Respirator

by Addison Herron-Wheeler

From desolate wasteland to crumbling society to the deep, cold void of space, Respirator collects visions of the future that pierce the veils of time and space to show us an evolving, perseverant human grace as it faces off against the unknown. Across 28 short stories and poems, Addison Herron-Wheeler presents dystopian tomorrows, poisoned environments, and interstellar explorations through bold speculative snapshots and intimate portraits of human kindness, desperation, and deceit. With each, a common question is Are we brave enough to confront the challenges of the future without losing ourselves along the way?

Genres: Science Fiction, Poetry

100 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2020

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick (only 80 pages) step into our potential future(s). It’s mostly short stories, but there are some poems sprinkled in. In it’s best moments, these are vivid snapshots of people surviving the unforgiving worlds they have been born into, looking for connection in the void. I think the pieces I enjoyed the most were those set on space ships (The Voyage, Bathed in Blue Light, and First Mission). Also, the trouble in paradise flash fiction Rose Garden has stuck with me. Many of the pieces are, I would say, flash fiction, and they’re unsettling (due to the content) but very evocative.

Things are pretty dystopian, pretty sci-fi mostly, but some interesting witchiness creeps in too (Blood and Teeth particularly, but also On Behalf of the Moon I’m Going to Kill You and Departure). The poems compliment the prose quite well, which impressed me. The X-Files poem has wormed its way into my brain even though I have never watched the show.

Worth checking out for sure! I will definitely be checking out Herron-Wheeler’s other fiction.

[Alanna L.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of sci-fi stories makes truth seem as strange as fiction. It was written before COVID-19 and people in the stories have to wear masks to go outside. They face housing shortages, homelessness and many things that the pandemic made all too common in America. Read these foreboding stories if you want to see where America is heading.