Snow Over Utopia is another read for Hispanic / Latinx Heritage Month.
Format:
E-book
(I believe also from the same Latinx-focused dark fiction Humble Bundle as Itzá)
Synopsis:
Snow Over Utopia is a genre bending short novel of apocalyptic fantasy, sci-fi psychedelia, and doom metal.
In an age of savage science powered by black-mass, and thrown away bio-matter leaked into an underground sea lit by the heart of the great tree, a girl named Eden loses her rare blue eyes. Escaping her fanatical and sadistic slave masters with her eyes in a jar, she runs away with a murderer named Miner. After fleeing for their lives deep within the forest, they are found by the Librarian and his daughter Delilah, and sheltered in their mountain-top sanctuary. But she cannot stop there. If Eden wants to restore her eyes, then she must go on through time and space in a necrotronic stream generated by the living computer program called Witch Mother.
While mutantoid priests in underground bunkers monitor transmissions from the great tree, Eden and Miner must face the horrors of the factories and the coliseum run by the Robot Queen in the city of Utopia. Can they make the ultimate sacrifice and complete their mission? Or will they fail in Snow Over Utopia?
My Thoughts:
First off, I LOVE that cover. I’m always into black and/or white with metallics. It just does something for me.
As for the story itself, it has a LOT going on. It gives me feels of a world run by GeneCo. (Repo: the Genetic Opera), in conjunction with the infrastructure of Terry Brooks’ Shannara series (fabulous, btw), and a little hint of Brazil thrown in for good measure. Besides, if I’m being honest, Snow Over Utopia is fucking wacky, but in the coolest possible way. It’s got an almost bizarro-type feel to it.
Not to mention there’s notes of anti-fascism, drugs, mutants, robots, the Tree of Life, death of the Old Gods, and the power of revolution in the face of oppression.
About the Author:
Born under the nuclear shadow of Los Alamos National Laboratories and raised in the orchards, mountains, and fields of northern New Mexico. Occupations have included carpenter, landscaper, wildland firefighter, creative writing coordinator, and adjunct professor. With a penchant for ‘70s horror B-movies, psychedelic doom metal, permaculture, and nature worship. A regular contributor to Brick Moon Fiction, his stories can also be seen in Bewildering Stories, Aphotic Realm, and Augur Magazine. his novel, Snow Over Utopia can be found at Apex Publications.
(taken from the author’s bio on the Mutantroot Art Collective’s website)
Rating:
If you like robots, drugs, or antifascist fiction, I bet you’ll enjoy this. I did!
Snow Over Utopia By: Rudolfo A. Serna Apex Book Company ISBN: 1937009750 Published: July 3, 2019 Paperback, E-book 176 Pages
