Science Fiction: The Short Stuff discussion

The second short story on offer this month is "Calved" by Sam J. Miller. This story first appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, September 2015, and was nominated for a Locus award. It too can be found in Forever Magazine, Issue 16, May 2016 among other places. It's been anthologized a lot, here: The Very Best of the Best: 35 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction, for example.

The short story "Calved" is a near-future climate fiction tale about an immigrant father, Dom, who works on an iceboat harvesting freshwater from Arctic glaciers to sell to drought-stricken nations after global flooding has destroyed cities like New York. The story focuses on Dom's strained relationship with his son, Thede, who resents his long absences and struggles to connect with his father amidst this near-apocalyptic world. The narrative explores themes of loss, father-son bonds, the struggle for connection, and the emotional toll of environmental disaster.

Wow! Modern SF authors sure can world build. Unlike in the days of yore they never hit you in the face with it via data dump. They just assume they can impart what the reader needs to know as they go. Written well, they're right. Sam J. Miller makes it look easy.

I must admit I am not much on the eco story. I mean the environment has been a thing ever since the concern started in the '60s. But follower of fashion I've never been. I recognize environmentalism's importance, but that still doesn't make me particularly passionate about the subject. Melting glaciers ruining NYC somehow makes me tired verging on bored. This aspect of the story will probably be appreciated by those who appreciate the gravity of that subject more.

Still, I have to give this story as high a rating as 3.5 stars because there is a human element to bring it together that at first seemed like drama churn to me. Nevertheless, it really captures teenage boys' attitudes well. The verisimilitude of the father's situation, and then the son's, and the tragedy of it all, drew me in even though I didn't want to be.