Canterbury Hollow: A Bitter Sweet Tragic Tale
Canterbury Hollow by Chris Lawson
So for the longest time I have been slowly working my way through the 29th edition of the year’s beast science fiction. And I am finally toward the end. I’m at the second to last story, called the Canterbury Hollow, by Chris Lawson and here is my review.
This story takes place on a far away planet. The surface is scorched and people must live underground. The only hiccip is there's only so much room in the underground for so many people. So people are balloted, this story’s version of a lottery. They are chosen to die. The story follows a couple Chosen Arlyana and Moko, who go to a city under Sundome to see all that they can see before their time expires. The two meet during their last days, fall in love, see the sights together, and ultimately climb the Canterbury Tree so they can say goodbye to the world together.
The good? This story is a bitter sweet tale. In their last days, they found love and lived the best days of their lives. Throughout the story the reader learns their past how their deeds led them down the path they’re on and how they eventually accept their fate. They are really complex characters that make up this ultimately tragic yet strangely heartwarming tale.
The bad? The details does leave a lot to be desired. But overall, it’s hard to find very many faults in this story.
With all that said this is a great little tale. It has tragic, emotional, yet somehow charming short, which is really worth the read. I totally recommend this to everyone.
4 smoothies out of Four.
Overall Rating: A Bitter Sweet Tragic Tale.
