| Title | : | MAGA 2020 & Beyond |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 339 |
| Publication | : | First published November 8, 2017 |
MAGA 2020 & Beyond Reviews
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That was a whole lot of fun.
Buy the book.
Read the book.
MAGA. -
I received a review copy of the book in Kindle format.
This review is also available on my blog, "Papa Pat Rambles."
Anthologies are some of my favorite things to read, but gracious, they are hard to review!
In the first place, if the anthology has a LOT of entries, as this one does, I essentially have to read the book twice; first pass through is for the joy of escapism, second pass through is to recall in each story what makes it unique, so I can mention that in the review.
In the second place, short stories often turn on a gimmick, a reveal, and that's the whole point of the story. The preliminaries are just there to set up the opening of the lid, when the old man says 'SURPRISE!' Well, in a review, you HAVE to give SOME hint of the story, but you can't give the plot away with a spoiler. It's difficult, especially with the shortest works.
In this case, though, the task is somewhat easier, although it still requires a great deal of work. What makes it easier is that all of the stories have a common theme: the vindication of Donald Trump in the 2016 election, extended into the 2020 election and beyond. (Hence the title.)
These are not, by and large, intended as well-reasoned political positions, intended to educate the masses about the complexities of the Trump Presidency, his vision for the future; these documents (with perhaps one exception) will not be introduced as reference material in any classroom, from grade school to graduate school. That is not meant as a criticism; it's just a description.
Instead, with the exception of John C. Wright's thoughtful essay (that's all that come to mind right now, but I will point out the other exceptions as I review them), these are the raucous proclamations of the face-painted fans of the winning team, swarming through the streets, blowing air horns, and screaming "WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!" These are not rhetorical exercises designed to persuade opponents, or even to sway the uncommitted; this is the celebration of an underdog team that won the World Series in an upset. Accept it in that spirit, and allow for excesses born out of exuberant good spirits.
Foreword by Milo Yiannopoulos. I'm not a follower of this young person. I do know that he has managed to aggravate certain progressive factions by his refusal to follow the prescribed script for gay men. He reflects upon the failure of literature written by progressives, unless they adopt traditional middle class values in their stories. I wish he had mentioned Eric Flint, one of my favorite writers, and an unapologetic socialist.
Winning is What We Do by Jon Del Arroz This is a LOVELY adventure story, featuring young Barron Trump as the hero, urged on and inspired by his father. MECH WARRIORS!
Father Cincinnatus by Ivan Throne Not a story, but a speech, just perfect for performing in front of a screaming crowd of thousands. A somewhat spooky re-imaging of Trump as a father figure.
The Last Hippie by Scott Bell In the distant future, those who cannot or will not accept the MAGA dream are offered their own island, and provided supplies through air-drops, to build whatever society they desire. One doesn't want to go. He has a bomb.
Cleaning the Rolls by P. A. Piatt I don't know HOW old the joke is about elections being won by the cemetery vote, but it's been around for a LOT longer than I have. This story offers a nice twist, and it also manages to toss in a dig at a certain person notorious for Asian 'influences.'
M.A.G.A.I. by Arlan Andrews, Sr. A progressive hacker working for DARPA fails to close out a file correctly, and causes the AI overseeing the system to take unexpected action. Delicious mayhem ensues in tiny little bits of time.
On Greatness by Alfred Genesson. Genesson takes a close look at the word 'Great' as applied to world leaders, selecting Alfred the Great as his example. He then lists the achievements that resulted in that appellative, and considers whether Trump will rise to the standard.
An Afternoon with Grandpa by Daniel Humphreys. This is one of the 'gimmick' stories, although the clues are given from the beginning. A little girl is forced to spend time with her grandfather, a pleasant old gent who has seen all his dreams turn to ashes.
Dolus Magnus: The Great Hoax by Monalisa Foster. A climate scientist discovers that when he refuses to toe the line, everything is taken from him. Fortunately, he has a friend who is an engineer.
An “Out”-standing Chanukah by Marina Fontaine. It is a tradition in this family that you can say anything you want as a part of the Chanukah celebration. It is time for one young person, supported by an older relative, to take advantage. Fasten your seat-belt!
The Man in the Bubble by Elaine Arias. The man in the bubble is a big-name Hollywood power broker. You may recognize him from the description, but that isn't one of my knowledge areas. I do, however, recognize the utter cluelessness and ignorance of life beyond his narrow circle that afflicts this person.
Free Falling by Justin Robinson. The US in the MAGA universe has become a place of freedom and rational laws. Just north of the border, however, insanity reigns, as a result of privilege policies. Some people will do anything to escape.
The Magic of MAGA by David Harr. A fantasy story, in which the good guys are truly good, but over-powered by the forces of evil. The MAY be some Biblical allusions in here; it's not made explicit, but there is a somewhat parallel scene. Can freedom cross dimensions? Is John Moses Browning a force to be reckoned with everywhere?
Six Grandfathers by Dawn Witzke. This is a WONDERFULLY written fairy tale! It brings primeval beings alive, and allows a child to speak to them, and...nah, read it for yourself. It's GREAT!
The New Wall by Molly Pitcher This story also tells of the days when as a result of MAGA policies, Canada closes the border to keep it's people from escaping. People still escape.
The Downfall of Delusional America: Assessing the Legacy of Trump by John C. Wright. Of all the stories and essays in the book, this one is likely to resonate with the most people. Wright analyzes the issues leading up to the 2016 election, and identifies something that has bothered many of us for quite some time.
45 by Brad Torgersen. It's a time- travel story with a twist. Secret Service Agent Cobbler discovers a probable assassin when she pops into existence in front of him. She believes she has to kill Trump in order to prevent a civilization-ending war. Where does his loyalty lie?
Insurance for Life by Tamara Wilhite. If we aren't going to have socialized medicine, can we have ANYTHING that resembles adequate, compassionate medical care, that doesn't impoverish the usaer of the service? Here's an idea!
The Great Joke by Alfred Genesson. When some people just couldn't bear the idea of Trump becoming President, they revolted. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Works globally, too!
Equality by Monalisa Foster. The axiom states 'a conservative is a liberal who has been raped.' But what if the rape is prevented?
Scales in the Balance by Dawn Witzke. Witzke identifies PRECISELY the branch of government where MAGA will have the greatest impact.
Infected by Sandor Novak. Out of the blue, perhaps from Andromeda; all of a sudden, more and more people are compelled to tell the truth.
Winning the Internet @Kaijubushi. Stupid frappen reporter questions deserve scathing answers. While Trump has been known to boot someone out of a press conference, THIS particular response came from elsewhere.
Pitch Session by Chris Donahue. Fat Slugs in Hollywood don't get it; they are NEVER going to get it. And when the consequences hit the box office, they have to come up with alternatives.
Auntie’s Magnificent Bricks by Christine Chase. Strange things can happen to a young person. After all, authentic heroes have to be SOMEBODY'S aunts and uncles.
Mad Dog Moon by Declan Finn Okay, this story is just fabulous! Mad Dog Mattis, the Warrior Monk, not only kicks bureaucrats around, he still likes to get his fingers dirty. NEEDS to, actually.
The Many Faces of Trump by Dawn Witzke. This is particularly hilarious to me, because I have shepherded a crowd of middle schoolers around an art museum. Paintings by Old Masters on the walls, and the kids are playing tag between the lamps and chairs and tables. Yeah, it will be like that in 100 years, too.
Exile by Marina Fontaine. I spent an afternoon in East Berlin in 1975, before the wall came down. I was SO glad to get back across Checkpoint Charlie to the freedom of West Berlin! I've seen what people will do to get themselves and their families out of a repressive society, sacrificing everything. But I've only seen it; the author has lived it. And we are glad she is here, and can write stories like this. It's by far the grittiest story in the book.
A Day in the Life by Richard B. Atkinson III. This is neither the Beatles' song, not the story of Ivan Denisovich. Instead, it's a scene at a cocktail party celebrating an election, after the first battles have been won, and the progressives have (mostly) moved on.
The Pope’s Vision by L. Jagi Lamplighter. It's a FUNNY story, although I shudder somewhat when I see the lines blurred between political deliverance and spiritual significance. But, even after the shudder, it's a FUNNY story!
Afterword: Moral Rights, An Essay. The origin of this collection! Oh, how I LOVE backstory, and this is a PARTICULARLY great backstory!
As I stated earlier: take this as the cries of the drunken revellers, carousing through the streets of the city after the underdog team won the championship, and you'll love it.
Unless you are a fan of the other team.
Peace be on your household. -
Someone just pointed this book out to me, and I looked up the TOC. The title of this essay cracked me up:
"The Downfall of Delusional America: Assessing the Legacy of Trump" by John C. Wright
LOL!
It's now 2020, delusional America is falling even as we speak, and we are beginning to assess The Orange One's legacy. Wright was prescient, though not in the way he intended! -
Feel good SF stories
New writers and old favourites spin a series of happily-ever-after what-if stories of the Trump-ian revolution. As in the 2016 election Trump is merely the catalyst by which ordinary Americans rebel against their Marxist would-be masters. Interspersed with a few essays (my favourite is Monalisa Foster's) makes for an eclectic readable mix. Very good value for the price, and I found some great new authors to try. -
During the 2016 presidential race, Donald Trump appeared on SNL. One of the sketches was basically a wish-fulfillment fantasy: he had won the White House, and his MAGA promises were all fulfilled in spades. So. Much. Winning.
This anthology is an extended version of that skit.
Winning abounds, at least in Trump's America. In stories set from a few years into the future (2020, the year of his easy reelection) to decades down the line (mankind is living large in space), America is great again, except for those who were happy with the Fundamental Transformation of his predecessor. For those folks, the Wrong Side of History is a rough place to live.
The collection is uneven, in both quality and content. Some stories, such as Brad Torgersen's run-in between a time traveling assassin and a Secret Service agent, are very well done. Other tales read more like 4Chan fan fiction, with so many inside references that those of us without secret decoder rings are left outside the story, shrugging. All stories are set in the future, but some also incorporate science fiction and fantasy elements like time travel, lycanthropy, battle robots, etc. Also, there are some non-fiction essays singing Trump's praises, which felt like an attempt to blend fantasy and philosophy. It's not a cohesive collection except for its adoration of President 45.
It's a polemic compilation - fiction with an agenda. If you're With Her, or a NeverTrumper, or a PlagueOnBothHouses voter, this anthology may feel downright alien. But exploring alien worlds is one of those appeals of speculative fiction, even if that alien world is so close to our own and at odds with your world view. If the very thought of the book offends you, steer clear. If you don't, you may find a story that resonates. -
This anthology of stories on why future centuries will look back on the Trump administration as the turning point is Politically Incorrect as all get-out, and guaranteed to give SJWs fits.
The contributors clearly had Too Much Fun putting it together. I particularly enjoyed Dawn Witzke's stories. "Trump" shows us a bored school class on a field trip to the Trump Presidential Library and indoor Golf Course. And "Six Grandfathers"... well, it defies a quick summary. The concluding piece, L. Jagi Lamplighter's "The Pope's Vision", is perhaps too much of a traditional Catholic inside joke.
