More Alternative Truths: Stories From The Resistance

by Bob Brown (Editor), Irene Radford (Editor), Lou J. Berger (Editor)

More Alternative Truths is an exploration of the potential consequences of today’s politics in our daily lives. More than our individual lives, but our American identity.

This exploration defines this anthology. So many of the stories ask what has America become? What will it be in the future? Will it devolve into a Russian style oligarchy, or will we rise to the challenge and use our hearts, our minds and our votes to return to a rational democracy, of, by, and for the people. No one knows for sure. But these top-tier talented authors from around the world, from Philip Brian Hall to Bruno Lombardi to Jane Yolen give us their visions.

Of interest you might find Lou Antonelli’s “Queens Crossing” a unique view of alternatives. What if the Donald had moved to Cleveland. Just remember, Cleveland Rocks and so does this story.

You will find the witticisms of Jim Wright exploring Donald Drumpf as Moses after presentation of the Ten Commandments. The mental genius of Edd Vick and Manny Frishberg as they give us Drumpf, tweeting his way across the solar system. There is much to laugh about.

There are serious visions as well. Brad Cozzens’s brilliant poem “America Once Beautiful” reaches poignantly from today’s reality into some salvageable vision of tomorrow that borrows from yesterday’s values. The poets in this volume, be they Brad, Jane Yolen, Gwyndyn T. Alexander or C.A. Chesse, bring new meanings to words and leave you thoughtful.

If you want a fun romp, jump to “Wishcraft.com,” by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, as she explores how important it is that political hacks not annoy witches. Or, if you prefer, K.G. Anderson’s, “The Right Man for the Job,” in which a post-corporeal LBJ rides to the rescue.

There is something for everyone. Coping. How do we cope? This painful question is explored by three of our best and brightest. Jill Zeller, a woman who won’t write of Elves, has given us “A Woman Walks Into a Bar,” an affirmation of our own choices. Coping is also explored brilliantly by Karin L. Frank and Kerri-Leigh Grady in their stories “HMO” and “Final Delivery.”

This is Science Fiction, given that fact, we also brought you Mike Resnick with “The Politicians” and Rebecca Mix’s “The Nompers.” Both classic in their settings of broad and rich universe.
There are so many more great stories in this collection, I can truly recommend them all. If, however, you can only read one, then read Eric M. Witchey’s “Small Courages,” and let it touch you, maybe bring tears of hope, as you see our world through the eyes of a child and find that we can survive. We will survive.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Politics, Dystopia

418 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2017

Reviews

[Bob Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I'm giving this book 5 stars. I was one of the editors. I've read every story in it multiple times and I get something new out of every time I read it. Wonderful work from across the political spectrum.

My Personal Favorites include Eric M. WItchey's "Small Courages" and K.G. Anderson's "The Right Man for the Job."

Of course I love the poetry by Jane Yolen, the works of Elizabeth Ann Scarborough as she explores a modern president in an old situation bringing new life to the King meets Sorcerer them.

You can't leave out Mike Resnick, David Brin, and David Gerrold, but this book belongs to the entire cass as shown below:

Foreword David Gerrold 9
Orangemandias Adam-Troy Castro 19
The Right Man for the Job K.G. Anderson 20
I Am A Woman Jane Yolen 34
How Dangerous is Republican manic-depressive disease? Both bipolar phases are destructive, but the manic ones kill? David Brin 36
Drafting the President Lou J Berger 44
Dr. Republican’s Monster Jim Wright 54
A Letter from the Federal Women’s Prison Stephanie L. Weippert 57
One of the Lucky Ones Wondra Vanian 64
A Beautiful Industry Stuart Hardy 72
Queens Crossing Lou Antonelli 83
Small Courages Eric M. Witchey 93
The Nompers Rebecca Mix 97
The Ten Commandments Renegotiated Jim Wright and Bobby Lee Featherston 104
Illegal Citizens Irene Radford 113
During the Lockdown, After the Lockdown Michael Haynes 126
A Sonnet on Truth Philip Brian Hall 136
The Diplomatic Thing Esther Friesner 137
The Politicians Mike Resnick 154
A Modest Proposal for the Perfection of Nature Vonda N. McIntyre 176
Conspiracy of Silence Philip Brian Hall 180
HMO Karen L. Frank 189
Being Donald Trump Bruno Lombardi 202
America Once Beautiful Brad Cozzens 220
America First Tais Teng 221
Final Delivery Kerri-Leigh Grady 237
No Tanks Jane Yolen 253
Treasures Rebeccaa McFarland Kyle 254
Remembering the Bowling Green Massacre Steve Weddle 272
Tweetstorm Edd Vick and Manny Frishberg 274
The Tinker’s Damn Edward Ahern 283
Wishcraft.com Elizabeth Ann Scarbourough 286
A Woman Walks Into a Bar Jill Zeller 302
America Year Zero Gwyndyn T. Alexander 312
Future Perfect V. E. Mitchell 314
How to Recognize a Shapeshifting Lizardman (Or Woman) Who Has Been Appointed to a High-Ranking Government Cabinet Position Kurt Newton 321
I Didn’t Say That Jane Yolen 323
Non-White in America Debora Godfrey 324
Desperate Resolve John A Pitts 332
You are Weighed in the Balance Rivka Jacobs 341
Priorities C. A Chesse 352
The Healer Melinda LaFevers 354
Triple R Presents Colin Patrick Ennen 365
Donald, Where’s Your Taxes? Susan Murrie Macdonald and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough 368
A Spider Queen in Every Home Mike Morgan 370
Trickster Times Jane Yolen 397

[Tom Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a bunch of fanciful stories that are hardly enlightening or even educating let alone, for me, entertaining. My alliterative attack formed in my mind after hearing of the summoned ghosts of LBJ, Molly Ivins, and Adlai Stevenson. Also, a transcript of "The Donald Trump Show" where Trump does an expose interviewing Linda Tripp and, oh, the letter correspondence from an incarcerated anti-Trump protester that failed to stop Trump. On the bright side, post-impeachment of Trump a completely revamped presidential system outlawed candidates for drafted non-politicians in another alternate reality.

[Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading for Jim Wright alone

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Premise: A second volume of tales based on the idea of what 45's presidency might cause.

This volume seemed less focused than the first. Some stories were, while good, hard to figure out why they were in this particular collection. Some were very Trump-centered, others much less so. There were even some poems this time around, which actually added positively to the book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Alternative Truths: Stories from the Resistance ed. Bob Brown

Such variety of responses, so much to love . . . my favorite right now is "Wishcraft.com" by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, which mixes modern tech with three (or more) favorite fairy/folk tales into a perfect parable for our times. "HMO" brought me to tears, and Jane Yolen's poems empower.
I have more to read, but I've already, as my father used to say "gotten my money's worth." Bravo and brava, brave writers! <3

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you wake up every day feeling like you're in a dystopian nightmare? If so, then you'll feel right at home with these stories and poems. Overall, this is a very strong anthology from a variety of talented writers; the genres and writers are diverse. I enjoyed both the stories and the poetry. Some of the stories feel a bit truncated, but that doesn't detract from the anthology as a whole.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any anthology it has its highs and its lows. Much of the poetry leaves something to be desired but many of the short stories are very emotionally captivating. It wears its politics on its sleeve rather than trying to hide them away and is stronger because of it. Worth reading all the way through first time and cherry picking the best parts on the second read

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first book Alternative Truths. They are two different books, with the first being a twisted, funny prophecy type book. This is much more creative in general and goes much further into the future, using a mix of science fiction, fantasy, and comedy.