Pump Six and Other Stories
4 journalers for this copy...
I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop. It's an anthology of tales with SF elements, sometimes shading to dark fantasy. Among my favorites:
"The Fluted Girl", set in a decadent court where the wealthy can have people surgically altered into living musical instruments - who may harbor thoughts of revenge.
"The Calorie Man" deals with a post-ecological-disaster scenario, and mixes high tech with gritty street-rat survivalism.
"The Tamarisk Hunter" plays with all-too-real issues concerning water supplies in the western United States, with water being pumped long distances to support cities that sprang up in waterless deserts. In this not-too-distant-future scenario, there are bounties for destroying the water-hungry plants that drain water along the length of the canals - but the economic situation is changing, and we see how a looming disaster for millions conflicts with one individual's attempt to play the system...
"Pump Six" deals with technological failure in the post-apocalypse - but he's not thinking of dams or power plants; here, he looks at a major sewage-treatment pump and what happens when it begins to fail. There's an all-too-painful look at a dying infrastructure and dwindling numbers of capable workers, and the effects on everyone who took this particular piece of technology for granted.
"Softer" is an old-style will-he-get-away-with-it thriller, very creepy and atmospheric.
[There's a TV Tropes page on the collection, but do beware of spoilers.]
"The Fluted Girl", set in a decadent court where the wealthy can have people surgically altered into living musical instruments - who may harbor thoughts of revenge.
"The Calorie Man" deals with a post-ecological-disaster scenario, and mixes high tech with gritty street-rat survivalism.
"The Tamarisk Hunter" plays with all-too-real issues concerning water supplies in the western United States, with water being pumped long distances to support cities that sprang up in waterless deserts. In this not-too-distant-future scenario, there are bounties for destroying the water-hungry plants that drain water along the length of the canals - but the economic situation is changing, and we see how a looming disaster for millions conflicts with one individual's attempt to play the system...
"Pump Six" deals with technological failure in the post-apocalypse - but he's not thinking of dams or power plants; here, he looks at a major sewage-treatment pump and what happens when it begins to fail. There's an all-too-painful look at a dying infrastructure and dwindling numbers of capable workers, and the effects on everyone who took this particular piece of technology for granted.
"Softer" is an old-style will-he-get-away-with-it thriller, very creepy and atmospheric.
[There's a TV Tropes page on the collection, but do beware of spoilers.]
I'm putting this into the Otherworldly bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Enjoy!
I picked this out of emmejo's Otherworldly Bookbox. I love books with short stories. They are good reads for when times get busy and you can only read a little bit at a time. Thanks for sharing!
I lent this book out to a friend who is a Sci-Fi fan. Hope he enjoys it. :-)
I got this back from my friend and finally got a chance to read this book. A very interesting, yet dark selection of dystopian type Sci-Fi short stories. Some stories are darn right disturbing. Anyway, a great book if you like this sort of genre. I would gladly pick up more of Bacigalupi's tales. I'm reserving this for a bookbox that is coming my way.
Sending this book off on a journey in emmejo’s Otherworldly Bookbox. Happy Travels!
I was the last in line for emmejo’s most recent Otherworldly book box. I didn’t realize the box was lost in my basement in August and only recently discovered as we were packing up items for the library. emmejo is in the process of moving so we agreed that I would pass along those that we won’t read. I apologize for not moving them along sooner!
Journal Entry 8 by BookLovinMama at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Monday, October 28, 2019
Released 4 yrs ago (10/28/2019 UTC) at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
We're participated in several otherworldly book exchanges over the last two years. It's time to pass along some of the books that we've read so that they can continue the journey.
I didn't have an opportunity to read this book and glancing through it, I wouldn't be reading it any time soon, so off it goes!
I didn't have an opportunity to read this book and glancing through it, I wouldn't be reading it any time soon, so off it goes!
Thank you so much for the box of books!