Short stories

[A] standout story […] Iveta, her family, and her peers are all struggling with gritty, everyday, unsolvable problems. There are, cleverly enough, some traditionally ‘heroic’ figures in the background, but they are deliberately positioned as red herrings: this is a story about the rest of us. Iveta makes it through each day, gets entangled in petty politics, and participates in minor acts of rebellion. She doesn’t save the world—or even ‘find herself’ in a particularly glamorous sense. She endures. […] It is an oddly realistic, beautifully-composed story that tries to frame the apocalypse not as an individual’s ‘time to shine’, but as a collective struggle. The apocalypse not as a platform for an individual’s Hero’s Journey, but as an implacable challenge for ‘the rest of us’.

This story as well as unique setting is combined with a sense of increasing desperation that raises a point as to how we treat those who are not considered ‘healthy’ – a very powerful story about our morality and need to be our best at being human when it matters most. Powerfully pointed out but in a very low key way read.

[A]n excellent intro to the anthology with a strong message, taking place in the same world as [Duyvis’s] novel On the Edge of Gone with some recurring characters. I love that the main characters respond to their situation through pop songs.

[A]n earth-shaking story that managed to be both angry and hopeful, confronting the casually discriminating attitudes that occur in most apocalyptic fiction and everyday life by examining the difference between equality and equity. It made for an epic start to the anthology.

Corinne Duyvis opens the anthology brilliantly with a story that includes a comet, refugees, spina bifida, food intolerances, teen stardom and adult condescension. “And The Rest of Us Wait” sets a really high bar.

A truly gripping piece. It had me gasping out loud at one point. This is the type of story you can’t put down.

[A] fascinating story with a bit different kind of a protagonist.

We see a range of different reactions. The angry and the uncontrollable, the snippy and resigned, and those who are still hopeful … This is such a strong opening to the anthology, showcasing a wide variety of topics that are explored both for and against (should people receive ‘special’ treatment, is it ‘special’ treatment if the end result ends in truly unfair results, and so forth) … Otherbound by Duyvis was also amazing so it’s no surprise that this short story is also – if you haven’t read her work so far this is a good place to start, and then go and hurry to get her two other novels. You won’t be disappointed.

A surprisingly real and sad story.

Short and sweet, ‘Lilo Is’ explores a mother’s challenge to instill in her child a solid sense of self-esteem.

A must read for any parent, any planning-to-be parent or any never-want-to-be parent. Definitely recommended.

I enjoyed this story so much that after I finished it, I grabbed a family member and made her read it so I’d have someone to talk to about it.

It’s hard to believe that a spider-demon could lead to such heartwarming prose, but Duyvis makes that happen … deserves all the praise I expect it will get.

I read this story twice, even after it brought tears to my eyes the first time.

Oh, my god. So wonderful. I laughed my way through this one … I went back and re-read parts too. Love it … a favorite.

… explores the depths of a mother’s love for a most unusual child. The thing that struck me most about the story is how real the relationships felt.

5 star tale of motherhood.

Corinne Duyvis’s ‘The Applause of Others’ has a real sense of place–the canals of Amsterdam. The story also brings together a rather narcissistic and self-centered eel and the young woman who encounters him. Mix in an authorial viewpoint of someone very familiar with the culture and ethos of the city, and the story shows how some of the stories use the topic [of the anthology] as a springboard rather than a straitjacket.

I adored this story almost as much for its setting as its narrative. It’s set in Amsterdam and is written not with the eye of a stranger but someone familiar with the city and its character, who knows to look beyond its tourist trap façade to its everyday magic. I loved how Duyvis incorporated details about Dutch life and culture without signposting them … I can’t wait to read more from Duyvis.

Imaginative story with strong characters. Good writing style. Enjoyed it.