Wow. Where do I start? 30 of most of the best dystopian short fiction in the English speaking world’s history. Nothing less.
I normally like to review each story (or the key stories) in anthologies, but this is difficult for 30 of them, spanning nearly 500 close-printed pages. Also, I feel inadequate to comment on specific stories that are now legendary.
The worst stories were still very good. The best are unmatched. Pure and simple. These stories were more than entertaining, they were thought provoking and challenging. I haven’t been intellectually challenged like this for years.
If there is any negative statement – and it isn’t really a deficit, more of a warning, is that reading them straight through is being inundated with (largely) depressing situations for humanity, and notably, the protagonists in the stories. It could dampen one’s spirit, while at the same time lift awareness. Fortunately this is a temporary phenomenon, but tangible indeed.
Bravo to the publisher and the stellar editor – this anthology lives up to it’s industry reputation of greatness.
If you haven’t read it, and you like dystopian stories, just read it. Do yourself a huge favour.
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The Chronicles of Evyntyde 