Review: Diabolical Plots #50, April 2019

Originally Posted at Tangent Online, April 19, 2019

"Why Aren’t Millennials Continuing Traditional Worship of the Elder Dark?" by Matt Dovey
"One Part Per Billion" by Samantha Mills

"Why Aren’t Millennials Continuing Traditional Worship of the Elder Dark?" by Matt Dovey is a satirical look at how Millennials are ruining everything. The story reads like an article you might find on the front page of the New York Times, if the majority of humanity worshiped the Elder Dark whilst going about their otherwise mundane lives. It's witty, funny, and ends with a Millennial thrusting his erect penis toward the sky in obeisance while his father watches from the crowd, proud tears blurring his vision. Seriously, you have to read it.

Samantha Mills' "One Part Per Billion" takes the idea of an alien race giving us space travel in exchange for long term observation on the first vessel created and turns it into a reflection of humanity, specifically as it pertains to the unique aspects within each of us. The story ends with the main character, and sole female on the ship, Irene Boswell, as she tries to fix an alien observation device after a mad crewmember busts it up with a wrench. The resulting damage creates a field where Irene slowly breaks apart into the most distinct parts of her, giving us a glimpse into this heroic woman's fears and dreams, hopes and losses.

It's a remarkably deep story told with a wry grin that ends on a humorous uptick that works. Give this one a read, for sure.