Gene Punks

by Katy Stauber

A near-future science fiction short story about a rogue gene splicer and her brother in a post-ecodisaster small town after the Splicer Wars.Harmony watched the old truck blaze a bouncy path to her door. It trailed a long plume of steam from the boiler retrofit that her brother, Eugene, had installed so he could run it off pond water. It was lower maintenance than the temperamental algae battery she had in her little sedan, but not as awe-inspiring as the nuclear engine she knew he’d had his eye on. “Uncle Vern’s been drinking again. Get in the truck,” Eugene said as he pulled up in front of her door.Harmony had friends who had been blessed with a good and simple life – marriage, children, and a comfortable home. She knew they frequently wondered when something terrible would befall them to atone for the blessings of theirs life. She knew that looking for the cloud in their silver lining caused them great stress and worry. Harmony didn’t have those worries. She had the other kind.

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2012

Reviews

[Coyora Dokusho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!! Funny! Could use some more character development, but it was so short, where was there room? XD

[Tom Loock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this one within minutes after finishing Revolution World. It takes place some 30? years before those events and sees Harmony visiting Uncle Vern who is in trouble, again. The story as such is well rounded and interesting. My only beef with it (and the reason for deducting a star), is that it is too short - even for 77p.

Would I recommend it? Yes, for anyone who has read and enjoyed Revolution World. I sincerely hope Katy Stauber will publish more (proper!) books about Seth, Max, Clio, Terpsy, Gloria, Harmony, Uncle Vern, the Riot Girl and of course Team Pom!