Out now from Shortwave Publishing, Lindsey Croal’s novelette (somewhere between a short story and a novella) Have You Decided On Your Question plays out a Sliding Doors-esque ‘What If’ scenario to a darkly logical conclusion. In a not-so distant future Edinburgh, Zoe reluctantly agrees to visit AltRealTech – or ART – for a ‘personalised therapeutic experience’, a technological simulation that allows her to revisit a moment from her past and experience what might have been. Initially suspicious of her housemate’s assurance that it will help her out of the slump she’s currently in, that first session soon snowballs into an obsession with the life and love she could have had, leading Zoe down a dark and dangerous path.
This is an interesting story to try and classify, blending as it does some classic science fiction, almost cyberpunk, ideas with a very clean, real-world setting and relevant, current themes. Accessing memories and posing ‘what-if’ questions are fairly common SF ideas, but throwing in the sinister, invasive side of commodified big data and the unethical use of advanced technology provides a more contemporary approach. Add in observations on modern-day loneliness and the over-reliance on technology, shown through the lens of a character spiralling into obsession and addiction, and you’ve got something that’s more speculative fiction than straight-up sci-fi. However you label it though, this is clever, characterful and thought-provoking.
It starts off quite gently, easing the reader into the story as Zoe nervously attends her first ART session, before the pace ramps up matching her spiralling obsession, racing downwards in a breathless dive into dangerous territory. The tone likewise darkens as the pace changes, from fairly light – if a little uneasy – at first to genuinely bleak by the time Zoe hits rock bottom. If there’s any criticism here, it’s that such an intriguing subject feels ripe for deeper exploration in a longer story, and the nature of its novelette length means that once the pace picks up it really can’t linger on anything. On the other hand though, that very brevity is perhaps what gives this the most impact. Certainly it’s compulsively readable, and perfect for devouring in a single setting. It might not fully suit a reader who likes stories that neatly answer all of their questions, but it’s perfect for those who like a little ambiguity, and to be left with lots to think about.
Review copy provided by the author
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