I just finished Metatropolis, an Science Fiction anthology edited by author John Scalzi ( Agent to the Stars, The Android’s Dream ). Unlike a lot of anthologies out there this one has a little twist to it. The various author’s involved – Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi – got together and built the principles of the world first before starting on their individual stories. After that they would share what they had written so far and continue to build on the idea.
And what is the idea you ask? A world in the future. Were life as we know it has changed. For the better? That is up to you to decide. Each story showing people having to deal with the effects of climate change and what each of these areas of the world do to cope with their environment and live.
From the Pacific Northwest to Sweden, each story brings it’s own unique perspective on the world of the future.
Story one, In the Forests of the Night, set in the Pacific Northwest, features a city were Anarchism, in the true since, rules and governs a zero footprint – self-sustaining society. Were scientist and activist work together to feed and protect a community living off the grid so to speak.
Two, Stochasti-city, set in Detroit is a story of a man who gets caught up in a life he did not expect to be in. A bouncer who gets involved with a movement of people, very much like the folks in the Pacific Northwest, who want to change Detroit but come up against against a Blackwater type private military force that polices the city.
The Red in the Sky is Our Blood, also set in Detroit of a women who is asked to help a group of where every individual’s personal wealth, so to speak, is based on their actions. The more they contribute the more personal wealth they have.
Utere nihil non extra quiritationem suis, John Scalzi’s contribution is set in a eco-friendly city/state. The story of a slacker making his way through in life in a city where, if you do not take an aptitude test by the time you are 20 you get shown to the city border. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. I think the idea is awesome. The idea that each individual is given a job that is in there skill level but is very much a part of how the whole community works together. It is a coming of age story too. This one was probably my favorite story out of the bunch - but I am Scalzi fan so what can I say.
And last, To Hie from Far Cilenia, a story of a investigator is asked to help Interpol track down some plutonium and how this leads him into a new society built on an “online economy” that also helps the individuals of the real world. Pretty intreging story but I felt it the ending was little abrupt.
All in all it was a great set of stories. It was a fascinating read. Stories of survival, society and people working together to help make humanity about the WORLD community again and not the individual.
I highly recommend this book!
by Metatropolis at Amazon.com.
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