Folks are starting to Review Strange Stories II - The Empty Earth
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020
The best stories are those that are based in reality and that play on our fears. Could this happen? Is is really a possibility? Is it a problem for future generations? This book has three stories, all of which have the probability to absolutely be two. The first and third stories are especially chilling because they all feel like this is a warning, one that so many are failing to heed. Climate change is real, it's not some media hoax and letting future generations deal with it will only bring around ruin. These are the two stories that really resonated with me, not just for the message, but the way in which the author connects the reader to the characters. These are people who could be us, in a situation that isn't all that far fetched. The second story has to do with what happens when we die. While the message and tone are vastly different from the stories before and after it, it is all well-crafted and thought provoking as they are. With an eye for small details that brings characters to life, as well as the world-building that makes the settings feel so real, the author can really engage the reader in such a way that you don't want to put the book down.
In this collection of 3 stories, the author manages to capture catastrophes that are all too feasible in this unsure and frightening time. In one story - the age old question of what happens when we die is looked at from a unique position of what our responsibility to the larger question may be. In 2 other stories, the world as we know it collapses from deadly viruses, & life ending climate changes. We read about the demise in a first person narrative that makes it all the more anxiety producing, as it is far more relatable than scientific articles or dry news stories. But is the catastrophe depicted the end of the world, or rather the complex questions of loneliness, fear, isolation, a life without love - purpose - meaning? The subtle duality in these stories leave the reader reflecting on the greater message long after the pages are read. What and who are the true monsters? And what and who are the true heroes? After reading 'Strange Stories' I came away with a greater appreciation of nature, mother earth, and mans best friend - even as the nightmare possibilities haunt my dreams. These stories are more than a cautionary tale, they are a challenge - to us, our actions, our hubris, our very existence.
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2020
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