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A review by sweekune
Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Winters by Sarena Ulibarri
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
I love more optimistic sci-fi and Solarpunk is probably my favourite subcategory for this reason. Solarpunk Winters does an amazing job of showing a less covered side to the genre and explores many different ideas of what Solarpunk can be outside of the sunny garden city.
- As indicated in the title, each story features winter in a different way, be it violent or severe winters brought on by climate change, winter confined to a bubble or just how technology would be used in the cold and dark as opposed to sunny and warm. I loved how each story had its own vibe and way of exploring this.
- Each story also had a different focus in terms of characters and plot. Some were focused on the character/s and their growth or wellbeing. Others showcased the technology and it's benefits and limitations. There were mysteries, adventures, romances. All were wonderful little snapshots of wider worlds.
- Of course the short story format has it's limitations and my only gripe with this book (and short story compilations in general) is that I would find myself immersed in a world or gelling with a character, to have to leave them far to soon for the next one. Lots of the stories work very well in the short format but several of them I found myself longing for a novel or novella to stay with them a little longer.
If you like your sci-fi on the more optimistic side and enjoy ideas on how people can adapt to a climate crisis through technology and a connection with the world around them, I would highly recommend this collection.
I love more optimistic sci-fi and Solarpunk is probably my favourite subcategory for this reason. Solarpunk Winters does an amazing job of showing a less covered side to the genre and explores many different ideas of what Solarpunk can be outside of the sunny garden city.
- As indicated in the title, each story features winter in a different way, be it violent or severe winters brought on by climate change, winter confined to a bubble or just how technology would be used in the cold and dark as opposed to sunny and warm. I loved how each story had its own vibe and way of exploring this.
- Each story also had a different focus in terms of characters and plot. Some were focused on the character/s and their growth or wellbeing. Others showcased the technology and it's benefits and limitations. There were mysteries, adventures, romances. All were wonderful little snapshots of wider worlds.
- Of course the short story format has it's limitations and my only gripe with this book (and short story compilations in general) is that I would find myself immersed in a world or gelling with a character, to have to leave them far to soon for the next one. Lots of the stories work very well in the short format but several of them I found myself longing for a novel or novella to stay with them a little longer.
If you like your sci-fi on the more optimistic side and enjoy ideas on how people can adapt to a climate crisis through technology and a connection with the world around them, I would highly recommend this collection.