Future, Imperfect: Six Dystopian Short Stories (2024)

Bandit

4,805 reviews542 followers

August 8, 2016

I'm slowly tentatively trying out scifi and this was just short enough, not to mention free enough, to check out. Plus Nestvold is a Nebula winning author. Plus I really enjoy dystopian tales. Ok sold. This short collection contains 6 occasionally tangentially interconnected stories set in the same devastated world where semblances of civilization are now maintained by corporations. Frightening sociopolitical future, but then again that's probably what happens when countries and their populations are managed like businesses...and doesn't that just make you want to have a businessman for a president. But anyway, the stories themselves are quite interesting, original, though provoking, creative, imaginative...all the things smart scifi ought to be. All brought down by author's (what's a delicate way of putting it)gender? Maybe? There is a noticeable inability to separate a strong leaning toward chicklit/romance sort of scenarios and narrative itself. Which is really distracting actually and makes it difficult to take the stories seriously with all the swooning and sexual chemistry bubbling over. Maybe there is a subgenre for this...romscifi or chickscifi. It just wasn't my thing and it detracted from otherwise quite good writing. Imperfect, much like Nestvold's imaginary future. Decent for a quick read.

Tara

641 reviews18 followers

August 6, 2012

Nestvold explores some interesting angles in the short stories that make up this collection. Ranging from the addictive qualities of using technology to literally 'become someone else' to the psychological effects of human dependency on constant connection through the web and a range of things in between. Not a bad little read.

Eero

391 reviews5 followers

July 30, 2013

This was a kindle freebie a while back. The stories are set in the same universe and characters from one story can be mentioned in another. Obviously the world is less than pleasant, and especially the last couple of stories are quite gripping. It was well worth a read.

    free-ebook kindle

Graham Downs

Author11 books61 followers

January 31, 2016

Six original stories, set in a dystopian, futuristic world. They're all complete stories, with different characters and plots, but the world remains the same.

It's a compelling world, too. The environment has gone to hell, and many of the big cities (Seattle being one that shows up in at least two stories) have been bought up (quite literally) by big corporations. The corporations use their technology to make life liveable for the citizens, even pleasurable... but only if they can see a way to make a profit.

Those who live outside the big cities, or in cities not yet owned by corporations (places called "the burbs") have a much tougher time of it, and they spend their lives trying to convince a corporation to move in, by selling the advantages of their natural resources, or other benefits that would make an acquisition viable to one of these big companies.

The stories are very well written and engaging. The descriptions are vivid, and more than once I found myself wondering what it might be like to actually live in one of these privatised utopias.

They're also quite literary in theme, and riddled with deeper, hidden meaning. Some of them, I must admit, went over my head, and/or I got bored and skimmed at times. But in a collection like this, it's practically impossible to expect to enjoy and identify with ALL of the stories.

    science-fiction

Amanda Makepeace

85 reviews66 followers

July 9, 2012

The Future, Imperfect is a superb collection of short stories set in a dark and all too possible future. I don't recall now how I stumbled upon this ebook, but it's one of the best dystopian collections I've read this year. Each story takes place in the same future world, one ravaged by environmental problems, advances in technology (that are not necessarily for the best), and a massive gap between the privileged and under-privileged. Corporations control everything. If you aren't with them, you're against them. Some of the Nestvold's characters have made their choice; while other's are confronted by conflicts which steer their ultimate decision. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the author decides to publish more stories, or even a novel, set in the world. If you need a break from the zombie apocalypse, if you need a touch of cyberpunk, The Future, Imperfect will not disappoint.

August 24, 2014

Couldn't finish this. I like post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, so I nabbed this when it was either free or very cheap for Kindle (I forget which).

The simplistic writing and heavy-handed Harlequin-esque romance subplot kept me from reading beyond the first story.

"With her stance, stature, and short hair, much shorter than his own, it would have been hard in this blinding light to tell if she were a man or a woman. But he was all too aware she was a woman."

Ugh.

If that sounds appealing, this might for you. It's certainly not for me.

    post-apocalyptic

Pete Aldin

Author35 books59 followers

May 7, 2013

Very much enjoyed these stories set in the same dystopian near future. Ms Nestvold's writing here is exactly what I love about great sf: well-developed worldbuilding, human interest, an exploration of possibilities. Definitely worth the cover price.

*Suzy (ereaderuser)*

388 reviews29 followers

February 8, 2014

An interesting mix of short stories with separate characters, but all interrelated. Big corporations controlling EVERYTHING! I liked some stories more than others, but found them all to be fascinating. This was a 3.5 for me - but I always round up.

    1-my-library read-2014

Bruce

496 reviews12 followers

June 26, 2012

All of the stories seemed set in the PNW and had a similar voice and level of technology.

Kris

1,155 reviews9 followers

July 10, 2012

I wish these had just been pulled together into a novel, but I enjoyed them and will look for others by her. Dystopian future, corporations determining what areas can be saved, etc.

Voula (otl1987)

79 reviews14 followers

March 6, 2013

I was expecting something more meaningful than this. But it wasn't such a bad read, but I ll probably forget about it in a couple of months...

    2013 science-fiction short-stories
Future, Imperfect: Six Dystopian Short Stories (2024)
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