that I'm feeling so lukewarm about it.
tmleblanc's review against another edition
4.0
After reading the Ashfall by Mike Mullin, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth and The Hunger Games series by Susanne Collins, I have been drawn to stories about the apocalypse and dystopian societies. They seem to be a reflection of our current society and since I gravitate towards young adult fiction, I’ve been keeping an eye out for this collection ever since I passed up the opportunity to purchase it directly from Ellen when she was a guest at ICON a few years ago. And I was excited to finally get my hands on a copy of After after months of searching the local bookstores.
If you are a fan of apocalypse and dystopia stories, you will definitely want to get your hands on this anthology. These stories were eerie snapshots of a world that might be. With the exception of two stories, I wanted most of these shorts to be full length novels. The two exceptions? I’ve read Across the Universe by Beth Revis and Shade’s Children by Garth Nix so I’ve been immersed in those worlds via full length novels. Reading about “Shade” again, I realized I need to re-read that book this year.
My Favorite Story: Blood Drive By Jeffery Ford
With all the recent stories about gun massacres and the arguments for and against gun control, this story made me realize that guns in the hands of everyone might not be a good idea. In this story, teenagers are given guns their senior year in high school. It’s a right of passage like getting car when you are sixteen or going out for drinks on your 21st. The horrifying results of this right of passage at one school and comments about the government will give you pause.
My Least Favorite Story: Gray By Jane Yolen
I am just not a fan of poetry. It’s as simple as that.
Final Thoughts
Paging back through this book, I would love to share my thoughts on each an every story, but this review would go on for days! Let’s just say that if you are fan of destroyed worlds, this anthology is one you should consider picking up. Filled with stories about creepy worlds with kids doing what they can to survive, this anthology will not disappoint.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
If you are a fan of apocalypse and dystopia stories, you will definitely want to get your hands on this anthology. These stories were eerie snapshots of a world that might be. With the exception of two stories, I wanted most of these shorts to be full length novels. The two exceptions? I’ve read Across the Universe by Beth Revis and Shade’s Children by Garth Nix so I’ve been immersed in those worlds via full length novels. Reading about “Shade” again, I realized I need to re-read that book this year.
My Favorite Story: Blood Drive By Jeffery Ford
With all the recent stories about gun massacres and the arguments for and against gun control, this story made me realize that guns in the hands of everyone might not be a good idea. In this story, teenagers are given guns their senior year in high school. It’s a right of passage like getting car when you are sixteen or going out for drinks on your 21st. The horrifying results of this right of passage at one school and comments about the government will give you pause.
My Least Favorite Story: Gray By Jane Yolen
I am just not a fan of poetry. It’s as simple as that.
Final Thoughts
Paging back through this book, I would love to share my thoughts on each an every story, but this review would go on for days! Let’s just say that if you are fan of destroyed worlds, this anthology is one you should consider picking up. Filled with stories about creepy worlds with kids doing what they can to survive, this anthology will not disappoint.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews