Population Zero

by Fran Lewis

[Quirky Cat]

Population Zero, written by Fran Lewis, is a world that feels uncomfortably familiar. That is because it is our own – set in a future of Lewis' imagining, where humans meet their (possibly likely) ending.

Close your eyes and try to imagine what the worst-case scenario would look like for this world. Or, if you prefer, pick Population Zero, as Fran Lewis strives to do the same thing.

"I am an ethereal being that is not alive but has been chosen by those above to help you, the humans, understand what is going to happen if you do not work together, follow the guidelines of the virus, and learn to live in harmony."

As that one pull quote might indicate, one of the endings Lewis imagines involves a very real virus – one we're all too familiar with. Written during COVID-19 times, this novella hits hard. Yet that was the entire point of that story and this book.

I'd like to point out that I actually really appreciate what Lewis is trying to do here. There's something shockingly beautiful about the message woven within all the horror and trauma – that we can (and need to) do better.

I'm choosing to hold onto that hope with both hands and ideally never let go. Still, I wouldn't go into this book expecting a light read, as it is anything but. While it is a mere 76 pages (by my count), each and every one of those pages will work hard to hit you right in the feels – and teach us all a lesson.

Thanks to Atmosphere Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks