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May 2, 2023Liked by Matt Bell

Everything for Everyone by M.E. O’Brien and Eman Abdehladi is a GREAT book to read if you’re looking for depictions of hope and mutual aid. It’s a fictional oral history set in a future where numerous disasters have led to the collapse of society as we know it and the flourishing of communal networks in its place. I’d also recommend A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys!

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Thank you! I just ordered Everything for Everyone and A Half-Built Garden!

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Ah, this sounds great!

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I was thinking about The Fifth Season throughout this discussion. 💎🪨🤘

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Yes! And even more so in the second book in the series, if I recall correctly.

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Challenging prompt to think about because we do not often see communities of care working for the highest good of all. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to participate. Partial credit, perhaps?

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Thank you, Chevanne! It's a useful thought experiment, even if you never write it up!

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Love the idea for your new book, can't wait to read it!

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Thank you, Elle!

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May 1, 2023Liked by Matt Bell

Thanks for the thoughtful exercise, Matt, and for the bonus quote from Rebecca Solnit, "Hope is an axe." I'll be thinking about that for a long time.

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You're welcome! Me too!

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Jul 16, 2023·edited Jul 16, 2023

I just finished reading Refuse to be Done and came across your Substack, Matt. This post resonated with me -- I'm a big fan of solarpunk SF and I think it scratches the itch that you've identified here. Station Eleven reminds me of this too.

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I've been bumping my own apocalypse story in my head lately...I'll be back for this prompt. Thanks for another great one!

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