We Won't Be Here Tomorrow and Other Stories

WE WON'T BE HERE TOMORROW is an excellent collection of Killjoy's short fiction, which has been published in various anthologies and magazines throughout the past decade or so. This is my first work of her I've ever read (though I've been meaning to read A COUNTRY OF GHOSTS for years...) and it's instantly noticeable how she has a distinct voice and principles which are a part of everything she writes.

There's a variety of genres here (mostly horror and sci-fi with the occasional fantasy) with plenty of queer representation and themes of (radical) activism, revolution, trauma and other themes you'd typically associate with that crowd. There were three stories I loved, but even the ones I didn't love I quite enjoyed.

Look forward to reading more Killjoy. Perhaps it's finally time to try a country of ghosts.

Reviews for the individual stories below:



The Devil Lives Here (3.5/5)

An interesting little horror take about a girl and her friend who try to find her brother in a cave. The devil is involved. Has the right amount of mystery throughout to keep you interested, with a satisfying enough ending.

The Free Orcs of Cascadia (2/5)

I thought this was a mostly meaningless story, a dull location focused on something that could be interesting (people's desire to create a real dream and then actually living it), but it's a largely plotless affair. Could've been more.

Not One of Us Will Survive this Fog (3/5)

It's King's THE MIST except the fog is apocalyptic, slowly encroaching the entire earth. This is a flash fiction-length diary entry of someone talking about it.

One Star (3.5/5)

Dystopian story of a future autonomous taxi flagging your location as potentially illegal and driving you to the police. The car is impossible to escape, so the protagonist tries to get out of by fooling its computer brain. A good story.

We Won't Be Here Tomorrow (3.5.5)

A group of teens strike a deal with some ghouls– you get to live essentially the life you want (safe from the police/laws), but you have to die before 30. Our protagonist has outlived nearly all of her friends and now, at 30, decides she doesn't want to die just yet. A strong story about wanting to live again.

The Fortunate Death of Jonathan Sandelson (3.5/5)

A fun story about future activism/terrorism including hackers, AI and drone technology.

Imagine a World so Forgiving (3.5/5)

Caroline is stuck on an abandoned Earth with some crazy scientist who engineered the new life on Earth to kill all humans (because humans are a cancer). I liked the ending.

Everything That Isn't Winter (3/5)

A violent post-apocalypse story filled with action. Felt like a “The Walking Dead” episode with surprisingly well-developed characters for its length and welcome reversed gender stereotypes. Didn't care for the romance, which took up a sizeable part of the story.

Into the Gray (4/5)

A girl in love with a mermaid brings her victims to feed on. She wants (no, longs for) more. I quite enjoyed this story, but then I'll always have a thing for mermaid stories. It's a very atmospheric story and reads almost like a fairytale. Excellent stuff.

The Bones of Children (3/5)

A group of Lovecraft addicts is ready for the real deal. But are they really ready for what they'll get? A decent, very short story.

Mary Marrow (3/5)

The protagonist watches Mary Marrow “disappear” and investigates.

Beyond Sapphire Glass (3/5)

This is so short to basically just be a concept; people upload their minds and our protagonist protects the machines storing them. She thinks it's suicide but accepts it because... well, you'll have to read the story.

The Northern Host (4.5/5)

Nazis don't go to Valhalla. This is a delightful story of a bunch of (not-)Vikings apparently joining every battle there is to join.

Malediction (3.5/5)

There are angels in this world cursing people. The protagonist is a squatter who, of course, ends up interacting with one of these angels. Cool concept, so-so execution.

Invisible People (3/5)

Crippling anxiety plays a center role in this story of a squatter hacker who fights back against cops.

We Who Will Destroy the Future (4/5)

Maya meets a time traveler who wants to blow up the entire world to end this particular sliver of time ruled by a government they vehemently disagree with. Great story.

Men of the Ashen Morrow (5/5)

A fantastic mythological story reminiscent of Evan Dicken's WHEN WE GO. Self-sacrifice, community, and gods play an important role in this beautiful work.

A Reasonable Place If You're Careful (2/5)

A flash fiction review of some place related to death. Didn't really do anything for me.

The Name of the Forest (4/5)

A hitchhiker lives with some strange pottery-witch-lady and they essentially enter a suicide pact. Another wonderful story, even if I was hoping it was leading to a special ending, instead of just a sizzle.

It Bleeds, It Burrows, It Breaks the Bone (3/5)

A speaking house and a h(a)unted person. Mental health and escape are what this story is about. Decent enough.

The Thirty-Seven Marble Steps (3/5)

A story that reads like a folktale about a strange old woman up in a house in the mountains.