Beyond the rift

This book is a series of short stories, all of them very different. Most of them appear more as vignettes of life rather than having a nice and tidy ending and I like that.

What if we saw the typical horror story from the monster's side? Or if we needed to house humans right at the bottom of a deep sea trench, what could that look like?

There is a lot to take in and most of the stories were very entertaining without being a heavy hard-going read. If you like to read a story and think, "I've never seen it from that way" this is a worthwhile addition to your library.

And the end-notes reference a John Brunner book, which always a bonus in my, err, book.

Usually I find short story collections to be mixed bags; some bad, maybe a few good, and most just okay. This collection exceeded my expectations. Full of broken people in broken worlds that are just trying to do the right thing, whether it's for themselves, or something other they're just trying their best.

There's failure, heartbreak, and in the end, a bit of hope, maybe.

Interestingly, it is a line from the afterword that is sticking with me.
"So if my writing tends toward the dystopic it's not because in in love with dystopias; it's because reality has forced dystopia upon me."
I appreciate that sentiment, and the author's expectation that we be better, and his anger that we aren't.

As we hurdle toward dystopia, let's all try to keep a bit of anger and a bit of hope...