After reading “Depart, Depart!” and now this short story collection, Sim Kern an auto-buy author for me. These stories are so well written. The stories all take place in the future, most of them with some sort of dystopian quality. 

The title story starts the collection giving a glimpse into a future where it’s not safe to be outside and small things we take for granted are now luxuries or are now black market goods. The story sets the tone for what to expect in the rest of the book. 

At their core, all of the characters in these stories are attempting to navigate life in a new version of our world, are trying to better the world, and are trying to live their day-to-day lives. 

Each of the stories involves the environment in some way, whether it’s a domed future, a future on another planet, or an attempt to reverse the destruction caused by humans. 

I like the way Kern writes characters. There’s a lot of diversity across the cast of characters in these stories. They are all flawed, but their flaws give them strength and keep them grounded in their humanity.

I can’t decide on a favorite story. After each story I read, I would think “maybe this is my favorite”. They’re all my favorite. One of the aspects of the book I like the most is the use of “The Lost Roads” as the final story. It’s about history, connection, and rectifying mistakes. It also ends the book on a hopeful note.