One more part for Loosed Upon the World. I actually liked the stories I have selected this time, however, some just didn't set well with the theme in my opinion.
Let's take a look -
The Snows of Yesteryear by Jean-Louis Trudel (pg. 88-110) - 5/5
This short story was very interestingly named as the reveal of the title tie-in wasn't until the end. Overall, The Snows of Yesteryear was an easy and comprehensive read of what was going on in the story. Most of the plot lies were tied up in the end.
In the name of climate issues, it was the root cause of the character's actions and endeavors but it wasn't at the forefront of what was going on or how to help it. But, the character's motives were driven by it.
The main character, a bacteriologist by the name of Paul, was on the hunt for a colleague who went off to find samples - something to do with his contracted project. Once the colleague was found and a few negative words were exchanged, they found that a lake which was damed by ice, was about to be breached.
The breaching, however, was going to be due to an explosion of a company to wipe out a local town in the name of climate issues. This was quickly resolved by Paul pulling out the explosive and putting in the temporary camp the colleague made. It exploded while the two were going towards a rescue chopper.
In the end, both parties mentioned that they found something that would help the world - an ancient bacteria sampling that was found in the snow.
The story was cute all around as the two colleagues were mentor and mentee. The fact that they found something in the snow was like looking at a same-sided coin. That's why I gave the story a 5/5 for its fondness between the characters and ease of readability.
Hot Sky by Robert Silverberg (pg. 203-228) - 3/5
Set in the future in the Pacific Ocean, a ship and its crew where on their way to grab an iceberg. For what reason? To provide the west coast of the United States water.
That is what I could understand what was happening in the foreground. This is a small boat and only big enough to house its crew. I pictured a tug boat more towards the end of the story. Before I dive in more, I was disappointed by all the twenty million things happening in this story. The main character, Carter, apparently doesn't have prior boat experience but is the captain. The backstory on the relevance of the iceberg was non-existent till the end. And all the other characters. If this story was a bit longer, I think it could have been rearranged better, and for more story to be added - it needed.
However, I did enjoy the "medical" problems it presented - the end of what sun poisoning can do to a person.
When Carter and the rest of the crew got to the iceberg, another boat was attached to the iceberg. Overall, a mutiny happened because the other captain had extreme sun poisoning and almost tried to make the others have it too. This led to many of the systems on this boat to fail. The acting captain threatened to kill them but Carter had a moral dilemma about the mutinied captain and space on his vessel.
I think something more should have come out of this cause there was a way to save these people regardless. Why not tow them back with the iceberg? It would've made a lot more sense.
Staying Afloat by Angela Penrose (pg. 323-340) - 4/5
First, I thought this story would be about a flood - but, it's cute than that.
For my rating, the beginning was confusion as I didn't understand what was going on (almost seems like the usual for these short stories). Afterwards, I feel as if it could have been put somewhere else as the ideas presented at the start made sense.
To begin, a professor and a student were witness to a mountain slide due to have rainfall - they were trying to understand why it was happening and help save a crop. They put up stakes something I assume resemble tarps to help the rainfall move away from the crop - in the end, it didn't work.
Back at the university, the professor explained what happened, exclaiming "the entire hillside moved". While the group decided to try to get outside help, it was time for the professor's vacation to her uncle's farm - the same uncle that inspired her ti become a scientist in agriculture technology.
It was amazing to see the remainder of the story play out to see how a crop can float - an idea presented from the uncle. Overall, they found it. After a couple weeks of showing off the floating garden, some officials got wind of it and started spreading it even more - the uncle and teacher even predicting how they would upcharge specific items it took to make the floating garden.
For the rest, it was easy, comprehensible, and even the ideas that would help if ever needed to have a floating garden worked - I just pray it doesn't come a time myself or any farmers would have to use the idea.
Quit Town by Jason Gurley (pg. 399-406) - 2/5
A small, short story. Only six pages grasped at how a town can be abandoned in such a short time. However, it wasn't really rememorable and I had to reread it just to make sure I didn't mess any other important details.
There was none.
Just a mother, her son, and a neighbor unfortunately didn't get out of the neighborhood when the water-level from the dam was not being regulated or it couldn't. In the end, the water level exceeded the dam and flooded the town.
I suppose this could be climate related but a dam breaking or ceasing operation - while sad and heartbreaking - isn't. There have actually been other towns throughout the world that this has happened to.
Hot Rods by Cat Sparks (pg. 487-510) - 4/5
Race cars and a weird-functioning military. What does this story have to do with climate change? Appearntly, the place set in this story is experiencing droughts.
The town mentioned is on rations for food, the vehicles run on oil and corn-pulp and appears very religious. The gas and diesel that are put into the race cars as well as the after market parts are from the black market. Something about this town really seemed apocalyptic - many people have decided to join the military due to simply having money and food.
The base itself holds high-frequency atntennas along with potentially classified items - the theories this town has was enjoying to read. One night, the main character notices strange lights that appear to be lightning - she's the only one to see this till it happens again a couple days later. A race ensues to go look at it and see what the lightning - that started from the earth - was doing. This light also originated on base.
Unfortunately, whatever happened brought three militates into the investigating racers who saw it. One of them happened to be a loved one of the main character. The racers helped them to the hospital as the military (helicopters and up-armored vehicles) came to look for the awol soldiers. They get to the hospital and one of the three doesn't make it.
Unfortunately, soldiers arrive at the hospital to take the contracted, awol soldiers - and they do. The main character and another racer try to save them but end up going through the gates of the base with the convey - where they learn the country is at war.
Honestly a good story, I can see the concept being a longer movie. However, I was confused as to why it was a short story in this collection, which is why I gave it a 4/5.
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