Voids by Jason Arsenault
Posted: October 19, 2015, 09:58:33 PM
I'm surprised I'm the first to comment on a submission this month; usually I'm the last (if I show up at all 
).
Back on topic, though ...
I found a lot to like in this story. Mr. Arsenault has posed a fascinating and novel problem, and offered a very convincing explanation. He also gave us the probably realistic but not very optimistic view of human behavior in a near-extinction scenario. Nothing too rosy here, but we're left with a tiny sliver of hope, which is just the right amount.
I'm going to guess here and say that he thought up the effect first and then back-engineered a plausible cause for it. He did a very good job overall, however it was done; his explanation is quite believable, and he's done quite a good job of constructing the story around the problem. The only part that bothered me was a slight one: I really expect that Julie would have heard that tank coming—and felt it—well before Mark drove it through the front of the building.
I won't spoil it for you. Read it for yourselves; it's worth the time. Science-fiction with believable science; bonus points for believable characters and setting, and good dialog.
).Back on topic, though ...
I found a lot to like in this story. Mr. Arsenault has posed a fascinating and novel problem, and offered a very convincing explanation. He also gave us the probably realistic but not very optimistic view of human behavior in a near-extinction scenario. Nothing too rosy here, but we're left with a tiny sliver of hope, which is just the right amount.
I'm going to guess here and say that he thought up the effect first and then back-engineered a plausible cause for it. He did a very good job overall, however it was done; his explanation is quite believable, and he's done quite a good job of constructing the story around the problem. The only part that bothered me was a slight one: I really expect that Julie would have heard that tank coming—and felt it—well before Mark drove it through the front of the building.
I won't spoil it for you. Read it for yourselves; it's worth the time. Science-fiction with believable science; bonus points for believable characters and setting, and good dialog.