Review by Ian Keogh

Box Brown’s conceived a striking title for his collection of science fiction short stories, and they’re as thoughtful as the title in steering clear of bombastic action in favour of human moments and enquiry.

The style is exemplified by the opening ‘Memorexia’ in which a patient undergoing therapy is able to inhabit his earlier memories and change the outcome. This is possible via technology drawn simply by Brown, yet convincingly, with a definite something of the future about it. The therapist’s description of the process instantly hooks even before the human reactions kick in.

Humanity is at the core of most stories. ‘Mundo Jelly’ is driven by the search for the perfect taste, ‘Voyage of the Golden Retriever’ details the growing relationship between a pirate and his new assistant and ‘Communion of the Star Warriors’ reduces the magnificent to banal duty. The title story introduces the entity Bebeshit who really does watch all things, but she’s bored with the task.

The simplified, almost pictogramatic art continues throughout, Brown largely reducing the illustration to a minimum and filling the black and white lines with different colours for every strip. When he’s feeling exceptionally expansive, there’ll be two colours, and the single exception to the simplicity is an astoundingly complex undersea base. It’s surely Brown reminding readers that simplicity can be deceptive, and that he’s capable of Kirby styled noodled science if required.

What’s supplied certainly isn’t simple, the art notwithstanding. Brown considers panic attacks, social media and surrendering individuality, and approaching death. Bathos is common as Brown juxtaposes the wonder of technology with people who just want to watch TV, and underlines the consistency of menial jobs. Almost all themes merge in ‘The Lizard’, closing the collection and dealing with self-improvement in a novel way.

These stories are ambitious, funny and thought-provoking, combining for an existential treat.