Insecticide: A Story of the Near Future

by Steven Saylor

John Moreland has a cockroaches. Hundreds of them, thousands of them, everywhere in his apartment. But all problems have a solution—or so we would like to think. When an exterminator pays a call, Moreland believes that his problem is over. But John Moreland’s problems are just beginning…

Set in a not-too-distant future which seems uncannily, eerily, uncomfortably like today, “Insecticide” marks a rare venture into science fiction by an author better known for exploring the distant past—“a modern master of historical fiction,” as USA Today calls Steven Saylor. But Saylor is also a master of the mystery genre, and his skill for creating slowly mounting suspense is on full display in this precocious, prophetic short story from early in his career.

First published decades ago, “Insecticide” now seems more timely, and more chilling, than ever.

Genres: Fiction

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2013

About the author

Steven Saylor is the author of the long running Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel.

Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tout petit livre qui est en fait une seule nouvelle. Très belle nouvelle, simple en apparence, mais avec une profondeur intéressante sur notre société, le terrorisme, les produits chimiques, les multinationales, etc. Vraiment bien !

[Lusionnelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est surtout intéressant de lire cette nouvelle en regard du contexte de son époque, sous la présidence Reagan, la réduction des services publics, la démultiplication des théories complotistes et des scandales liés aux produits chimiques. (Et c'est LE point fort de la collection Dyschroniques de Le Passager Clandestin qui l'ont publiée !)

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narration et intrigue déçoivent un peu.