Synopsis
These visions explore the myriad realms where humanity and technology intersect, taking readers to distant futures where human and machine exist in uneasy symbiosis, to worlds both grim and wondrous, where survival depends on getting the upper hand.
A woman’s passage into a digital afterlife where nothing, not even the self, remains fixed.
A hunted hacker in a surveillance-saturated future seeks revenge, only to find he’s the one being played.
Two stranded cyborg soldiers struggle to hold onto what’s left of their humanity.
Written by six independent voices in Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction—among them award winners and members of organizations such as SFWA, IASFA, BFA, and SFI—these compelling stories offer glimpses into all-too-plausible realities.
TK Toppin
Nick Snape
JD Robinson
Bryan Chaffin
Rohan O’Duill
Jes Deaver
Review
It’s always hard to review an anthology. While it’s bound together with its themes and packaged in a shared vision, it is, by definition, heterogeneous. Now that I’ve proved myself with a big word and you’ve potentially checked your dictionary app so you can nod along to the word heterogeneous, let’s get on with delivering the flavour of this excellent collection of stories.
Neosynthesis, without meaning to dumb it down or overly compare, is like Love, Death & Robots for the written word. It explores the symbiotic relationship between machine and soul, the evolution of the synthesised mind, and the human reliance on this developing technology that we are already weary of in current times. It is not, however, preachy at all, which is something I really liked about this twelve-strong collection. Neosynthesis, with all its grand and emotive themes and its deep exploration of the human/robot condition, is not afraid to have fun!
Not only is enjoyment a huge driver for the reader, (and, I dare say, each writer too) but this anthology is absolutely littered with homages and respect for the sci-fi we all know and love. I say that hoping it’s the case and intentional (wobbly face emoji!). I certainly enjoyed a few scenes that made me smile at the similarities without feeling the doffing of the cap was disrespectful or in any way FTLing to the plagiarism system. One Thousand, by Jes Deaver, is an absolutely beautiful tale with strong comparisons to Big Hero Six and a respectful nod to Phili K Dick, not to mention vibes of the approaching sentinels of The Matrix. Three incredible ingredients blended together with love and skill to create a mighty sci-fi snack!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given Neosynthesis’ concept, I encountered more Philip K Dick influence in The Sands of Scintillia, by JD Robinson. With slick, well-lubricated prose and engaging scene-setting, JD can certainly fire out authentic character dialogue that leaks subtle menace and bleeds mystery.
My next big moment was The Caged Eagle, by Nick Snape. Again, Love, Death & Robot vibes after an aeon trapped on a marooned spacecraft watching re-runs of the old earth show, Black Mirror. This perfectly framed sci-fi story has a crackling pulse of snarky humour balanced with a haunting darkness. Nick Snape’s writing is so concentrated and visceral that I could almost feel my face pushed up against claustrophobia inducing metallic bulkheads, my feet tangled in dense banks of wiring, and my mind inevitably melting at the plight of its main protagonist’s never-ending cycle of horrific frustration.
In short, this anthology is a fun, deep, and often mildly disturbing trip through the minds of its influences, written with love, style, and capability.
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