Status Updates From Future Tense: Tales of Apo...

A charmingly naive and oversimplified approach to establishing family unity makes the ending of this story too endearing to dislike.

This last story is a crappy version of The House That Death Built and strains credulity to the breaking point in between prurient appeals to primitive impulses and anxieties.

The novella tacked onto the end of this short story collection is an inchoate version of the previously published Strangers and it's undeniably a less polished effort. The unreliable narrator structure is hackneyed, but forgivable, whereas character inconsistencies and illogical plot developments unravel the tenuous hold MBC had already achieved.

"The Button Man": 4/5 - a child is forced to bear witness to the torture inflicted by victims of a nuclear holocaust on its alleged perpetrators. A pervasive discomfort pays off at the conclusion of the story, emphasizing the already powerful message. A touching author's note, in addition.

"I Can Do This All Night": 3/5 - a gruesome revenge fantasy about a woman who is physically abused by her husband.

"That'll Sell": 3/5 - a George RR Martin-esque author's fictional universe has real world implications. Fun and inventive.

"End of Shift": 3/5 - a very short but entertaining look at an iconic mythical figure in an apocalyptic setting. Good twist ending.

"The Shortest Con": 4/5 - revisiting a previous story (The Longest Con) with a new scenario, this tale of a fantasy comic-con attended by supernatural creatures is packed with humor and wit. Not intended to be disturbing or scary (for the most part), this one is just a lot of fun.

Michaelbrent channeling his inner Terry Pratchett here. Well done absurdity.

Collings sharp wit is on full display in this 5th entry of the collection. Hard to believe he doesn't write more in this mode, he's so good at it.

"Lucid Dreams": 4/5 - another thought-provoking meditation on mental illness, this one resonates powerfully in its presentation of a fictional school shooter.

"The Floor is Lava": 4/5 - an old friend is invited to a special gathering held by a now internationally famous celebrity where the introduction of mind-altering substances adds an element of unpredictability to an otherwise restrained crowd. The festivities eventually move on to a party game that becomes much more serious than the guests initially expect.

"I Am An Ocean": 4/5 - a truly disturbing dystopian tale about the lengths to which an artificial intelligence will go to protect itself, and keep human beings occupied and obedient. Some thought-provoking philosophical content and an interesting afterword.