The Fifth Sacred Thing

The title of this review is a little tongue in cheek, as this is definitely speculative fiction. However, I do think that this book is required reading for people who like eco-fiction, solarpunk, and yes, anarcho-pacifism. This book doesn't shy away from asking the hard questions about being pacifistic in a post-apocalyptic climate ravaged world, and yet still comes to the conclusion that pacifism is a goal and an organizational strategy worth pursuing. Interestingly, it also doesn't fully condemn violent resistance and acknowledges that there is still a place for that, just that pacifism is the strategy that the main characters and their community think is best. If you are in any way interested in climate fiction, solarpunk fiction, or anti-capitalism of any form, do yourself a favour and read this book.

Pros: * Eco-utopians fighting (nonviolently of course) against Gilead in a Mad Max style post-apocalyptic world, it's a cliche, but done well. * Not a starry-eyed communist utopia where everyone gets along, the author makes sure to bring up that not everyone agrees with decisions made by community, and these decisions are hard in times of conflict * Many threaded story lets reader see different points of view

Cons: * There are so many sex scenes that it makes the pacing of the book confusing. It's like a lot of the characters are bonobos. The scenes aren't bodice-ripper style or particularly uncomfortable, there's just a lot of them * Lots of chi'i and accupressure (this might be a pro to some)