/lit/ - Literature

>>19644087
After the Apocalypse - Maureen F. McHugh (2011)

McHugh's focus is on small scale, often on the individual level, near future science fiction. Her works are often understated and usually strive for realism. Some would probably say that they're intended to be literary. China Mountain Zhang (1992), her novel, is much the same way. Many of her stories casually include various contemporary pop culture references. Most of the stories are like a short dip into the lives of the characters, similar to a "a day in the life" sort of documentary.

The Naturalist (2010)
Criminals are sent to a zombie preserve. These are the slow and dumb sort of zombies. The pro-zombie protagonist likes to experiment with them. There are air raids from time to time. So, it's basically a free-range prison gang story plus zombies.
Meh

Special Economics (2008)
A Chinese teenager is a wannabe rapper, but that doesn't pay the bills. So, she ends up with an exploitative company that entraps its workers with debt. If this story was written today, it'd probably be about the relationship between Xianjing and US corporations.
Ok

Useless Things (2009)
A woman who is barely getting by and lives alone has been designated on a website as a safe location for hobos/economic migrants to visit on their travels, which makes her feel vulnerable, which leads to fear. She makes dolls that look like newborn infants which she calls reborns and sells them online. Strangely, she's had a repeat customer for exactly the same doll for three years in a row. Also, she makes dildos. Kind of me makes me think of it like the life of someone who sells on Etsy.
Ok

The Lost Boy: A Reporter At Large (2007)
This is written in the style of a human interest article as would appear in a newspaper or magazine. It focuses on the life of a teenager who may or may not have lost his memory and who years ago was affected by a terrorist attack, as were many others.
Meh

The Kingdom of the Blind (2008)
Their computer systems are all named after Voodoo terms, because they don't really have any idea how the black box AI works. When mysterious events begin happening, they discuss various thought experiments with each other. Maybe the AI has become conscious, or maybe it hasn't, either way it isn't our concern.
Meh

Going to France (2008)
A brief existential crisis following a meeting with a trio who can fly. Maybe soon many will fly.
Blah

Honeymoon (2011)
A woman who is in economic precarity does medical studies to make a bit of extra cash. If anything goes wrong, it's best not to dwell on it. Nothing can be done anyway. Escapism is all we have.
Meh

The Effect of Centrifugal Forces (2011)
A teenage girl's mother is dying and the girl can't cope, so she seethes at her family, because all she knows is angst. It reminded me of my father's teenage years, including the ending.
Blah

After the Apocalypse (2011)
Not all women are maternal, let alone nurturing, and sometimes having a child is a mistake.
Meh