The Death of Mountains
Jordan Kurella. Lethe, $13 trade paper (122p) ISBN 978-1-59021-800-6
Kurella (I Never Liked You Anyway) gives the Appalachian mountains a voice in this quirky and thought-provoking novella. The Death of Mountains, a kind of grim reaper figure, has come for Plundered Mountain. Miners have taken too much of its resources and caused the mountain’s demise. However, Plundered Mountain doesn’t plan to go gently. Through a Scheherazade-esque trading of stories and questions, the mountain is able to extend its time and prevent the Death of Mountains from doing their job. Through this exchange of stories, Kurella explores the history of the mountain, the harm done to it by humans and machines, and its fierce desire to live. It’s a fabulist take on the cli-fi formula that makes a powerful case for the triumph of the natural world. Fans of folkloric fiction with a strong moral bent will find much to savor. (Mar.)
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Reviewed on: 01/09/2025
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror