Falling Bodies - Rebecca Roanhorse - ★★

AUTHOR: Rebecca Roanhorse

SERIES: The Far Reaches, #3

GENRE: Short Story

PUBLICATION DATE: June 27, 2023

RATING: 2 stars.

In a Nutshell: A sci-fi story that is utterly muddled up in its intent as well as content. Plus, it was too YA for my taste, so not much chance of enjoying this.

Plot Preview:

Several light years away from home, Ira has been given a second chance to be just a regular college student with all signs of his past locked. No more is he seen as a poster-child orphan adopted by a Genteel alien as a social experiment, nor is he the Earther who barely knows his planet, nor is he a criminal anymore. But when certain events begin to unravel Ira’s decision to stay away from trouble, he needs to figure out where his loyalties lie.

The story is written in Ira’s first-person perspective.

This is the third standalone story in 'The Far Reaches’ series, described on Amazon as “a collection of science-fiction stories that stretch the imagination and open the heart.” Of the three stories I have read so far in this series, this is, by far, the worst one.

As the story comes to us in Ira’s first person point of view, and Ira happens to be a college student, we get to experience the negative side of YA writing, with barely any character development, loads of rambling, and a focus only on ‘I, me, myself.’ All this would still have been acceptable had we got to understand what motivated Ira. But the inner voice mumblings barely help us know the main character.

The premise could have saved this tale had it actually “stretched the imagination and opened the heart” as promised. But the Earthers and the Genteels are poorly constructed metaphors for the indigenous and the white colonists, and hence, within 35 pages, the story tries to throw in everything possible about cultural appropriation and the ills of colonisation without any eye on the plot development or story flow. No theme, no matter how well intended, works if it is shoved into our faces so vehemently and illogically.

Even a healthy dash of the genre might have helped the tale. But sci-fi isn’t just the random incorporation of terms such as “light years” and “aliens” and “holograph” while keeping the rest of the story focussed only on the character. There is barely any memorable sci-fi angle in this story. You could have just transported it to Africa or Asia or any other colonised location and it would be the same.

The ending was a surprise. Or rather, a shocker. What was the point of the story then if that’s the supposed solution?

The only reason this story gets two stars is for that premise highlighting the internal struggle faced by natives in the face of forced submission to the more powerful authorities, whether colonisers or own oppressive governments. To what extent do you compromise in order to survive? When do you finally say, ‘Enough is enough’? As the recent elections in Russia prove, survival sometimes involves taking a morally dicey decision if it can keep you and your family safe. Given a choice between choosing right and staying alive, most ordinary humans will opt for the latter.

In short, great intent, average execution. Not recommended except to those who want to read a free story.

This standalone story is a part of the 'The Far Reaches’ collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.