Elentarri’s Reviews > The Collected Stories > Status Update

Nightfall (also title 'The Curse') ★★★☆☆ An atmospheric, but chilling and bleak, matter-of-fact description of the devastation caused to a small town immediate aftermath of a global nuclear war that has wiped out mankind. In the end, the town is revealed as Stratford-upon-Avon, with the epitaph on the grave of William Shakespeare providing the location of the story.

Inheritance ★★★☆☆ This one has mystical elements. A test pilot survives a rocket crash and informs his co-workers that anything that occurs before the premonition-like dream in his youth will not be fatal. As is usual with these nebulous premonition-dreams, all is not as it seems. The story explores themes of inheritance not just as genetic legacy but as an intuitive foresight guiding human exploration of space.

The Fires Within ★★★★☆ A bit long, but has a nice twisty ending. Told in a (found) report format, a professor develops advanced sonar technology to investigate geological structures, and finds something unusual deep underground. I like these fun and intelligent short stories.

Castaway ★★★★☆ This original and atmospheric little story follows a sentient cloud of charged ions - born in the sun's photosphere, ripped away by a solar disturbance, and drifting through the cold void of space, eventually descending into one of Earth's oceans. A nice change of perspective.

Technical Error ★★★★☆The unintended consequences of industrial accidents. A technician is "laterally inverted" following an industrial accident. Some guesswork and a miserly fiscal policy result in a repeat experiment to reverse the effects of the accident, with more unintended results. Some of the story is a bit technical if you are not familiar with basic molecular biology or theoretical physics

Rescue Party ★★★★☆ A bit long, but with an interesting end. An advanced alien "federation" discovers that Earth's sun will explode and sends a ship to rescue humanity. Expecting a primitive species, the aliens arrive to find a deserted planet. The story highlights the rapid, unpredictable potential of humanity. This story also has an interesting collection of aliens.

Loophole ❤️ ★★★★★ Written shortly after World War II, the story highlights the rapid, unforeseen advancements in science and the potential for a "loophole" in restrictive technology treaties. Told in the form of Martian military correspondences, in which the Martians threaten Earth if Earth doesn't stop developing atomic bombs/rocket technology, to prevent space travel. Earth complies. Beware loopholes!

Whacky ⯪☆☆☆☆This experimental "story" did not appeal to me at all. A handfull of short, absurd, nonsensical surreal conversations. Bleh.

The Awakening ❤️ ★★★★⯪ A terminally ill protagonist, known as "the Master," places himself in suspended animation to be revived in a future when medical technology is advanced enough to cure him. Mountains fall and mountains rise. Eons pass before the Master is accidentally awakened to a shocking discovery. Evocative language and a nice, surprise ending.

The Awakening ❤️ ★★★★⯪ A terminally ill protagonist, known as "the Master," places himself in suspended animation to be revived in a future when medical technology is advanced enough to cure him. Mountains fall and mountains rise. Eons pass before the Master is accidentally awakened to a shocking discovery. Evocative language and a nice, surprise ending.