Aurealis“Refuse” by Andrew Nathan Roberts
“Life in the Dirt” by Henry Neilson
“Angie’s Triumph” by Erin Munzenberger
Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf
Three science fiction stories with grim moods appear in the latest issue of this Australian publication.
The narrator of “Refuse” by Andrew Nathan Roberts lives on the surface of a world inhabited by human beings ruled by aliens who dwell in an orbiting city above them. He has no memory of his past. A visit from the aliens leads to flashbacks of his previous life.
This overly simplified synopsis fails to point out that the story is full of violence from the start. When the narrator is threatened, he goes into a fugue state and attacks, making it clear that he is an enhanced warrior. The recovery of his memory leads to a climax that is a triumph, of sorts, but one that carries an extremely high price. Fans of grimdark science fiction are likely to enjoy this brooding, blood-soaked tale, but others may find the conclusion overly tragic.
“Life in the Dirt” by Henry Neilson is set in a future world where machines harvest all life on Earth, using it to create inexplicable, gigantic structures. The few remaining humans survive only on the lichen that grows on pillars supporting the structures. The young narrator meets an older woman, who explains how the world got this way.
As this synopsis may suggest, much of the story consists of exposition, in the form of the elderly woman’s conversation with the narrator. There is little plot, as there is no hope that the situation can change. The premise is unique and interesting, but one might wish that more were done with it other than just describing it.
“Angie’s Triumph” by Erin Munzenberger takes place in an apocalyptic setting where genetically altered and mutated creatures threaten the lives of humans barely surviving a dangerous environment. The narrator is accompanied by a gigantic, genetically engineered dog with enhancements so deadly that it can easily destroy the automobiles driven by reptilian humanoids. The narrator saves a young woman pursued by the flesh-eating lizard people, leading to a shocking climax.
Obviously, this is a melodramatic tale, its car chases and monsters reminiscent of those found in action-packed science fiction movies. Readers are likely to find the conclusion disturbing.
Victoria Silverwolf hopes to avoid living in a grim future.