[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, June 17, 2024

“The Big Easy” by Joanne Rixon

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

“The Big Easy” by Joanne Rixon takes place about half a century in the future. Climate change has brought refugees from tropical areas and the southernmost parts of the United States to northern regions. The main characters are such dispersed persons, now operating a coffee kiosk and a food truck in the state of Washington.

This is a slice-of-life of the future, with little plot. The most dramatic event is a temporary traffic jam. Although the climate disaster is treated as a very serious event, the author also depicts technological changes indicating that life will go on despite such a challenge. This might be considered a work of hopepunk. As such, it is a refreshing change from apocalyptic fiction.

Victoria Silverwolf went to a lavender farm today.