Alternative Apocalypse

by Various, Bob Brown, Rebecca McFarland Kyle (Contributor)

Thirty stories from thirty authors, including Jane Yolen, Mike Resnick & J. J. Steinfeld.

How will the world end? With aliens or angels? Or a ground hog? Bleak despair? Martial fervor? Or a belly laugh? Whatever the Apocalypse, It will be borne by people and their families and their dogs and most of all, it will challenge their notions of themselves. This anthology includes international award winning writers, poets, and thinkers that give you their version of the Apocalypse. Just remember, we're all in this together. But there is more: the first short fiction by the wildly popular blogger, Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station; a new story by Mike Resnick; and poetry by Jane Yolen, This is an international piece of work with writers from all over the globe, seven countries: Nigeria, Greece, the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have all put there best foot forward. You will not be disappointed.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Alternate History, Fiction, Post Apocalyptic

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[carol saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I'm not sure how they made the end of the world light and entertaining but they managed it. I enjoyed every story and am now ready to buy the rest of the "alternative" books. Well worth the price.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for Jim Wright piece.

[Adam Zabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection full of good and better stories, as usual for an anthology, but I fell in love with the bookends: The Deserter (by Jim Wright) and The Last and Greatest Vision... (by P.L. Ruppel)

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In February 2022, I went to the Hoh Rainforest in Washington state. Due to all the COVID restrictions still in place, only one restaurant was open for take out. While waiting for our food a man talked to us and told us that every year they come there for a book thing, give me a break it’s been almost 3 years, and asked if I liked to read and what. I answered honestly that I’ll read anything and I just like a good book. He got his food and came back with this book for me. He’d inscribed it “Best of reading to you. Bob B.” I took it home and began house renovations, I finally found this book again and I think it found me in the right time. It made light of the apocalypse, but not in a cheesy I’m over this sort of way. I enjoyed this book and the incredibly random way it ended up in my hands. Thank you Bob Brown for finding this bibliophile at a random restaurant at a beautiful resort in the forest of the PNW.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories and poems of "Alternative Apocalypse" explore the many ways to consider the end. Editor Bob Brown does not believe in putting a few stories into his collections. As with the previous anthologies, this one is jam-packed with stories and poems on the title theme. Brown and Editor Debora Godfrey filled the collection with new voices to Brown's themes. Those who have works in other of Brown's anthologies are few, making this collection fresh.
The poems, each vastly different. I include Thirteen Things to Do Before the Apocalypse, by Jane Yolen, provides a short, snappy to do list, not unlike those found in most self-betterment magazines, as a poem of sorts. Apocalypse, by Ugonna-Ora Owoh. Soldiers fight, homes and communities burn, and whether a small incident or global, the poem describes the heartrending destruction so many people endure every day in the endless wars. The End of the World, by J. J. Steinfeld, reflects on the finality, the end of time, that the Apocalypse brings.
Short stories reign supreme in this anthology. The stories have a fairly even tone, with surprises and twists among them. Back to Reality, by Larry Hodges, Live Tweeting the Apocalypse, by Ian Creasey, embrace the spirit of Bob Brown's earlier anthologies. The sassy interview format of The Yes/No Machine, by Stuart Hardy, gives insights passed off as bon mots.
The Vision, by Melvin Sims, seemed the most satisfying to me. Maybe that was just the revenge factor. Reverend General Barry Fallbad Junior, rejoicing in his Faith-Based Missile Defense System, is sitting by his pool enjoying of view of the oiled skinned pool boy when it happens. The Last Dog, by Mike Resnick, tells the story the last man and dog, struggling together, sharing meager meals of the few animals remaining. At its heart, it is a story of the bond between man and dog, and the futility of it all. Sunset, by Debora Godfrey, depicts my father's view of nuclear war. I am sure they came to this separately. A family stops running and focuses on the sunset of the day the missals flew. Suppose They Gave an Invasion and Nobody Came, by Brian K Lowe, humorously supposes that the problems of Earth result from an egotistical student who thinks that just sticking it out after all the Apocalyptic disasters that he wreaks on Earth may equal success.
If the end of world is not for you, stop now. If you want to read a collection of excellent stories about THE END, this is for you.
(I received a review copy and I read it compulsively in a single sitting.)

[Clayton Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid anthology with established and new voices (full disclosure: including mine). No zombies. More laughs than you'd expect.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our world after the Trump presidency. Scary stuff.

[Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say at the outset that I enjoyed this collection, but that it is decidedly NOT the best book to be reading during the great Coronavirus quarantine of 2020. That said, the stories were intriguing, often disturbing (and disturbingly prescient), and sometimes surprisingly funny. Many were very, very well-written and subtle. I am a follower of Jim Wright, and bought this book largely because of his entry (which I enjoyed very much); but came to appreciate the entire collection and the other authors. I will be reading other "Alternatives" books, past and future.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of shorts. Some funny, some sad, some short poems, some barely riffs on an outline, some fully realized worlds. On the whole, excellent writing. A wide variety of themes and approaches.

[Iver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some creative and unique looks at the different forms an apocalypse can take. I think my only complaint would be that I want more from some of the stories. Especially Jim Wright's story, I really want more from the universe he has created with this story.

[Gary Bunker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with almost any anthology, there are some stories that really hit me, and others that felt flat for me. I'm sure the balance is different for every reader.

Overall, this is a great collection of various apocalypse stories and poems. Highly recommended for fans of the style.

[Robin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for its story by Jim Wright, which was OK, not great.

[Scott Munjone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many good stories about the end of (at least) human life on Earth. Many pretty humorous as well.

[J.W. Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry into the Alternative universe from B cubed press. There are so many great stories it's really hard to pick just one but The Deserter by Jim Wright, The Last Dog by Mike Resnick, and The Golden Disks by B. Clayton Hackett were some of my favorites. I can't wait to read all the awesome stories in the next Alternative Universe anthology!