I Wasn't Expecting This to be So Unbelievably My Shit!

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing as I periodically make my way through the Audible Included library and this was an absolute gem that came out of nowhere and blew me away. There were a number of moments that had me worried about the perspective and portrayal of the groups involved, but this is a miracle of not being milquetoast, liberal-centre right sci-fi, and actually took an honest look at an impossible situation.

First of all, the premise might not be the most original of all time, but it is a perfect storm of circumstances and characters for real human drama explored through colony sci-fi. The Sun is coming to the end of its life, so it's all hands on deck to send peoole beyond the Solar System to inhabitable planets for colonisation. Unfortunately, reflecting the reality of out current capitalist hellscape, the colonial efforts are controlled by a mega corp, the Wayland Utani of this universe. This means due diligence isn't done in ensuring planets are habitable and colonists are not supplied with anywhere near realistic resources to survive -- a 'dandelion' approach. When it turns out the a little on the nose named, Valhalla, is not a comforting Mediterranean climate (the hard sci-fi of planets having one biome doesn't really need to be addressed here and we have always let Star Wars get away with it), but has all but entered an ice age in the time it has taken for the colony ship to reach it. This puts our POV character, the captain, at odds with the representative for the colonists, and by extension the thousands of people in cryo, as it is company policy to kick them out with a sombre, 'it sucks to be you', making no extra provisions for the largely doomed population. It is made clear that everyone aboard is a civilian with the captain and crew simply 'doing their jobs' as they await their own turn to be a colonist. However, the captain is the executor of the company's mandates, with his own fears for his family and the potential lives lost if any more provisions or time are allowed to the colonists. The colonists aren't going to roll over and die, so the two groups find themselves locked in a rather heartbreaking and wonderfully planned and conceptualided conflict.

The tension and impossibility of the situation from the perspectives the two sides are approaching it is such a perfect premise for a short story. I will not leave any spoilers, the above literally being the set up situation, and I will simply say that there is a thoughtfulness and honest bravery in which the author portrays the situation and fallout.

My only criticism is that I want to see more! I absolutely need to read more of this author now for sure. Also, while I understand and appreciate the restraint in not hammering the politics of the end so hard, especially as it will make it more palatable and have more effect making people think, I would love to have delved into the politics and organisation. Admittedly, I am a huge nerd for the depth of philosophy and dissembling current political assumptions found in the works of Urusla K le Guin, Octavia Butler, and others.

I'm just so pleasantly surprised and jazzed to have randomly read this! ( )

A very short story that I'm glad was free. I had an extra 30 minutes so picked this up It was fine. It is so middle of the road as far as short stories go that this is all I can say about it. Final Grade - C ( )