Stochasticity

METAtropolis #1.2

by Tobias S. Buckell

A disturbing, science fiction vision of the possible future of post rust-belt America.

Reg Stratton is a bouncer eking a life out in the decaying Wilds just outside of Detroit in a pseudo post-oil collapse. But when he gets sucked into a making a little money on the side by tasking out his time via an anonymous app, he finds himself in the middle of a riot that could change his life, the city, maybe even the world… as long as Reg keeps cool and makes the right choice.

This novella was originally a part of the award nominated Metatropolis series, edited by John Scalzi and Jay Lake. Now on sale for the first time ever!

"...a fascinating shared urban future..." -Booklist (on METAtropolis)

"Each story shines... - Publishers Weekly (on METAtropolis)

"Metatropolis is about as Green Punk as it can get..." -Booktionary.com

Genres: Climate Change Fiction, Fiction, Solarpunk, Science Fiction, Audiobook

57 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Born in the Caribbean, Tobias S. Buckell is a New York Times Bestselling author. His novels and over 50 short stories have been translated into 17 languages and he has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, Prometheus and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Science Fiction Author. He currently lives in Ohio.

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM]

I listened to this as part of the audio anthology from way back when. I really enjoyed this one. Maybe Tobias Buckell is an author I should read more of.

[rick.]

The shared-universe short story collection Metatropoliscontinues with a clever look at the disenfranchised working class of Detroit, corporate security, and insurgent urban renewal. The characters are all pretty thin and prose fairly lean, but the complexity of the legal and social framework is thoughtfully constructed. In conjunction with lake's effort this is becoming an enjoyable anthology.

[Matthew Thyer]

Wish there were more

Reg is one of my favorites. Would love to see all the metatropolis authors get back together for another go at the world.

[Cory Hawksbury]

This story was okay, but definitely not great, exciting, interesting or fun. I gave it two stars not entirely because it deserves two, but because I want it to have only two. It failed to impress me.

[Matthew]

Concept of a Taskrabbit army is hilarious, but otherwise this novella was meh

[Zachary Conklin Wight]

Insightful and entertaining

I read this years ago in one of the Metatropolis collections and enjoyed it while thinking that it was a pessimistic view for the future. Reading it again and in light of intervening years has made it feel depressingly insightful - consistent with conflicting viewpoints in the United States.

Enjoyable story on top of that with an ambitious payoff. Have to wonder if such organization for large projects will actually come to pass.