Equilibrium Overturned Review
By Casey Douglass
(I was given a free copy to review)
Equilibrium
Overturned from Grey Matter Press is billed as a collection of
tales that are defined as ‘horror-laced science fiction and dark
fantasy’, some verging on the more realistic end of the spectrum,
others more supernatural in their designs. Reflecting on this as I
write these words and scanning down the list of stories, I find
myself nodding in agreement with this assessment. It also occurs to
me that nearly all of them would make terrific episodes for The
Outer Limits or X-Files,
two of my favourite shows.
Each story shows
humanities struggle against the odds when the natural order of things
is turned upside down. As a consequence, there are few happy endings
here. Fans of unhappy endings or at best pyrrhic ones will feel right
at home with Equilibrium Overturned.
A brief summary of the
stories:
The Final Testimony of Molly Ryder by Jeff
Hemenway, is a great start to the anthology and deals with crime,
punishment and the ability of the mind to meld with another’s.
Amnion by John Everson, illustrates the
dangers of questing after youth when the rest of the world might not
be ready for such a thing.
Martial Law by JG Faherty, depicts a
strange parade that threatens to topple the biggest organisations of
power in the modern world.
Through the Ghostlands by Rose Blackthorn,
is a haunting tale of desolation and lives stopped in mid-flow.
The Collected Syliva, Volumes 1 to 1388 by
Geoffrey W. Cole, tells the tale of a futuristic couple that are on
the search for their new home.
Perfect Soldiers by S.G. Larner, describes
the desperate plight of humanity as an evil force threatens to invade
the world, the only resistance being found in horrible acts of our
own.
Wombie by Martin Slag, is a naturalistic
tale that merges nature with other designs that result in nothing but
horror for one group of people.
No-Man’s Land by Roger Jackson, a tale of
the horrors of war made worse by the unwholesome practices of
elements in the trenches.
The Alamo Incident: From The Chronicles of
Timaeus Shields by Sean Eads, the tale of a man sent to
investigate the force that has been killing soldiers left right and
center at the Alamo. The truth is far worse than history led us to
believe.
The Butcher of Gad Street by Stephen T.
Vessels, shows the forces of good and evil in direct conflict as the
barometer of human mood and deed swings dangerously into the red.
Queen of Thermodynamic Equilibrium by Josh
R. Vogt, depicts deep space and a future where death has almost been
eradicated. This doesn’t please everyone however...
Compartmental by Jay Caselberg, what begins
as a train journey and a reflection on the way the human mind files
away experience dissolves into a deep tale that reveals what we might
truly be looking for.
This is not a Horror Story by Tim Waggoner,
a strange trip to the DMV turns into a fight for survival.
Sunrise by Tony Knighton, shows the health of an ailing child failing as the world around him begins to decay and slip from humanities grasp.
All very good stories, but as with anything, a
handful struck me harder than others. I think my favourite was Queen
of Thermodynamic Equilibrium, as
it was set in a pure space environment with all manner of technology
and other doodads around it. It also achieved some great friction as
science and religion clashed (as is usually the way).
The Final Testimony of Molly Ryder is
my second favourite. I have always been interested in other
realities, whether virtual, parallel or whatever. The story also kept
me guessing until the end which is another thumbs up from me.
Finally I would
choose The Alamo Incident: From The Chronicles of Timaeus
Shields as another personal
favourite. I am not big on American history and don’t much care for
it in the scheme of things. I couldn’t help finding the mixture of
the mundane gritty setting with the strangeness of what is happening
intoxicating however.
I would say that I
didn’t dislike any of the stories but some I felt a little bit
indifferent to. Just personal preference at the end of the day.
I give
Equilibrium Overturned 4/5.
A satisfying and dark read, high in strangeness and grim situations
but not enough to tickle my horror gland fully. Visit the Grey Matter Press site here for more information.