Review of S. Thomas Drake, “Progress, Incorporated,” Radon Journal 9 (2025): 48-54. — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an eerie, creepy story. It starts off with a premise that is well-suited for futuristic SF: Progress, Inc., provides sleeping pods for marginalized people who wish to take some time out until the world has progressed enough to accept them for who they are.
Spoilers below:
Then we find out that the story is set in 2030.
Then we find out that Progress, Inc., asks for people to sign away their voting rights for while they are in the pods. And at this point, I had just about as many misgivings about the whole endeavor as Simon, the MC, had.
This is only the start of things, and let’s just say: They don’t end any better!
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