A review by beneatthetrees
After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling
5.0
I give this book a 10/10, all of the stories went together nicely while being intelligent and able to hold their heads up high saying "We all make sense and make you want to read more! But that sucks to be you because there might not be more!"
Segment by Genevieve Valentine
This story was very interesting, it really made me think of the significance of actors in the present time, the characters were interesting and although one girl was very irritating her annoying-ness wasn't without reason. Great story.
After the Cure by Carrie Ryan
This story was so incredible, with zombies/vampires (an interesting mix in and of itself)that are being cured and left to fit into a society with a hatred towards them. The story was intense and managed to resolve itself within it's designated twenty pages. Another great story
Valedictorian by N.K. Jemisms
With cyborg/alien/droids taking away from humans (who are degenerating into a nasty race of the desperate and dumb) this short tale makes you question what exactly is humanity? Who has the real understanding of how to be great? With such deep questions it's amazing this manages to answer them withing it's boundaries without getting lengthy and boring.
Visiting Nelson by Katherine Langrish
Drugs are bad for you kids, you could turn into a nasty, vile, hairy beast! At least, in this story you can. With a boy and his older mentally disabled brother escaping a drug dealer to find their own "god"-like figure together the story powers through without losing any interest value and makes you wonder 'well, what are they? Little Sasquatches??' It's new and a bit... alarming. But it's crazy interesting, I loved it.
All I Know of Freedom by Carol Emshwiller
This is another great story, an ex-slave girl escapes and joins an almost Amish-like post apocalyptic religious group that are preparing for the coming of "something" to take them away to the promised land. This one was a little too weird for me and I did have questions afterward. But it was still quite good to read.
The Other Elder by Beth Revis
I'll be honest here, this story kind of annoyed me. I've read the first two Across the Universe books in the series, but I was curious to see new stories and new settings. I didn't want a shameless plug of her story, it felt unnecessary and it made me lose interest as soon as I realized it was something I'd already read for the most part.
The Great Game at the End of the World by Matthew Kressel
This story was weird. I didn't like it, I mean there were ghosts, robot-things, and aliens with millions of eyes on their bodies or several heads? I don't know it felt thrown together and not very well though out, I was confused and it didn't hold my interest very well.
Reunion by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I liked this story, it felt vaguely World War Two, with terror reigning and that same dark Nazi feeling to it. It was interesting but not great, it wasn't very memorable.
Blood Drive by Jeffrey Ford
This wasn't a very memorable story to me as it felt more like an excuse to blast apart everyone and it all happened so quickly that I didn't know what to think. Not my favorite one.
Reality Girl by Richard Bowes
This story felt like "There's too much going on here. You need to simplify." This is just a short story but it felt too swollen for so short of a story. It wasn't my favorite.
How Th'irth Wint Rong By Hapless Joey @ Homeskool.Guv by Gregory Maguire
Honestly. I'm just going to not talk about this one. I hate when words are misspelled in stories to add "character" yeah we get that he's not too bright but how exactly has the intelligence level fallen so far within such a short time period, surely if the woman who is adding her two cents in can spell so well and speak so well, she can home school this poor unintelligent boy?
Rust with Wings by Steven Gould
I really liked this story, the new species of bugs that thrived on eating metal was very interesting, I loved it. Especially after hearing of the new threat of metal teeth or the pacemaker within the boy's father's chest. It was action packed and very very cool. I'd definitely wish this one was made into an actual book one day.
Faint Heart by Sarah Rees Brennan
UGH ThIS STORY. I nearly cried at the end when I realized it wasn't going to be an actual novel. This was brilliant, well-written and incredibly interesting, it was like the Hunger Games meets The Selection. I loved it, it was my absolute favorite and I truly hope this becomes an actual story soon.
The Easthound by Nalo Hopkinson
I enjoyed this story greatly, it's like werewolves mixed with Huckleberry Finn almost, it's a group of kids who are terrified of being taken by the curse and fear eating each other but it manages to tie together the children and make an unforgettable story that tugs on your compassion and respect
Gray by Jane Yolen
I'm sorry, I'm not a huge fan of poetry when I'm looking forward to short stories...
The Marker by Cecil Castellucci
I loved how interesting I found this. It was reminiscent of Birthmarked, which I LOVED, but managed to be it's own story about how what's commonly believed is not always right and shouldn't just be taken at face-value. I loved this story it was very interesting and immersing.
Fake Plastic Trees by Caitlin R. Kiernan
This story reminded me of Carrie Ryan's book the Forest of Hands and Teeth, it had the same emotion behind it and was very incredible to read. I found it haunting and intriguing. This story was a great read and my second-favorite only to Faint of Heart.
You Won't Feel A Thing by Garth Nix
Another plug from an author of an already created story, I haven't read the novel but this prologue didn't capture my attention because it already existed somewhere, I just wanted to read stories made up completely separate from other writings as an example of their creativity and writing prowess. Although the story was good it had a bit of a sexual undertone that I wasn't particularly fond of, seeing as how the lead character's main power is to seduce people. I wasn't very fond of it but the writing was still amazing and captures attention very well.
Before by Carolyn Dunn
This made me very sad, I hated how they treated this little girl for her blood but as sad as the story was it was well written up until the end, I don't know how I could've missed something since there were so few pages, but it felt like I did at the end when everything stops but it isn't fully explained how or why it was.
Segment by Genevieve Valentine
This story was very interesting, it really made me think of the significance of actors in the present time, the characters were interesting and although one girl was very irritating her annoying-ness wasn't without reason. Great story.
After the Cure by Carrie Ryan
This story was so incredible, with zombies/vampires (an interesting mix in and of itself)that are being cured and left to fit into a society with a hatred towards them. The story was intense and managed to resolve itself within it's designated twenty pages. Another great story
Valedictorian by N.K. Jemisms
With cyborg/alien/droids taking away from humans (who are degenerating into a nasty race of the desperate and dumb) this short tale makes you question what exactly is humanity? Who has the real understanding of how to be great? With such deep questions it's amazing this manages to answer them withing it's boundaries without getting lengthy and boring.
Visiting Nelson by Katherine Langrish
Drugs are bad for you kids, you could turn into a nasty, vile, hairy beast! At least, in this story you can. With a boy and his older mentally disabled brother escaping a drug dealer to find their own "god"-like figure together the story powers through without losing any interest value and makes you wonder 'well, what are they? Little Sasquatches??' It's new and a bit... alarming. But it's crazy interesting, I loved it.
All I Know of Freedom by Carol Emshwiller
This is another great story, an ex-slave girl escapes and joins an almost Amish-like post apocalyptic religious group that are preparing for the coming of "something" to take them away to the promised land. This one was a little too weird for me and I did have questions afterward. But it was still quite good to read.
The Other Elder by Beth Revis
I'll be honest here, this story kind of annoyed me. I've read the first two Across the Universe books in the series, but I was curious to see new stories and new settings. I didn't want a shameless plug of her story, it felt unnecessary and it made me lose interest as soon as I realized it was something I'd already read for the most part.
The Great Game at the End of the World by Matthew Kressel
This story was weird. I didn't like it, I mean there were ghosts, robot-things, and aliens with millions of eyes on their bodies or several heads? I don't know it felt thrown together and not very well though out, I was confused and it didn't hold my interest very well.
Reunion by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I liked this story, it felt vaguely World War Two, with terror reigning and that same dark Nazi feeling to it. It was interesting but not great, it wasn't very memorable.
Blood Drive by Jeffrey Ford
This wasn't a very memorable story to me as it felt more like an excuse to blast apart everyone and it all happened so quickly that I didn't know what to think. Not my favorite one.
Reality Girl by Richard Bowes
This story felt like "There's too much going on here. You need to simplify." This is just a short story but it felt too swollen for so short of a story. It wasn't my favorite.
How Th'irth Wint Rong By Hapless Joey @ Homeskool.Guv by Gregory Maguire
Honestly. I'm just going to not talk about this one. I hate when words are misspelled in stories to add "character" yeah we get that he's not too bright but how exactly has the intelligence level fallen so far within such a short time period, surely if the woman who is adding her two cents in can spell so well and speak so well, she can home school this poor unintelligent boy?
Rust with Wings by Steven Gould
I really liked this story, the new species of bugs that thrived on eating metal was very interesting, I loved it. Especially after hearing of the new threat of metal teeth or the pacemaker within the boy's father's chest. It was action packed and very very cool. I'd definitely wish this one was made into an actual book one day.
Faint Heart by Sarah Rees Brennan
UGH ThIS STORY. I nearly cried at the end when I realized it wasn't going to be an actual novel. This was brilliant, well-written and incredibly interesting, it was like the Hunger Games meets The Selection. I loved it, it was my absolute favorite and I truly hope this becomes an actual story soon.
The Easthound by Nalo Hopkinson
I enjoyed this story greatly, it's like werewolves mixed with Huckleberry Finn almost, it's a group of kids who are terrified of being taken by the curse and fear eating each other but it manages to tie together the children and make an unforgettable story that tugs on your compassion and respect
Gray by Jane Yolen
I'm sorry, I'm not a huge fan of poetry when I'm looking forward to short stories...
The Marker by Cecil Castellucci
I loved how interesting I found this. It was reminiscent of Birthmarked, which I LOVED, but managed to be it's own story about how what's commonly believed is not always right and shouldn't just be taken at face-value. I loved this story it was very interesting and immersing.
Fake Plastic Trees by Caitlin R. Kiernan
This story reminded me of Carrie Ryan's book the Forest of Hands and Teeth, it had the same emotion behind it and was very incredible to read. I found it haunting and intriguing. This story was a great read and my second-favorite only to Faint of Heart.
You Won't Feel A Thing by Garth Nix
Another plug from an author of an already created story, I haven't read the novel but this prologue didn't capture my attention because it already existed somewhere, I just wanted to read stories made up completely separate from other writings as an example of their creativity and writing prowess. Although the story was good it had a bit of a sexual undertone that I wasn't particularly fond of, seeing as how the lead character's main power is to seduce people. I wasn't very fond of it but the writing was still amazing and captures attention very well.
Before by Carolyn Dunn
This made me very sad, I hated how they treated this little girl for her blood but as sad as the story was it was well written up until the end, I don't know how I could've missed something since there were so few pages, but it felt like I did at the end when everything stops but it isn't fully explained how or why it was.