This is why I love Naomi Kritzer

November 10, 2023 12:49 PM

The Year Without Sunshine is a new story by Naomi Kritzer. It's about what happens after the really big disaster. Kritzer is perhaps best known for Cat Pictures Please, but her other works have been lauded on MetaFilter previously (previously; previously; previously - So Much Cooking; previously - Better Living Through Algorithms, plus her election guide); previously - Paradox; previously; all the previouslies).
posted by kristi (20 comments total)

I discovered this because John Scalzi announced on his blog that he's writing a film column for Uncanny Magazine, and I noticed Kritzer's name on the cover. I have not actually read his film column yet, but I enjoy his film writing and I bet it's good. But thank you, John, for inadvertently pointing me to this story!
posted by kristi at 12:54 PM on November 10, 2023

Starts a bit real.
posted by Artw at 1:04 PM on November 10, 2023

Goddamit it is dusty in here.
posted by Mogur at 1:15 PM on November 10, 2023

"So Much Cooking" had me really giving the backyard rabbits the squint eye when I read it in April 2020.
posted by puffyn at 2:10 PM on November 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

This is the kind of apocalyptic story I like. It feels much more reflective of what people would do in a collapse(or maybe that I fervently hope they'd do.) Some assholes, some jerks and a lot of very worried people trying to help each other out.

(Plus "Cat Pictures Please" is just a lovely bite of something pleasant)
posted by drewbage1847 at 2:12 PM on November 10, 2023 [9 favorites]

Wow
posted by supermedusa at 2:18 PM on November 10, 2023

Really great, uplifting, read. I really needed it today. Many thanks.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:29 PM on November 10, 2023

Much gentler than Earthseed.
posted by one for the books at 4:26 PM on November 10, 2023

Naomi Kritzer, Queen Of The Cozy Apocalypse.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:27 PM on November 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

This is the perfect response to the thesis in this post. I pretty much agree with Charlie Stross there, and this is just what we need to counterbalance those ideas. Thanks for posting.
posted by mollweide at 4:58 PM on November 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

That was such a beautiful story. I'd like to think my neighbors and neighborhood would be like that, even if I *do* live in the Evil Suburbs. ;)
posted by kimberussell at 5:14 PM on November 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

That was fantastic.
posted by joannemerriam at 5:35 PM on November 10, 2023

*LOVED* "Cat Pictures Please" as a logical representation of AI! Bought the book, started reading it aloud to my lovely wife :-D
posted by shavenwarthog at 8:26 PM on November 10, 2023

I would really like all the so-called 'preppers' who have hung around here over the years to read this. Community is preparedness, caring for each other makes us better humans. It's impot.
posted by prismatic7 at 10:29 PM on November 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

As a personal aside, Naomi Kritzer was one of the first writers I met when I was starting out in science fiction. She was generous and kind to me when I knew almost nothing, and we've been friends since. I've been delighted seeing her star rise in the field over the years. She deserves every good thing.
posted by jscalzi at 6:58 AM on November 11, 2023 [15 favorites]

Such a good story...
posted by signal at 7:35 AM on November 11, 2023

I hope there are scholars appreciating and analyzing the body of work Kritzer is writing that, together, sketches out how ordinary neighbors and friends can take the tools we already have to make better worlds.

“Because I want to live somewhere that people take care of each other,” he said, his voice cracking.

Sitting here with tears on my face.
posted by brainwane at 11:46 AM on November 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Oh my god people Naomi Kritzer has an A03 account (some of you already knew that) and this This American Life fic she wrote is just fabulous.

Maybe I'll just start posting one every day to the blue. The world needs more Naomi Kritzer.
posted by kristi at 3:36 PM on November 11, 2023 [7 favorites]

This was fantastic, I was on the verge of tears for most of this.

I learned recently that this genre is called hopepunk and I love that it exists. :)
posted by switcheroo at 6:35 PM on November 11, 2023

also irl mutual aid in war time
posted by aniola at 6:39 PM on November 11, 2023 [1 favorite]