Review: The Theory (Twisted Sci-Fi)
A genetically engineered virus with VERY specific targets... Mind transference machines for the terminally ill... A mechanised battlesuit that does whatever it must to keep going, utilising any available energy source at its disposal....
A collection of scenarios in which the reader's expectations are chillingly subverted: The Theory (Neil Gibson's Twisted Sci-Fi) by writers David Court, Forrest Helvie and Neil Gibson, and artists Amrit Birdi, Atula Siriwardane, Cem Iroz, Davide Puppo, Jane Elphick, Jim Terry, Phil Buckenham and V.W. Glass is an anthology of tales of alien worlds, powerful technology and the choices and actions of individuals in the efforts for social change. If we can alter things for the better, don't we have the obligation to do so? But how do we decide which outcomes are better than others? And can we accurately predict the consequences of our well-intentioned meddling?
The stories are framed by a series of communiqués between Space Admiral Puppo (suitably gruff and battle-scarred) and the various operatives who report to him.
Astroarchaeologist Linda scours the ruins of dead planets, seeking useful resources for her own civilisation. The treasures here are not just the material ones of novel scientific applications; she is also in a position to share the unique histories of the races she uncovers and to present the opportunity for humankind to learn from the mistakes of other species. But will the human proclivity for self-deception allow such wisdom to make any difference?
Gemm-R is a time agent, travelling to various points in history in order to create changes that steer the timeliness towards the best possible outcome for the human race. For such a noble cause, is any sacrifice TOO great?
The tales are brought to life by a team of talented artists who excel at illustrating both the exotic and the dramatic. For all their fantastical appearances, each alien species is, on a psychological level, emotionally very human and relatable. The beings encountered may be green, they have horns, fangs, too many eyes... but they are still fundamentally, people. And people can communicate with and learn from each other...
The questions remain: are we capable of learning from the mistakes of the past, or are we doomed to repeat them, over and over again? Just because we can do something, does that necessarily mean we should?
With all the best intentions, can we exercise our free will to shape the future to suit our desires... or is destiny something we can never escape?
THE THEORY on GLOBALCOMIX
Zak Webber
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