books:

	Future Washington Wsfa Press, 2005 - 290 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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"?it sure was interesting that Washington is wrecked, drowned or comprehensively destroyed in practically every story in your collection."

But that?s not really surprising, because the future (and any good stories) is expected to be full of challenge. The important thing to take away from these stories is how the residents rise to meet those challenges, be they the rise of theocracy or the waters of the Potomac.

Colleen Cahill (Recommending Officer for Science Fiction and Fantasy at the Library of Congress) wrote:

"(these) stories take us to a D.C. that might be, with visions both light and dark, containing destruction, growth, humor and serious thought?whether the US government is alive and well, transformed by time or a distant memory, all the stories include a hint of the D.C. of today, making this a book for those of us who have lived or currently live in or near the city. It is the great writing and interesting visions of the future that make this a work for any who enjoying good reading."

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Is there a future for Washington DC ?

Future Washington contains 16 stories from a variety of authors most usually not found in anthologies. The stories posit many different futures for the DC but most are dark and distopian in one way or another.

"Primate in the Forest" by Kim Stanley Robinson, "Hothouse" by Thomas Harlan, "Civil Disobedience" by Joe Haldeman, all have the area suffering from one degree of global warming or another as background.

"Ignition" by Jack McDevitt gives us an idea of what can happen with fundamental religion take over. Paranoia takes over a computer geek in Edward M. Lerner's "The Day of the RFIDs" but is he really that paranoid?

Jane Lindskold in "Tgers in the Capitol" has the original designer of the capitol area who is not all that happy with what was done with his designs. "Hallowe'en Party" by Nancy Jane Moore is basically directions and instructions for a future party in the DC area (the directions are only slightly off from those you'd get if you lived in this security conscious area now).

"Agenda" by Travis Taylor, "A Well-Dressed Fear" by B.A. Chepaities, "The Lone and Level Sands" by L. Neil Smith, "Hail to the Chief" by Allen M. Steele, and "The Empire of the Willing" by Sean McMullen, all deal with politics and intrigue on one level or another.

"Mr. Zmith Goes to Washington" by Steven Sawicki has my favorite aliens (from sfrevu.com's Damned Aliens Column) drop in for a Senate Hearing. "Indiana Wants Me" by Brenda W. Clough gives a look at what could happen to the DC area if Congress moved elsewhere. "Human Readable" by Cory Doctorow deals with the concept of who has access to IT and will it be economic status blind. "Shopping at the Mall" by James Alan Gardner give us a view of what would happen if Americans just disappeared one day.

All in all, there are stories to make you laugh out loud, shake your head in frustration, dispair, and agreement. Those that make you think maybe you should pay just a bit more attention to what are leaders are doing FOR/TO us in DC. Every story is strong with character, place, and plot. It's a good buy.

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Clarification

The story "The Day of the RFIDs," alluded to in the Daniel Miller review as a highlight of the FUTURE WASHINGTON collection, was actually written by Edward M. Lerner.

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