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madame_medusa's review
5.0
An amazing collection of short stories by amazing individuals. I loved every part of this book!
_rusalka's review
4.0
This is a wonderful gathering of short stories discussing what Australia is and reimagining it in regards to race, climate, immigration, power, wealth, ethnicity, environment, etc. It's challenging and powerful.
Written in 2019 and earlier, it is eerily prophetic. There is a story about a flu pandemic that takes out a certain part of the population. There's a story about how Sydney is so hot you can't go outside without protective clothing and the air is impossible to breathe. Both things happened in the summer of 2020.
Other stories are scarily teetering on the edge of reality with stories of ethnicity, immigration, and climate change which are all on the knife edge of being science fiction and non-fiction. One story was based in my city of Canberra (which never features in lit) talking about my town and my environment dramatically changed by a few degrees, and people talking in buildings and spaces I know about those climate refugees and maybe heading back to some form of the White Australia Policy. It is terrifyingly close.
Then there is a poem about an Indigenous space crew exploring the universe. Or a family history tied together through a tree on a property. Or a story of two enterprising girls in convict Australia. Or, or, or...
Books like this are enjoyable and are not. But they are deeply important for us to challenge ourselves and our society, our assumptions and our ability to accept things as they are no matter how wrong we are. Books like this shake us up.
Written in 2019 and earlier, it is eerily prophetic. There is a story about a flu pandemic that takes out a certain part of the population. There's a story about how Sydney is so hot you can't go outside without protective clothing and the air is impossible to breathe. Both things happened in the summer of 2020.
Other stories are scarily teetering on the edge of reality with stories of ethnicity, immigration, and climate change which are all on the knife edge of being science fiction and non-fiction. One story was based in my city of Canberra (which never features in lit) talking about my town and my environment dramatically changed by a few degrees, and people talking in buildings and spaces I know about those climate refugees and maybe heading back to some form of the White Australia Policy. It is terrifyingly close.
Then there is a poem about an Indigenous space crew exploring the universe. Or a family history tied together through a tree on a property. Or a story of two enterprising girls in convict Australia. Or, or, or...
Books like this are enjoyable and are not. But they are deeply important for us to challenge ourselves and our society, our assumptions and our ability to accept things as they are no matter how wrong we are. Books like this shake us up.
whitespire86's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jadeneedy's review
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
All of the stories had interesting, important premises and some very excellently told and portrayed. However, some didn’t feel very whole and may have benefited from a longer story style. Rating is the average of all of the individual stories.
perturbedperse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Another great collection of stories reflecting on Australia and its disturbing past and its potential future.
linblythe_pub22's review
5.0
Wonderful stories in this piece and enough variety that you'll stay interested. I can't wait to read more from Sweatshop and these authors.
nhunni's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25