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Fix the World
We’re a world beset by crises. Climate change, income inequality, racism, pandemics, an almost unmanageable tangle of issues. Sometimes it’s hard to look ahead and see a hopeful future.
We asked sci-fi writers to send us stories about ways to fix what’s wrong with the world. From the sixty-five stories we received, we chose twelve most amazing (and hopefully prescient) tales.
Dive in and find out how we might mitigate climate change, make war obsolete, switch to alternative forms of energy, and restructure the very foundations of our society,
The future’s not going to fix itself.
We asked sci-fi writers to send us stories about ways to fix what’s wrong with the world. From the sixty-five stories we received, we chose twelve most amazing (and hopefully prescient) tales.
Dive in and find out how we might mitigate climate change, make war obsolete, switch to alternative forms of energy, and restructure the very foundations of our society,
The future’s not going to fix itself.
238 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2021
5 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Coatsworth
90 books187 followersScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 28, 2021
[Floating to add this song pairing]
We are the people we've been waiting for
Out of the ruins of hate and war
Army of lovers never seen before
We are the people we've been waiting for
We are the people of the open hand
The streets of Dublin to Notre Dame
We'll build it better than we did before
We are the people we've been waiting for
How to fix the world? And what to fix first? Because let’s be honest, there’s a lot wrong, starting with the tremendous damage to the physical planet and everything living on it.
And naturally a lot of these stories focus on environmental restoration: reversing global warming, insisting on clean energy, saving endangered ecosystems. But there are other cultural and technological changes presented as well. Cooperative communities. Health-improving nanites. Better handling of social and personal issues that led to hatred and violence. Long-term economic and agriculture planning.
The variety of approaches envisioned by these authors actually did make me feel a little more optimistic! Usually this type of anthology makes me feel like the scope of the problems is so vast that there’s nothing that can realistically be done to help, but this made me feel like it is at least possible to improve conditions, if not make everything fantastic.
Although there is a lot of content variation, I think there are a couple of takeaways that are universal:
--There is no instant, easy fix for the world’s environmental and cultural problems. Any improvement will take time and effort and, importantly, continued attention by future generations.
--No solution will work unless enough humans cooperate. So let’s get working on that.
IN LIGHT Mere Rain read a sample on Amazon
JUMA AND THE QUANTUM GHOST Ingrid Garcia
ICE IN D MINOR Anthea Sharp
AT THE MOVIES D.M. Rasch
WHO SHALL REAP THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN? J.G. Follansbee listen to a sample read by J. Scott Coatsworth
FROM THE SUN AND SCORCHED EARTH Bryan Cebulski
UPGRADE Alex Silver
RISE J. Scott Coatsworth listen to a sample read by Angel Martinez
A FOREST FOR THE TREES Rachel Hope Crossman
AS NJORD AND SKADI Jennifer R. Povey
THE CALL OF THE WOLD Holly Scho!eld
THE HOMESTEAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD Jana Denardo
There were a couple authors here that I’d read and liked before, and several who were on my to-read-maybe list, so it was a useful sampler for me.
We are the people we've been waiting for
Out of the ruins of hate and war
Army of lovers never seen before
We are the people we've been waiting for
We are the people of the open hand
The streets of Dublin to Notre Dame
We'll build it better than we did before
We are the people we've been waiting for
How to fix the world? And what to fix first? Because let’s be honest, there’s a lot wrong, starting with the tremendous damage to the physical planet and everything living on it.
And naturally a lot of these stories focus on environmental restoration: reversing global warming, insisting on clean energy, saving endangered ecosystems. But there are other cultural and technological changes presented as well. Cooperative communities. Health-improving nanites. Better handling of social and personal issues that led to hatred and violence. Long-term economic and agriculture planning.
The variety of approaches envisioned by these authors actually did make me feel a little more optimistic! Usually this type of anthology makes me feel like the scope of the problems is so vast that there’s nothing that can realistically be done to help, but this made me feel like it is at least possible to improve conditions, if not make everything fantastic.
Although there is a lot of content variation, I think there are a couple of takeaways that are universal:
--There is no instant, easy fix for the world’s environmental and cultural problems. Any improvement will take time and effort and, importantly, continued attention by future generations.
--No solution will work unless enough humans cooperate. So let’s get working on that.
IN LIGHT Mere Rain read a sample on Amazon
JUMA AND THE QUANTUM GHOST Ingrid Garcia
ICE IN D MINOR Anthea Sharp
AT THE MOVIES D.M. Rasch
WHO SHALL REAP THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN? J.G. Follansbee listen to a sample read by J. Scott Coatsworth
FROM THE SUN AND SCORCHED EARTH Bryan Cebulski
UPGRADE Alex Silver
RISE J. Scott Coatsworth listen to a sample read by Angel Martinez
A FOREST FOR THE TREES Rachel Hope Crossman
AS NJORD AND SKADI Jennifer R. Povey
THE CALL OF THE WOLD Holly Scho!eld
THE HOMESTEAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD Jana Denardo
There were a couple authors here that I’d read and liked before, and several who were on my to-read-maybe list, so it was a useful sampler for me.
May 1, 2022
For a while now I’ve been on the lookout for solarpunk, and with a title like Fix the World this anthology sounded very solarpunkish. And for most parts it is solarpunk, but not quite. Some of the stories are not what I would call solarpunk, “Upgrade” by Alex Silver for example is actually more cyber- than solarpunk.
Still, it is a well edited anthology with good stories. I didn’t like all the stories equally, but I wouldn’t say any of them was badly written. My favorite include “Call of the Wold” by Holly Schofield, “As Njord and Skadi” Jennifer R. Povey, “From the Sun and Scorched Earth” by Bryan Cebulski, and “Juma and the Quantum Ghost” by Ingrid Garcia.
It is quite interesting thing how different the “fixes” are, and perhaps one should have know that it would be. The text on the back cover begins like this: “We’re a world beset by crisis. Climate change, income inequality, racism, pandemics, an almost unmanageable tangle of issues.” The stories in this book tackle quite a few crisis, and do it well. It’s a hopeful book.
Still, it is a well edited anthology with good stories. I didn’t like all the stories equally, but I wouldn’t say any of them was badly written. My favorite include “Call of the Wold” by Holly Schofield, “As Njord and Skadi” Jennifer R. Povey, “From the Sun and Scorched Earth” by Bryan Cebulski, and “Juma and the Quantum Ghost” by Ingrid Garcia.
It is quite interesting thing how different the “fixes” are, and perhaps one should have know that it would be. The text on the back cover begins like this: “We’re a world beset by crisis. Climate change, income inequality, racism, pandemics, an almost unmanageable tangle of issues.” The stories in this book tackle quite a few crisis, and do it well. It’s a hopeful book.
September 15, 2022
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid Garcia ★★★★☆
That was quality! It showed the hard, clever work, of lifting a farm from poverty to an international business. I loved the idea of rfid tracking money in order to let consumers judge how ethical they want to be in their purchases thereby, hopefully, reducing corruption.
The Call of the Wold by Holly Schofield ★★★★☆
This is from Glass & Gardens: Solarpunk Summers! An old woman, running from her past, finally finds her home in a small collective where she can make a difference.
In Light by Mere Rain
“No lost causes.” ★★★½☆
Yes, there might be a generation that needs that kind of spirit to pull through. I liked the idea of those few that successfully made it in the stars came back to help fix the world.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp ★★★☆☆
A fanciful story of an Arctic concert reinvigorating the ice.
At the Movies by D.M. Rasch ★★★☆☆
A story of future policing heavily reliant on citizens with implanted technology. Peaceful but scary.
Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven by J.G. Follansbee ★★★☆☆
Well, that was depressing. A industrialist relies on religious organizations to fix the environmental and forgive him his sins.
From the Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski ★★★☆☆
An ok story about a cybernetic warrior who comes to a small town during peacetime to reprogram himself, and his equipment, for the greater good.
Rise by J. Scott Coatsworth ★★★☆☆
Just ok story about a sunken Venice reborn.
As Njord and Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey ★★★☆☆
A couple working separately to make a better world realizes they can no longer be a couple.
The Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo DNF
Post apocalyptic rebuild with PTSD and genetic damage story. I recognize the rebuild had Solarpunk vibes, but it was highly localized on a damaged desperate world that was likely going Mad Max. I lost interest.
Upgrade by Alex Silver DNF
I tried this thrice and lost interest. No idea what about it is Solarpunk.
A Forest for the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossman DNF
Trees can walk and talk and infodump alt history. I lost interest in this cartoon after school special.
That was quality! It showed the hard, clever work, of lifting a farm from poverty to an international business. I loved the idea of rfid tracking money in order to let consumers judge how ethical they want to be in their purchases thereby, hopefully, reducing corruption.
The Call of the Wold by Holly Schofield ★★★★☆
This is from Glass & Gardens: Solarpunk Summers! An old woman, running from her past, finally finds her home in a small collective where she can make a difference.
In Light by Mere Rain
“No lost causes.” ★★★½☆
Yes, there might be a generation that needs that kind of spirit to pull through. I liked the idea of those few that successfully made it in the stars came back to help fix the world.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp ★★★☆☆
A fanciful story of an Arctic concert reinvigorating the ice.
At the Movies by D.M. Rasch ★★★☆☆
A story of future policing heavily reliant on citizens with implanted technology. Peaceful but scary.
Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven by J.G. Follansbee ★★★☆☆
Well, that was depressing. A industrialist relies on religious organizations to fix the environmental and forgive him his sins.
From the Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski ★★★☆☆
An ok story about a cybernetic warrior who comes to a small town during peacetime to reprogram himself, and his equipment, for the greater good.
Rise by J. Scott Coatsworth ★★★☆☆
Just ok story about a sunken Venice reborn.
As Njord and Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey ★★★☆☆
A couple working separately to make a better world realizes they can no longer be a couple.
The Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo DNF
Post apocalyptic rebuild with PTSD and genetic damage story. I recognize the rebuild had Solarpunk vibes, but it was highly localized on a damaged desperate world that was likely going Mad Max. I lost interest.
Upgrade by Alex Silver DNF
I tried this thrice and lost interest. No idea what about it is Solarpunk.
A Forest for the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossman DNF
Trees can walk and talk and infodump alt history. I lost interest in this cartoon after school special.
Read
June 7, 2021This was a difficult story for me to write.
I think 2020 was a low point for most of us, for many reasons, but especially the discouragement of witnessing how quickly decades of effort and progress were rolled back, particularly in areas like environmental protections and human rights. At the same time, the spread of disease trapped us in isolation, cutting us off from avenues of action and support. It was easy to feel hopeless and powerless.
It was hard to get myself in the right frame of mind to write an optimistic, active story. But it felt like something I needed to do. So I made myself start typing.
I'm not a plotter, or a linear writer, so the first page you, the reader, see often bears little resemblance to how it originated, but in this case the story opens where I began, with someone stepping out of the light and saying, "I'm here to help."
This character, this larger-than-life visitor from space, isn't the point-of-view character; that's Hav, an artist and cook who wants to help his community but doesn't know how. He's not an expert and he doesn't have any special abilities that will save the day -- because that's who I am: nobody special, just someone who can tell you a story, or make you a meal, or listen to your problems.
Maybe for me, for many of us, our role is not to fix the world but to support those who can.
And that isn't nothing! Offering support can also be difficult and essential work, even while it feels like we’re not doing enough and nothing is getting solved. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems that are beyond our control. Easier to give up. But if we give up, the world is definitely not getting fixed; while we keep trying, there’s hope.
As individuals, we don't always get to choose the paths upon which we find ourselves, or the obstacles that confront us -- but we do retain agency over how we choose to respond to them. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful, and challenging, aspects of being human.
I want to end by saying how much I appreciate this volume as a whole. The stories were so varied in content and approach that they served as a valuable reminder to me of how many possibilities I haven't thought of. Just because I personally can't think of a solution for every problem doesn't mean there isn't hope.
I think 2020 was a low point for most of us, for many reasons, but especially the discouragement of witnessing how quickly decades of effort and progress were rolled back, particularly in areas like environmental protections and human rights. At the same time, the spread of disease trapped us in isolation, cutting us off from avenues of action and support. It was easy to feel hopeless and powerless.
It was hard to get myself in the right frame of mind to write an optimistic, active story. But it felt like something I needed to do. So I made myself start typing.
I'm not a plotter, or a linear writer, so the first page you, the reader, see often bears little resemblance to how it originated, but in this case the story opens where I began, with someone stepping out of the light and saying, "I'm here to help."
This character, this larger-than-life visitor from space, isn't the point-of-view character; that's Hav, an artist and cook who wants to help his community but doesn't know how. He's not an expert and he doesn't have any special abilities that will save the day -- because that's who I am: nobody special, just someone who can tell you a story, or make you a meal, or listen to your problems.
Maybe for me, for many of us, our role is not to fix the world but to support those who can.
And that isn't nothing! Offering support can also be difficult and essential work, even while it feels like we’re not doing enough and nothing is getting solved. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems that are beyond our control. Easier to give up. But if we give up, the world is definitely not getting fixed; while we keep trying, there’s hope.
As individuals, we don't always get to choose the paths upon which we find ourselves, or the obstacles that confront us -- but we do retain agency over how we choose to respond to them. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful, and challenging, aspects of being human.
I want to end by saying how much I appreciate this volume as a whole. The stories were so varied in content and approach that they served as a valuable reminder to me of how many possibilities I haven't thought of. Just because I personally can't think of a solution for every problem doesn't mean there isn't hope.
May 27, 2021
I got this book rather on impulse, not really checking if it would fit neatly into my *checks notes* queer books only year--I was pleasantly surprised that it did--! I haven't read a short story collection either in a while and it was nice to dive into a world for a dozen pages and then out again. Twelve stories each exploring and interpreting the different possible routes the planet and society could take after friendly or hostile alien contact; extreme heat or ice; an explosion of technology or return to a quieter, agricultural base. Some of my favorites: As Njord and Skadi; The Homestead at the Beginning of the World; From the Sun and Scorched Earth. A great collection of something a little different---
April 18, 2021
This anthology focuses on how we humans might understand problems like environmental degradation and war, how we might directly confront those challenges, what technologies we might use, and how our approaches would influence our attitudes. I especially liked:
* "From the Sun and Scorched Earth" by Bryan Cebulski: A boy repents of having been raised to manage a murderous machine, but the path to redemption and change isn't clear.
* "Upgrade" by Alex Silver: People get to choose bionic sex parts to replace the ones they are born with, just for the fun of it, though humans do tend to commodify pleasure.
* "As Njord and Skadi" by Jennifer R. Povey: Two women tend to a plot of land on Earth and plan to gracefully dissolve their marriage, but when one of them is suddenly injured, their path forward feels more complicated.
* "From the Sun and Scorched Earth" by Bryan Cebulski: A boy repents of having been raised to manage a murderous machine, but the path to redemption and change isn't clear.
* "Upgrade" by Alex Silver: People get to choose bionic sex parts to replace the ones they are born with, just for the fun of it, though humans do tend to commodify pleasure.
* "As Njord and Skadi" by Jennifer R. Povey: Two women tend to a plot of land on Earth and plan to gracefully dissolve their marriage, but when one of them is suddenly injured, their path forward feels more complicated.
April 21, 2021
A couple of years ago, Scott Coatwsorth, like the rest of us, found the “almost unrelentingly bad news day after day” more than a little depressing. He “felt like we needed a little hope, some light at the end of the tunnel” ( Fix the World ix). To meet this need, Coatsworth, a co-owner of the publishing company, Other Worlds Ink, came up with a thought-experiment: pose a “what-if” question, answer it in fiction. Thought experiments, and their “what-if” questions, are often used in science fiction, and science fiction is the genre of possible futures, futures that comment on the present. Coatsworth sent out a call for stories “about ways to fix what’s wrong with the world” (back cover).
Fix the World: Twelve Sci-Fi Writers Save the Future, offers twelve different ways to fix the future, possible solutions that answer “what-if?” They are all engaging, interesting, and they kept me reading. As I read the stories, one pattern, or rather, one common theme emerged. For the future to be fixed, to find a solution to one of the dire problems facing humanity, it seems there first has to be a prerequisite. We have to be on the precipice, standing on the edge of the cliff. Or we’ve gone over the cliff: there has been a global catastrophe. There has been an environmental disaster, the waters have risen beyond the power of any dam or dike to fix. the waters have risen beyond the power of any dam or dike to fix. Or World War III, an endless drought—the horror is about to do us in. People are suffering, too many have died, and they keep dying. There is pain and sorrow and heartache. For a problem to be fixed, we have to be forced into action.
The twelve ways offered to fix one of the world’s pressing problems, are diverse and fascinating.
But, in the interest of brevity, I will highlight a few of my favorites in this fine collection. In “The Homestead at the Beginning of the World,” by Jana Denardo, what forced us into action to begin solving such problems as hunger and protecting the environment, wasn’t a human-made catastrophe. In this story, it was an alien invasion and a century of raping the planet and humans being used as slaves or “lab rats.” When the aliens are gone, how do we rebuild and restore the environment? One answer is to achieve balance and harmony, to create self-sustaining communities, to preserve and protect the environment, This can be done by following, and expanding upon, the already-present examples offered by Native Americans, combined with responsible use of science and technology. But, to my mind, the best SF, while about such thought-experiments and extrapolations and the like, are about people. How are individuals, as in “Homestead,” addressing these issues? How do they live and love—even if the aliens have spliced in chlorophyll, making one of our heroes, Kjell, a green man? How do he and Sam, whose algae lakes Kjell is inspecting, sort out loving each other?
That Sam’s mother loved The Lord of the Rings and his name is really Samwise, his brother and sister, Aragorn and Arwen, is a nice touch. This Tolkien fan loved it.
In another favorite, science is clearly just part of any solution to a particular problem. In Anthea Sharp’s story, “Ice in D Minor,” climate change is addressed through the right frequencies or sound—music. “The concert of a lifetime,” a symphony written and conducted by Rinna Sen, is what causes the temperature of the Arctic to drop, the snow to fall. “The thrum of sound transformed into super-cooled air” begins “long hard pull back from the precipice” (53).
Other solutions are no less engaging and original, no less human, include:
“Juma and the Quantum Ghost” (by Ingrid Garcia), a sentient AI, the power of community action, and a woman determined to fight political corruption and waste;
“Upgrade” (by Alex Silver), domed cities to survive ecological disaster, and cybertechnology and body modifications, and a determined man and a friendly cop, fight a cyber-attack;
“In Light” (by Mere Rain) the journey back from disaster, is helped by solar power, intentional communities, planned human evolution, and a potter and an angel falling in love.
That is just a sample. Will these stories “restore [your] faith in humanity, and our ability to change the future, to find a new path that just might save us” ? (ix). Yes, I think maybe so.
Maybe a disaster, the precipice, is necessary, for the world to be fixed. Thanks to World War II and the sources for natural rubber being in the hands of the Axis, we developed a much cheaper synthetic rubber that was desperately needed. But let’s hope another war isn’t what forces us to finally act.
As this book attests, what we need most, perhaps, is hope, and a belief that problems can be solved, that there are good solutions to “what-if” thought experiments. And these solutions must be human ones, found by human beings who fall in love, who care for each other.
Recommended.
Fix the World: Twelve Sci-Fi Writers Save the Future, offers twelve different ways to fix the future, possible solutions that answer “what-if?” They are all engaging, interesting, and they kept me reading. As I read the stories, one pattern, or rather, one common theme emerged. For the future to be fixed, to find a solution to one of the dire problems facing humanity, it seems there first has to be a prerequisite. We have to be on the precipice, standing on the edge of the cliff. Or we’ve gone over the cliff: there has been a global catastrophe. There has been an environmental disaster, the waters have risen beyond the power of any dam or dike to fix. the waters have risen beyond the power of any dam or dike to fix. Or World War III, an endless drought—the horror is about to do us in. People are suffering, too many have died, and they keep dying. There is pain and sorrow and heartache. For a problem to be fixed, we have to be forced into action.
The twelve ways offered to fix one of the world’s pressing problems, are diverse and fascinating.
But, in the interest of brevity, I will highlight a few of my favorites in this fine collection. In “The Homestead at the Beginning of the World,” by Jana Denardo, what forced us into action to begin solving such problems as hunger and protecting the environment, wasn’t a human-made catastrophe. In this story, it was an alien invasion and a century of raping the planet and humans being used as slaves or “lab rats.” When the aliens are gone, how do we rebuild and restore the environment? One answer is to achieve balance and harmony, to create self-sustaining communities, to preserve and protect the environment, This can be done by following, and expanding upon, the already-present examples offered by Native Americans, combined with responsible use of science and technology. But, to my mind, the best SF, while about such thought-experiments and extrapolations and the like, are about people. How are individuals, as in “Homestead,” addressing these issues? How do they live and love—even if the aliens have spliced in chlorophyll, making one of our heroes, Kjell, a green man? How do he and Sam, whose algae lakes Kjell is inspecting, sort out loving each other?
That Sam’s mother loved The Lord of the Rings and his name is really Samwise, his brother and sister, Aragorn and Arwen, is a nice touch. This Tolkien fan loved it.
In another favorite, science is clearly just part of any solution to a particular problem. In Anthea Sharp’s story, “Ice in D Minor,” climate change is addressed through the right frequencies or sound—music. “The concert of a lifetime,” a symphony written and conducted by Rinna Sen, is what causes the temperature of the Arctic to drop, the snow to fall. “The thrum of sound transformed into super-cooled air” begins “long hard pull back from the precipice” (53).
Other solutions are no less engaging and original, no less human, include:
“Juma and the Quantum Ghost” (by Ingrid Garcia), a sentient AI, the power of community action, and a woman determined to fight political corruption and waste;
“Upgrade” (by Alex Silver), domed cities to survive ecological disaster, and cybertechnology and body modifications, and a determined man and a friendly cop, fight a cyber-attack;
“In Light” (by Mere Rain) the journey back from disaster, is helped by solar power, intentional communities, planned human evolution, and a potter and an angel falling in love.
That is just a sample. Will these stories “restore [your] faith in humanity, and our ability to change the future, to find a new path that just might save us” ? (ix). Yes, I think maybe so.
Maybe a disaster, the precipice, is necessary, for the world to be fixed. Thanks to World War II and the sources for natural rubber being in the hands of the Axis, we developed a much cheaper synthetic rubber that was desperately needed. But let’s hope another war isn’t what forces us to finally act.
As this book attests, what we need most, perhaps, is hope, and a belief that problems can be solved, that there are good solutions to “what-if” thought experiments. And these solutions must be human ones, found by human beings who fall in love, who care for each other.
Recommended.
April 10, 2021
(Reviewers note: I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review)
A wonderful collection of speculative fiction. Most of the stories are set in a world after the climate change apocalypse, but all have a thread of hope running through them. Definitely stories to read more than once.
In Light by Mere Rain: 5 stars
The colony on Herschel 93 has been experiencing problems with their solar trees and the Sunwall which protects them during wind season. The author had my attention from the beginning with this wonderful sentence…‘The angel stepped forward and said, “We’re from the government and
we’re here to help.”’ A lovely story to open the anthology.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid Garcia: 3.5 stars
A dramatic story of kidnap and rescue set in Zambia, but of course it’s more complicated than that once you involve a biological quantum computer! The plot alternates between what happens in the present (written in present tense) with flashbacks to the past, which was striking but I also found it somewhat distracting from the plot.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp: 4.5 stars
Can music change the world? An orchestra prepares to play at the North Pole, which is
still cold, though the countries around the Earth’s centre are too hot to live in. However, the concert is not simply to entertain an audience but a desperate attempt to feed the climate engine and cool the atmosphere. Some beautiful images in this one.
At the Movies by D.M. Rasch: 5 stars
Reilly plans a trip to the retro “movies”, without using tech implants to enhance the experience but with snacks that fool your receptors into tasting salt and sugar. What should have been a fun first date with Lainey and her family, turns into a nightmare when a terrorist takes over the theatre…A suspenseful read!
Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven? by J.G. Follansbee: 3 stars
Set in the near future, Abbott James Bohm grapples between sticking to a project which he hopes will tackle climate change and obeying a directive from the Pope himself. I found it a little difficult to engage with this story.
From the Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski: 5 stars
What happens when the war is over? Leo, one of the destroyers, comes to a village to ask for punishment and instead is asked to atone by helping the community. A lovely change from the usual survivalist kill or be killed mentality in many post-apocalyptic stories.
Upgrade by Alex Silver: 4 stars
The nanite revolution. A world where everyone has access to enough food and universal health care as long as they are on the grid. But in every utopia there is always someone who wants to buck the system. Klein loves the adrenaline rush of life on the edge, surfing the greyweb. But when he gets sucked into a prank challenge which turns deadly, he has to make some serious choices. As one of the two the longest stories in the anthology, and the most explicit, Upgrade is a meaty read!
Rise by J. Scott Coastworth: 4 stars
Italy works to resurrect one of the wonders of the civilised world, to provide a symbol of hope for climate disaster survivors. As soon as I read ‘lagoon’ I had my suspicions… A charming story.
A Forest for the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossman: 4 stars
Perhaps the most fantastical of the stories here. Told from the perspective of Dave, a giant Redwood, we learn the story of the war between humans and trees, and how one day, Dave and a few fellow trees uprooted themselves and made a run for it. Do I need to say more?
As Njord And Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey: 5 stars
Deborah and Steffi are married, but they have very different lives and aspirations.
Deborah loves mules and the mountains, and Steffi loves dolphins and the sea. Up until now their marriage has worked but now the cracks are becoming too obvious to ignore. Set in a post climate-disaster world, this is a beautiful story about trying to fix what’s broken.
The Call of the Wold by Holly Schofield: 4 stars
Another post climate-disaster tale. For the last twelve years, Julie has been on the run from her corporate responsibilities, enjoying the freedom of riding around Western Canada on her bicycle, occasionally stopping at one of the many hands-on farming collectives which have sprung up. She arrives at Henkel’s Wold, and stays to settle a dispute, ready to move on again after a few days. However, since she turned seventy last year, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Could this be her new home?
Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo: 5 stars
The only story in the anthology involving aliens. The Derjviks have now left Earth, after a hundred years of occupation, destruction and biological experimentation, and life is slowly recovering.
Sam, an Ojibwe man, lives contentedly, more or less in the wilderness in what used to be north Wisconsin. The algae he farms on the lakes, goes to the nearby laboratory to be turned into biofuel.
One day Kjell Eriksen arrives to work at the lab. A result of one of the Derjvik’s experiments, Kjell has green skin from an attempt to blend chlorophyl into human DNA and is still grappling with PTSD.
A love story, written with sensitivity and hope.
A wonderful collection of speculative fiction. Most of the stories are set in a world after the climate change apocalypse, but all have a thread of hope running through them. Definitely stories to read more than once.
In Light by Mere Rain: 5 stars
The colony on Herschel 93 has been experiencing problems with their solar trees and the Sunwall which protects them during wind season. The author had my attention from the beginning with this wonderful sentence…‘The angel stepped forward and said, “We’re from the government and
we’re here to help.”’ A lovely story to open the anthology.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid Garcia: 3.5 stars
A dramatic story of kidnap and rescue set in Zambia, but of course it’s more complicated than that once you involve a biological quantum computer! The plot alternates between what happens in the present (written in present tense) with flashbacks to the past, which was striking but I also found it somewhat distracting from the plot.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp: 4.5 stars
Can music change the world? An orchestra prepares to play at the North Pole, which is
still cold, though the countries around the Earth’s centre are too hot to live in. However, the concert is not simply to entertain an audience but a desperate attempt to feed the climate engine and cool the atmosphere. Some beautiful images in this one.
At the Movies by D.M. Rasch: 5 stars
Reilly plans a trip to the retro “movies”, without using tech implants to enhance the experience but with snacks that fool your receptors into tasting salt and sugar. What should have been a fun first date with Lainey and her family, turns into a nightmare when a terrorist takes over the theatre…A suspenseful read!
Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven? by J.G. Follansbee: 3 stars
Set in the near future, Abbott James Bohm grapples between sticking to a project which he hopes will tackle climate change and obeying a directive from the Pope himself. I found it a little difficult to engage with this story.
From the Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski: 5 stars
What happens when the war is over? Leo, one of the destroyers, comes to a village to ask for punishment and instead is asked to atone by helping the community. A lovely change from the usual survivalist kill or be killed mentality in many post-apocalyptic stories.
Upgrade by Alex Silver: 4 stars
The nanite revolution. A world where everyone has access to enough food and universal health care as long as they are on the grid. But in every utopia there is always someone who wants to buck the system. Klein loves the adrenaline rush of life on the edge, surfing the greyweb. But when he gets sucked into a prank challenge which turns deadly, he has to make some serious choices. As one of the two the longest stories in the anthology, and the most explicit, Upgrade is a meaty read!
Rise by J. Scott Coastworth: 4 stars
Italy works to resurrect one of the wonders of the civilised world, to provide a symbol of hope for climate disaster survivors. As soon as I read ‘lagoon’ I had my suspicions… A charming story.
A Forest for the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossman: 4 stars
Perhaps the most fantastical of the stories here. Told from the perspective of Dave, a giant Redwood, we learn the story of the war between humans and trees, and how one day, Dave and a few fellow trees uprooted themselves and made a run for it. Do I need to say more?
As Njord And Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey: 5 stars
Deborah and Steffi are married, but they have very different lives and aspirations.
Deborah loves mules and the mountains, and Steffi loves dolphins and the sea. Up until now their marriage has worked but now the cracks are becoming too obvious to ignore. Set in a post climate-disaster world, this is a beautiful story about trying to fix what’s broken.
The Call of the Wold by Holly Schofield: 4 stars
Another post climate-disaster tale. For the last twelve years, Julie has been on the run from her corporate responsibilities, enjoying the freedom of riding around Western Canada on her bicycle, occasionally stopping at one of the many hands-on farming collectives which have sprung up. She arrives at Henkel’s Wold, and stays to settle a dispute, ready to move on again after a few days. However, since she turned seventy last year, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Could this be her new home?
Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo: 5 stars
The only story in the anthology involving aliens. The Derjviks have now left Earth, after a hundred years of occupation, destruction and biological experimentation, and life is slowly recovering.
Sam, an Ojibwe man, lives contentedly, more or less in the wilderness in what used to be north Wisconsin. The algae he farms on the lakes, goes to the nearby laboratory to be turned into biofuel.
One day Kjell Eriksen arrives to work at the lab. A result of one of the Derjvik’s experiments, Kjell has green skin from an attempt to blend chlorophyl into human DNA and is still grappling with PTSD.
A love story, written with sensitivity and hope.
May 20, 2021
I was so happy for this anthology. I have been a SF fan my whole life but was a bit disillusioned lately between all the joyless military SF and the dystopias. I wanted something more like the positivity of Star Trek so when I found this solarpunk/hopepunk anthology I dove right in.
The premise is the world is a mess but it is worth saving and can be. That's the whole thrust of solarpunk so I was right there when this hit the market. I was not disappointed. Of course as with any anthology you have some stories that are stronger than others and a lot of that is merely a matter of taste. There were a few that were a miss for me but overall I really enjoyed the stories. This might be the first anthology I've read where I didn't DNF a single story within it. They were all worth reading.
My favorites were The Call of the Wold because how often do we see a 70 year old woman being independent, cycling herself around from one commune to another? Upgrade and Rise were both very good as was Homestead at the Beginning of the World. Ice in D Minor with the idea music could change the world was an interesting idea. Honestly they're all interesting. It's not an anthology you'll regret reading
The premise is the world is a mess but it is worth saving and can be. That's the whole thrust of solarpunk so I was right there when this hit the market. I was not disappointed. Of course as with any anthology you have some stories that are stronger than others and a lot of that is merely a matter of taste. There were a few that were a miss for me but overall I really enjoyed the stories. This might be the first anthology I've read where I didn't DNF a single story within it. They were all worth reading.
My favorites were The Call of the Wold because how often do we see a 70 year old woman being independent, cycling herself around from one commune to another? Upgrade and Rise were both very good as was Homestead at the Beginning of the World. Ice in D Minor with the idea music could change the world was an interesting idea. Honestly they're all interesting. It's not an anthology you'll regret reading
April 15, 2021
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, where authors set out to try to imagine solutions for problems in new and creative fictional ways. I enjoyed all the stories, but two in particular stood out. First, Alex Silver's take on gender in the future hit home as I live in a state that seems obsessed with passing legislation about people's sexuality, gender and bodily autonomy and the second, by Bryan Cebulski set in a village where two characters Leo and Lukas find themselves thrown together and figuring out what they are to each other.
May 13, 2021
A great collection of stories full of hope and humanity.
April 10, 2021
Fix the World is a collection of twelve stories on the theme of solving the world’s problems. Some of these problems are the familiar ones of climate change and corruption. Others cover rebuilding after apocalyptic war, alien invasion or terrorism. The remaining ones deal with the main characters coping with the world as the inhabitants find it. I enjoyed them all and I absolutely loved quite a few. There is love in many flavours, love at first sight, love growing and love failing in various damaged world settings.
The twelve stories include:
‘In Light’ by Mere Rain. Hav lives in a rural world that depends on solar energy and altered plant life. The solar wall is not working to spec. Who do you call? You call up the parhelion (ie. the government). I may be reading more into how Hav responds to the agent of the parhelion, and he with him, but I can see a growing relationship in the making or, maybe, I should say a glowing relationship. This is a nice gentle read filled with hope for the future of the world described.
‘Juma and the Quantum Ghost’ by Ingrid Garcia. Juma is a practical woman with no time for gangsters and crooked politicians when people need to eat and earn a living. She’s definitely made of the right stuff to deal with anything thrown at her and her quantum computer buddy.
‘Ice in D Minor’ by Anthea Sharp. A potential musical solution to global warming is about to be implemented but will it work? It seems it just might.
‘At the Movies’ by D.M. Rasch. A world / future where citizen protection comes first, even at the cost of the protectors own personal lives. Reilly finds out this the hard way.
‘Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven?’ by J.G. Follansbee. Would you trust one of those responsible for the earth’s ruin with its recovery? Would you stick with the project he has set up using his ‘ill-gotten gains’ even when the big boss’s second in command tells you to drop it?
‘From the Sun and Scorched Earth’ by Bryan Cebulski. Lukas has his work cut out trying to help boy soldier Leo come to term with the post apocalyptic world he had a hand in creating. A dark story with glimmers of light and love. A dark tale with glimmers of hope.
‘Upgrade’ by Alex Silver. The world is coping with run away climate change if not fixing it. Humans can only exist in the domes so what does Klein, an outsider, do when he is tricked into bringing about their destruction. Klein likes the freedom he has, skirting around the regs and laws, almost as much as his new hardware with the upgraded pleasure port. He has to work fast to protect the life he loves even when it could cost him everything. An exciting read.
‘Rise’ by J. Scott Coatsworth. Raising a sunken town from the bottom of the sea is not without its consequences in terms of old memories. This is a gentle work about what has been lost when the seas rose, drowning so many. Cinzia and her granddaughter Kendra get to walk down memory lane for real.
‘A Forest for the Trees’ by Rachel Hope Crossman. This is probably my least favourite story. The main character is a giant redwood called Dave. ‘He’ is a bit rambly due to his age as he relates how the trees came to reach their new home. It’s not an asteroid no matter what Dave thinks.
‘As Njord And Skadi’ by Jennifer R. Povey. Njord And Skadi are norse deities. Deborah and Steffi are married but, like Njord And Skadi, find that they cannot live together and maybe not apart either. Skadi and Deborah love the mountains and Njord and Steffi cannot live away from the sea. It’s not enough that Deborah and Steffi love each other any more nor that they both work to make the earth whole again.
‘The Call of the Wold’ by Holly Schofield. I’m afraid I had to read this one twice as punishment for lack of concentration. Luckily it grew on me the second time although I do take exception to main character Julie’s too smart word play. Still, I can see why the people who meet her respect how good she is at her job.
‘The Homestead at the Beginning of the World’ by Jana Denardo. An earth recovering from alien domination of the worst kind. Damaged city kid / scientist Kjell finds love in wilds and who can blame him. But can he get beyond his PTSD to make a life with his soulmate Sam. I’d like there to be a follow up that’s for sure. I loved this story. It balances the dark and light moments well.
This collection of stories was a great read covering a whole range of styles and subjects.
The twelve stories include:
‘In Light’ by Mere Rain. Hav lives in a rural world that depends on solar energy and altered plant life. The solar wall is not working to spec. Who do you call? You call up the parhelion (ie. the government). I may be reading more into how Hav responds to the agent of the parhelion, and he with him, but I can see a growing relationship in the making or, maybe, I should say a glowing relationship. This is a nice gentle read filled with hope for the future of the world described.
‘Juma and the Quantum Ghost’ by Ingrid Garcia. Juma is a practical woman with no time for gangsters and crooked politicians when people need to eat and earn a living. She’s definitely made of the right stuff to deal with anything thrown at her and her quantum computer buddy.
‘Ice in D Minor’ by Anthea Sharp. A potential musical solution to global warming is about to be implemented but will it work? It seems it just might.
‘At the Movies’ by D.M. Rasch. A world / future where citizen protection comes first, even at the cost of the protectors own personal lives. Reilly finds out this the hard way.
‘Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven?’ by J.G. Follansbee. Would you trust one of those responsible for the earth’s ruin with its recovery? Would you stick with the project he has set up using his ‘ill-gotten gains’ even when the big boss’s second in command tells you to drop it?
‘From the Sun and Scorched Earth’ by Bryan Cebulski. Lukas has his work cut out trying to help boy soldier Leo come to term with the post apocalyptic world he had a hand in creating. A dark story with glimmers of light and love. A dark tale with glimmers of hope.
‘Upgrade’ by Alex Silver. The world is coping with run away climate change if not fixing it. Humans can only exist in the domes so what does Klein, an outsider, do when he is tricked into bringing about their destruction. Klein likes the freedom he has, skirting around the regs and laws, almost as much as his new hardware with the upgraded pleasure port. He has to work fast to protect the life he loves even when it could cost him everything. An exciting read.
‘Rise’ by J. Scott Coatsworth. Raising a sunken town from the bottom of the sea is not without its consequences in terms of old memories. This is a gentle work about what has been lost when the seas rose, drowning so many. Cinzia and her granddaughter Kendra get to walk down memory lane for real.
‘A Forest for the Trees’ by Rachel Hope Crossman. This is probably my least favourite story. The main character is a giant redwood called Dave. ‘He’ is a bit rambly due to his age as he relates how the trees came to reach their new home. It’s not an asteroid no matter what Dave thinks.
‘As Njord And Skadi’ by Jennifer R. Povey. Njord And Skadi are norse deities. Deborah and Steffi are married but, like Njord And Skadi, find that they cannot live together and maybe not apart either. Skadi and Deborah love the mountains and Njord and Steffi cannot live away from the sea. It’s not enough that Deborah and Steffi love each other any more nor that they both work to make the earth whole again.
‘The Call of the Wold’ by Holly Schofield. I’m afraid I had to read this one twice as punishment for lack of concentration. Luckily it grew on me the second time although I do take exception to main character Julie’s too smart word play. Still, I can see why the people who meet her respect how good she is at her job.
‘The Homestead at the Beginning of the World’ by Jana Denardo. An earth recovering from alien domination of the worst kind. Damaged city kid / scientist Kjell finds love in wilds and who can blame him. But can he get beyond his PTSD to make a life with his soulmate Sam. I’d like there to be a follow up that’s for sure. I loved this story. It balances the dark and light moments well.
This collection of stories was a great read covering a whole range of styles and subjects.
June 23, 2021
I enjoyed this anthology, although some stories more than others. Each author had a unique take on the theme, which made for interesting reading.
In Light by Mere Rain
I thought this was a very cool idea, with angels answering an emergency helpline call. It’s an interesting take on what might happen if we continue on our current path, with the rebuilders having to fix the environmental damage of their parents. I liked the symbolic nature of the angels, and how nature, too, had evolved.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid Garcia
This story had an interesting mix of tech and ecology. I thought the tech was sneaky, especially how they used actual dirty money to track the bad guy. Very clever ideas though I did find it hard to connect with the characters.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp
I thought it was a very cool idea—no pun intended—to use music and sound frequency to fight global warming. This story was short, but nicely done.
At the Movies by D. M Rausch
I loved the idea of it being retro to go to the movies, and that everyone has tech in their heads. I thought this was a good story, and an interesting glimpse into another possible future. I liked the characters, although I’d like to see what happened to them after the story ended.
Who Shall Reap The Grain of Heaven by J.G. Follansbee
This was one of my favourites in this anthology. I liked the idea of the seed of Heaven and the role the church plays in this future with serious ecological issues. I liked James, and Angelina, and I thought the way the story resolved its immediate dilemma was very clever.
From The Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski
This was another story I really enjoyed. It reminded me a little of the anime mecha shows, and I liked the connection between Leo and his mecha. Lukas fixing old Joni Mitchell songs to share as part of post war rebuilding was an interesting idea too.
Upgrade by Alex Silver
I loved the worldbuilding in this story, the characters, and the plot. I thought the terrorist plot was very clever, and I liked the idea of greynet. This was a slightly different take on a possible future with humanity living in domes as the outside world is no longer fit to live in.
Rise by J. Scott Coatsworth
I thought this story had a wonderful feeling of humanity and heart to it. I loved how visual it was, and how I could easily imagine what was happening. I liked the link between Cinzia remembering the past before the floods, and her granddaughter Kendra watching the city rise again. Very enjoyable.
A Forest For the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossmann
I thought this story had some interesting ideas and I liked the concept of sentient trees. It works well as a narrative history of a changed world, although there isn’t a lot of interaction or emotion.
As Njord and Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey
I thought that, despite Deborah and her wife, Steffi, unable to ignore the insurmountable differences between them, this was a story of hope, and people. I like how the world has improved, and that human nature and romance haven’t changed. This story felt very human and real.
The Call of the World by Holly Schofield
I loved Julie, the main character in this story, and how she leaves everything behind to make a difference and protect the environment. I liked the community and how different people come together.
The Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo
This was my favourite out of all the stories, and I’d love to see more of these characters and their world. I loved the worldbuilding, and how humanity is picking up again after an alien invasion. I loved the Tolkien references, and how Sam and Kjell’s relationship grows. Kjell’s PSTD felt very real, and I liked how there were real consequences for those who had been used as lab rats by the invaders.
In Light by Mere Rain
I thought this was a very cool idea, with angels answering an emergency helpline call. It’s an interesting take on what might happen if we continue on our current path, with the rebuilders having to fix the environmental damage of their parents. I liked the symbolic nature of the angels, and how nature, too, had evolved.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid Garcia
This story had an interesting mix of tech and ecology. I thought the tech was sneaky, especially how they used actual dirty money to track the bad guy. Very clever ideas though I did find it hard to connect with the characters.
Ice in D Minor by Anthea Sharp
I thought it was a very cool idea—no pun intended—to use music and sound frequency to fight global warming. This story was short, but nicely done.
At the Movies by D. M Rausch
I loved the idea of it being retro to go to the movies, and that everyone has tech in their heads. I thought this was a good story, and an interesting glimpse into another possible future. I liked the characters, although I’d like to see what happened to them after the story ended.
Who Shall Reap The Grain of Heaven by J.G. Follansbee
This was one of my favourites in this anthology. I liked the idea of the seed of Heaven and the role the church plays in this future with serious ecological issues. I liked James, and Angelina, and I thought the way the story resolved its immediate dilemma was very clever.
From The Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski
This was another story I really enjoyed. It reminded me a little of the anime mecha shows, and I liked the connection between Leo and his mecha. Lukas fixing old Joni Mitchell songs to share as part of post war rebuilding was an interesting idea too.
Upgrade by Alex Silver
I loved the worldbuilding in this story, the characters, and the plot. I thought the terrorist plot was very clever, and I liked the idea of greynet. This was a slightly different take on a possible future with humanity living in domes as the outside world is no longer fit to live in.
Rise by J. Scott Coatsworth
I thought this story had a wonderful feeling of humanity and heart to it. I loved how visual it was, and how I could easily imagine what was happening. I liked the link between Cinzia remembering the past before the floods, and her granddaughter Kendra watching the city rise again. Very enjoyable.
A Forest For the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossmann
I thought this story had some interesting ideas and I liked the concept of sentient trees. It works well as a narrative history of a changed world, although there isn’t a lot of interaction or emotion.
As Njord and Skadi by Jennifer R. Povey
I thought that, despite Deborah and her wife, Steffi, unable to ignore the insurmountable differences between them, this was a story of hope, and people. I like how the world has improved, and that human nature and romance haven’t changed. This story felt very human and real.
The Call of the World by Holly Schofield
I loved Julie, the main character in this story, and how she leaves everything behind to make a difference and protect the environment. I liked the community and how different people come together.
The Homestead at the Beginning of the World by Jana Denardo
This was my favourite out of all the stories, and I’d love to see more of these characters and their world. I loved the worldbuilding, and how humanity is picking up again after an alien invasion. I loved the Tolkien references, and how Sam and Kjell’s relationship grows. Kjell’s PSTD felt very real, and I liked how there were real consequences for those who had been used as lab rats by the invaders.
April 10, 2021
The whole essence of these stories is respect for Mother Earth.
I did get an ARC of this book & I have included the following stories in my review:
1. The Homestead At The Beginning Of The World
This is the best of all the stories in this book in my opinion. A message of acceptance no matter who you are. There isn't any smexy in this, only an attraction that both males are hesitant to capitalize on. In this story there are survivors of an alien invasion from the Derjviks who messed with human DNA to make them bigger, stronger, less reliant on food, etc. Sam is a futuristic farmer of the natural order of things. Dr. Kjell (say Shell) Eriksen is a product of this DNA recipe is as a botanist coming to Sam Funmaker's farm to learn his growing techniques. In my opinion this is the best and the nicest M/M story of this whole selection.
2. Upgrade
What I read here was an AI story. Klein is an AI with anorbit circuit that needs repair. To me this is a story of ethics, Klein needs said upgrade to get him into the Dimech's Top Modder Challenge. As the upgrade was made he also had to have his Ot5 upgraded which affected his "member" performance. Klein wasn't too happy about this as it could draw the attention of their ruling government. If discovered Klein could either be sent for readjustment or termination so he just needed to stay off-grid. This is where Klein reconnects to his "old friend" Xav Radke. And from here we are led into an adventure of eminent revolt, sabotage, retribution, a potential death knell causing sickness for all citizens, and making final and a permanent and cemented relationship between Klein and Xav.
3. A Forest For The Trees
An interesting concept in that a tree is the narrator and Global warming is told from Nature's point of view.
I did get an ARC of this book & I have included the following stories in my review:
1. The Homestead At The Beginning Of The World
This is the best of all the stories in this book in my opinion. A message of acceptance no matter who you are. There isn't any smexy in this, only an attraction that both males are hesitant to capitalize on. In this story there are survivors of an alien invasion from the Derjviks who messed with human DNA to make them bigger, stronger, less reliant on food, etc. Sam is a futuristic farmer of the natural order of things. Dr. Kjell (say Shell) Eriksen is a product of this DNA recipe is as a botanist coming to Sam Funmaker's farm to learn his growing techniques. In my opinion this is the best and the nicest M/M story of this whole selection.
2. Upgrade
What I read here was an AI story. Klein is an AI with anorbit circuit that needs repair. To me this is a story of ethics, Klein needs said upgrade to get him into the Dimech's Top Modder Challenge. As the upgrade was made he also had to have his Ot5 upgraded which affected his "member" performance. Klein wasn't too happy about this as it could draw the attention of their ruling government. If discovered Klein could either be sent for readjustment or termination so he just needed to stay off-grid. This is where Klein reconnects to his "old friend" Xav Radke. And from here we are led into an adventure of eminent revolt, sabotage, retribution, a potential death knell causing sickness for all citizens, and making final and a permanent and cemented relationship between Klein and Xav.
3. A Forest For The Trees
An interesting concept in that a tree is the narrator and Global warming is told from Nature's point of view.
April 20, 2021
The Review
What a powerful and moving anthology of sci-fi, dystopian and apocalyptic stories. This collection stands out with some incredible storytelling and character development, bringing to life some very real and relatable characters in dark and trying situations. The pacing was great, as each story did a great job of setting up its own story and maintaining momentum as the darker aspects of the narrative unraveled and the hope became more and more apparent.
Hope was the aspect of this anthology that really spoke to me. The theme and tone of something like hope is really stark contrast to the typical apocalyptic anthology narrative, and each other did a great job of showcasing how solutions to these problems could bring that hope to life. One story, in particular, was incredibly moving and emotional, and that was J. Scott Coatsworth’s “Rise”. The emotional story of a lost city being reclaimed and its citizens returning after decades away was a truly touching moment in this collection, and in a time where we are still in a pandemic, this message was assuredly needed.
The Verdict
A memorable, heartfelt, and creative sci-fi and dystopian apocalyptic anthology, “Fix the World” is a masterpiece of writing and each other has done a great job of not only bringing their individual stories to life but making each story feel connected and important all at once. A book readers won’t want to put down, this collection inspires hope and gives readers everywhere the creative inspiration to face these challenges head-on themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
What a powerful and moving anthology of sci-fi, dystopian and apocalyptic stories. This collection stands out with some incredible storytelling and character development, bringing to life some very real and relatable characters in dark and trying situations. The pacing was great, as each story did a great job of setting up its own story and maintaining momentum as the darker aspects of the narrative unraveled and the hope became more and more apparent.
Hope was the aspect of this anthology that really spoke to me. The theme and tone of something like hope is really stark contrast to the typical apocalyptic anthology narrative, and each other did a great job of showcasing how solutions to these problems could bring that hope to life. One story, in particular, was incredibly moving and emotional, and that was J. Scott Coatsworth’s “Rise”. The emotional story of a lost city being reclaimed and its citizens returning after decades away was a truly touching moment in this collection, and in a time where we are still in a pandemic, this message was assuredly needed.
The Verdict
A memorable, heartfelt, and creative sci-fi and dystopian apocalyptic anthology, “Fix the World” is a masterpiece of writing and each other has done a great job of not only bringing their individual stories to life but making each story feel connected and important all at once. A book readers won’t want to put down, this collection inspires hope and gives readers everywhere the creative inspiration to face these challenges head-on themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
April 22, 2021
This was a good collection of stories set in very different worlds. Here are some highlights:
In Light: 3 stars
This was just a really weird story for me. Some of the terminology was just thrown in there without much explanation at first, so I was confused as to what a parahelion was. The story was ok, I liked the romance between Hav and Agent Svgara. The two of them were not so subtly tiptoeing around each other. The world was ok but it took me much longer than I would have liked to get into the story.
From Sun and Scorched Earth: 5 stars
I really liked this story about an ex-mech operator and the boy who is obsessed with him. The feelings in this book were so great. I really enjoyed the post apocalyptic world that was created. The author did a great job of giving the characters life. I really liked Leo and thought that his character was so strong for everything that he went through and I loved watching how Lukas slowly broke through his walls.
Upgrade: 5 stars
By far my favorite of the anthology. It was a great take on how gender is perceived in the future, and I loved the way that Alex Silver writes. This is by far the most explicit story and I liked that about the story but if explicit m/m is not your forte then you might want to skip this one. The plot was great and fast moving. I really enjoyed this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it.
In Light: 3 stars
This was just a really weird story for me. Some of the terminology was just thrown in there without much explanation at first, so I was confused as to what a parahelion was. The story was ok, I liked the romance between Hav and Agent Svgara. The two of them were not so subtly tiptoeing around each other. The world was ok but it took me much longer than I would have liked to get into the story.
From Sun and Scorched Earth: 5 stars
I really liked this story about an ex-mech operator and the boy who is obsessed with him. The feelings in this book were so great. I really enjoyed the post apocalyptic world that was created. The author did a great job of giving the characters life. I really liked Leo and thought that his character was so strong for everything that he went through and I loved watching how Lukas slowly broke through his walls.
Upgrade: 5 stars
By far my favorite of the anthology. It was a great take on how gender is perceived in the future, and I loved the way that Alex Silver writes. This is by far the most explicit story and I liked that about the story but if explicit m/m is not your forte then you might want to skip this one. The plot was great and fast moving. I really enjoyed this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it.
August 27, 2022
There's lots of ways to break the world, and plenty of diverse, interesting ways to fix it. There's twelve good examples in this engaging, enjoyable, extremely inclusive, joyously LBGTQ+ anthology. I'll mention my three favorite stories - however, I really did like the entire collection.
If you like sassy, boldly sexy sci-fi, watch for "Upgrade". My mental images were *way* more entertaining than I should probably be admitting to!
"The Call of the Wold" is a magnificent celebration of the experience and wisdom that can only be achieved through the act of growing old. I consider this story to be a backlash to the catch-phrase retort I've grown tired of seeing all over social media, "Okay, Boomer". Older readers will feel empowered. Younger readers will realize that people of all ages have true value, and need each other.
"The Homestead at the Beginning of the World" is a lovely, cozy story with a deliberately Hobbitish feel. For a welcome change of pace, we're not the ones who destroyed our own planet, this time around it was a horrific alien invasion. I do wish this particular story had been given a final edit - there's many typos and missing punctuation. But just blow past those, as the story is worth much more than the nitpick.
If you like sassy, boldly sexy sci-fi, watch for "Upgrade". My mental images were *way* more entertaining than I should probably be admitting to!
"The Call of the Wold" is a magnificent celebration of the experience and wisdom that can only be achieved through the act of growing old. I consider this story to be a backlash to the catch-phrase retort I've grown tired of seeing all over social media, "Okay, Boomer". Older readers will feel empowered. Younger readers will realize that people of all ages have true value, and need each other.
"The Homestead at the Beginning of the World" is a lovely, cozy story with a deliberately Hobbitish feel. For a welcome change of pace, we're not the ones who destroyed our own planet, this time around it was a horrific alien invasion. I do wish this particular story had been given a final edit - there's many typos and missing punctuation. But just blow past those, as the story is worth much more than the nitpick.
May 1, 2021
Fix the World is a collection of twelve stories by twelve different authors about a hopeful future, where solutions to different problems we face today actually exist. The crises we are currently facing are usually already resolved, and the characters are building their own world.
I don’t think that I need to elaborate too much on the appeals of this book. It is 2021, and we really all could use some hope. The stories are good, tackling different issues and giving us futures where people have survived difficult times, and are still people, living normal lives. My personal favorite was “Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven?”, that addressed some very interesting questions about guilt and who we are ready to collaborate with in order to achieve our global goal of a better future. Second and third favorites are probably “Rise”, where they recover the now sunken city of Venice, and “Ice in D Minor”, where they need to put up a concert on the North Pole for some machines that are supposed to cool the atmosphere and for some reason run on music. Both of these made me cry pretty hard, but it was the good kind of crying.
I don’t think that I need to elaborate too much on the appeals of this book. It is 2021, and we really all could use some hope. The stories are good, tackling different issues and giving us futures where people have survived difficult times, and are still people, living normal lives. My personal favorite was “Who Shall Reap the Grain of Heaven?”, that addressed some very interesting questions about guilt and who we are ready to collaborate with in order to achieve our global goal of a better future. Second and third favorites are probably “Rise”, where they recover the now sunken city of Venice, and “Ice in D Minor”, where they need to put up a concert on the North Pole for some machines that are supposed to cool the atmosphere and for some reason run on music. Both of these made me cry pretty hard, but it was the good kind of crying.
April 15, 2021
I love multiauthor anthologies because is a treat to read how each author made their interpretation of a given topic. This book combines several interesting themes with stories about our future, another futures, dystopian, utopias and more, sometimes with sweet and cute romance, other with intense emotions and heartfelt moments but all just perfect. The book took my heart and got it captive until the very last page.
I enjoyed a lot every single story, but these 3 were my favorites:
In light by Mere Rain is a witty story about evolution and how we need to understood better what we are doing to our surroundings. A very cute message and a very witty twist. Loved it.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid García. My favorite of the entire book, it has some interesting characters, unexpected "ghosts" and a sweet romance. A very interesting short story.
Upgrade by Alex Silver. An exciting intrigue set in a technological dystopia with a little bit of MM flirting with a promise of romance. Great characters and a complex plot. So good!
These 3 stories and 9 more, were perfect to spend a great time while reading them. A wonderful treat!
I enjoyed a lot every single story, but these 3 were my favorites:
In light by Mere Rain is a witty story about evolution and how we need to understood better what we are doing to our surroundings. A very cute message and a very witty twist. Loved it.
Juma and the Quantum Ghost by Ingrid García. My favorite of the entire book, it has some interesting characters, unexpected "ghosts" and a sweet romance. A very interesting short story.
Upgrade by Alex Silver. An exciting intrigue set in a technological dystopia with a little bit of MM flirting with a promise of romance. Great characters and a complex plot. So good!
These 3 stories and 9 more, were perfect to spend a great time while reading them. A wonderful treat!
April 10, 2021
First thing - I haven't finished reading all the stories in this anthology yet, I think it's the kind of thing I will want to dip in and out of but I've read the first 4. When I'm done I will likely come back and edit my review accordingly.
This is an anthology of sci-fi stories, mostly set in a future where humanity has destroyed the planet either through war, or extreme climate change, and the stories I've read so far deal with the fallout from both of those in different ways.
From living in domes, to half of humanity leaving the planet to live in the stars and being seen as angels, to reclaiming the earth and making it viable again to support life it's fun to see how various authors see how the future might be if we carry on without doing something about climate change. As I said, I haven't finished yet, I'll likely go back and finish up the other stories but so far, so good for me.
This is an anthology of sci-fi stories, mostly set in a future where humanity has destroyed the planet either through war, or extreme climate change, and the stories I've read so far deal with the fallout from both of those in different ways.
From living in domes, to half of humanity leaving the planet to live in the stars and being seen as angels, to reclaiming the earth and making it viable again to support life it's fun to see how various authors see how the future might be if we carry on without doing something about climate change. As I said, I haven't finished yet, I'll likely go back and finish up the other stories but so far, so good for me.
April 13, 2021
This was an amazing collection of stories featuring some fantastic authors, all were new were new to me, except two. They mostly focused on environmental issues and how to fix them. I loved how each story varied and had the authors unique twist on the stories! The stories were speculative and fantastic. If I had to pick a favorite it would a tie been A Forest for the Trees by Rachel Hope Crossman and Upgrade by Alex Silver. All the stories were fantastical! I ended up not being able to put my kindle down, sooo good! I am voluntarily leaving a review from an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
April 10, 2021
Who says fiction can’t save the world? These brilliant authors all share their heartfelt stories of change, loss, and hope that will make the reader feel ready to face an uncertain world. Standout stories for me were Rise by J. Scott Coatsworth, At The Movies by D.M. Rasch, and From The Sun and Scorched Earth by Bryan Cebulski. I love anthologies with a common theme and these stories allow you to dip your toes into speculative fiction in an accessible way.
April 11, 2021
What a beautiful book! It was exactly what I needed to read. Each of the dozen stories in this anthology focuses on hope rising from a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting. There is a broad range of settings in this book, but the glimmering thread of hope weaves through each one. I enjoyed reading each story, but I especially liked the ones that focused on building a family. My absolute favorite was Jennifer Povey's "As Njord and Skadi;" this one was an emotional gut-punch of awesomeness.
May 27, 2022
I liked it, and I'm giving it the extra story because these were actual stories, not story fragments. Actual beginnings and endings with a climax before it ends.
The stories were also good, and it was interesting reading stories from gay viewpoints. (Yes, if reading about same-sex couples and attractions bothers you, don't read this.) A good variety, and while I skipped one or two, it was only because the story itself didn't interest me.
The stories were also good, and it was interesting reading stories from gay viewpoints. (Yes, if reading about same-sex couples and attractions bothers you, don't read this.) A good variety, and while I skipped one or two, it was only because the story itself didn't interest me.
April 25, 2021
Absolutely loved this diverse anthology set in a world after climate change.
Each story was unique, diverse and well written.
The characters were real, relatable and unique.
The writing styles of the authors was poignant, heartfelt and emotional.
A much needed diverse read
Each story was unique, diverse and well written.
The characters were real, relatable and unique.
The writing styles of the authors was poignant, heartfelt and emotional.
A much needed diverse read
October 29, 2021
This book is fantastic, you get twelve stories by different authors about future solutions to our world. It covers climate changes, war,and how communities come together to find ways to live and survive. The solutions are innovative and thought provoking.
June 14, 2022
This is a must read! I really enjoyed this selection of climate short stories! Great to dip in & out of for a quick escape! Well written, a large diverse collection & well worth your time! I do recommend!
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April 19, 2021I loved this collection! Hope is my jam and these stories filled me with the good stuff. Check it out!
June 18, 2021
not a bad collection of stories, one or two were more cyberpunk than solarpunk IMO but worth putting in the Solarpunk genre overall
August 4, 2021
Against all odds, I still believe in humanity. This is why.
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