My new story of the week is Jason Stoddard's novella "Far Horizon" from issue 214 of Interzone. Stoddard has become an Interzone mainstay in recent years, with stories like "Winning Mars" providing updated 21st century takes on classic hard science fiction themes. This trend continue in "Far Horizon" as Stoddard embraces one of the most important themes of science fiction: How people create their own future.
The novella focuses on wealthy genius Alex Yucia, who creates a nanotechnology capable of--in his view--solving all the poverty and inequalities of the world. Unfortunately for him, the technology can also cause severe harm. As a result, the corporation that has supplanted world governments heavily restricts what Yucia can do with his technology. Instead of fighting for his dream of transforming the world, Yucia conceives a plan to go on a three-thousand-year suspended animation journey, enabling him enter a future where all his hopes for humanity will have been realized.
Naturally, things don't go as Yucia plans.
This story is science fiction in the grand tradition, exploring how the future belongs to those who show up to create it. Unfortunately, this is a truth Yucia realizes far too late. But while the story has a tragic ending, it is the tragedy--and truth--of how the future is created which brings the touch of greatness to Stoddard's tale.
