The Last Conversation

Not a good premise during a global pandemic.

After I finished this. I realized that there is a major plot hole that cannot be ignored, and that the denouement feels, independent of that realization, like a bit of a cheat gotcha. I expected far better from the author of A Head Full of Ghosts, a book which actually haunted me.

⭐⭐⭐

It would have been a 3 stars for me if it hadn't been for the brief moment where the author managed to make me think the answer might not be "clones" it's not a bad story just very predictable

This book was only meh. Even for a 56 page story it felt long. I've read Emergency Skin and Summer Frost from the same serie, both superior books. Not terrible, but I won't remember it in the long run.

This is part of the Amazon Original ‘Forward Collection' curated by Blake Crouch. This is my first experience with the author, and I enjoyed that he brought his usual genre of horror into the mix. These are available through prime for free on kindle or audible! 
What would you do if there was a global pandemic where so few of us survived? What if you lost the one you cared about the most? If our technology allowed for you to clone them, to in a sense, bring them back, would you do it? More importantly, would they want you to? 
I enjoyed this one. Parts of it were very eerie, with elements that felt like Blade Runner, Ex Machina, and even I am Legend. The idea that even a clone would be just as predisposed to the pandemic as it's forebear was a really cool idea. As if the genetic makeup couldn't be altered enough by technology to save them. 
Personally a 5/5*. A deep dive into what it means to be human, and what one would do to their humanity to not be alone. To regain the one they love. 

This is who you are
what else can you remember?
Let's try this again.

3.5 stars. This is the second story I've read in the Forward Collection. Quick and engaging, like an episode of Black Mirror, it's scary but I want more!

Meeslepend, somber en verontrustend verhaal.
Ook al was het niet zo moeilijk te raden wat er aan de hand was, bleef het toch spannend en boeiend. Het einde vond ik dan wel weer ietwat verwarrend en onduidelijk.

Según Blake Crouch, el organizador de la colección Forward, Paul Tremblay es el mejor novelista de horror en la actualidad. No sabría decirlo porque, como lector poco ecléctico, no sé mucho del género. De lo que sí doy fe es de que en un poco más de cincuenta páginas Tremblay ha logrado lo que King no pudo en más de cuatrocientas con Cementerio de animales”: darme escalofríos. Sorry, King lovers.⠀
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Quien se queja de las narraciones en segunda persona es porque no ha leído un autor que lo sepa explotar. A mí me agrada. Hace que te conviertas en el culpable solo por haber tenido el descaro de leer la historia, como si te estuvieran señalando. Bueno, me voy por la tangente.⠀
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El worldbuilding es bueno, hace que quieras leer una novela entera solo para conocer los detalles. El ritmo es inquietante y asfixiante. Se siente mucho la necesidad del protagonista por saber qué mierda está pasando y la desesperación por conseguir respuestas. Y cuando menos lo esperas ya te voltearon la cara de una cachetada post-apocalíptica. Como diría Karol G: Ay, Dios mío. Más Tremblay, por favor.

Very interesting short story. This entire anthology has been pretty good. Not all the stories are mind-bending, but all have been enjoyable. First thing I've read from Paul Tramblay, and it makes me think I need to look into more of his stuff.

wow