mrsbluejay's review against another edition
2.0
This collection is a strange mix. All stories are interesting in their own way, but I only really liked two of them: Xibalba Dreams of the West by André Silva and Sun in the Heart by Roberta Spindler.
In all other stories there was at least some amount of machismo present that might be typical and an indication for the sad reality in Brazil and Portugal. I must admit that's one of the main reasons most of this anthology fell flat for me.
Most of the stories had a late 70s/early 80s feel to them and felt outdated despite the intruiging ideas presented in them. I feel like seeing a list of each author's main influences would be quite revealing.
In all other stories there was at least some amount of machismo present that might be typical and an indication for the sad reality in Brazil and Portugal. I must admit that's one of the main reasons most of this anthology fell flat for me.
Most of the stories had a late 70s/early 80s feel to them and felt outdated despite the intruiging ideas presented in them. I feel like seeing a list of each author's main influences would be quite revealing.
morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
3.0
The rains are almost through. Our measurements are perfect. Our ominous prediction of the near future is your reality. With each new cycle, the water is less abundant, the thunder less thunderous, and lightening, the blood of our life, less brilliant.
Anticipating this fact was our job. That’s what we did. We walked the path of the storm to its cradle. We followed the trail of the wind. But the wind has no voice. We prayed. And we prayed so much to be wrong.
—excerpt from Xibalba Dreams of the West by André S. SIlva
This 2012 Brazilian anthology, translated to English by Fábio Fernandes, and published first thru Kickstarter in 2018 contains nine authors not only working in the genre of solarpunk but larger scifi, speculative, alternate histories, political, thrillers, noir, and even gothic traits to these stories. From a country that does have in the real world a high majority percentage of its energy from renewable sources it is important to the canon of solarpunk that these examples are available in translation. Especially since many strike a very different tone, resisting utopian associations of the genre. And why not, the sun after all is both life-giving and destructive. Humanity also what is made up out of it for good and bad.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Cannibalism, Violence, Cancer, Blood, and Death
Other content notes are terrorism, global infection, religious cult, and loss of a sibling.lilopalu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
This short story collection provides an interesting perspective on Brasil and on possible futures in which we are no longer relying on our current technologies. But these futures are far from utopias and I really liked that. The stories are imaginative and there is a nice mix of different stories. Not all writing styles were for me, but I really liked to read stories from a variety of new-to-me authors.
blauerbuchling's review against another edition
3.0
Sadly enough not as interesting as I thought it would be. There were a few stories I really liked, but the rest of them didn’t really feel like solarpunk to me, and the last story was difficult for me to finish because it just couldn’t really hook me. However, that’s just my personal opinion and there are a few interesting ideas in this anthology, so it can’t hurt to give it a try.
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