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Reviewed by David Jaggart for Readers' Favorite
Nature Against by Delenda Carthago starts in a sterile dome city where a computer system controls every human decision. We follow Ziyue, a woman who is done with this forced perfection and just wants an exit from the system, but the rulers won’t even let her die without permission. After she sets a fire to escape a reeducation ward, she gets kicked out into the wilderness alongside a quiet observer, a rule-following robot, and a talking dog. The outside world isn’t empty at all; it’s filled with bizarre, isolated societies that have their own extreme ways of living. The group travels through strange territories, hoping to find a corner of the world where they can live without being monitored constantly. Will Ziyue ever find a place that offers true independence, or will the outside world completely crush her first?
Nature Against by Delenda Carthago is a satirical sci-fi novella that feels like a bizarre road trip through a funhouse mirror of modern society. I love how fast this story moves without losing any of its sharp humor, especially with Cesare the dog adding such fun energy to the group dynamics. Carthago uses a clean, engaging writing style that makes totally ridiculous situations feel surprisingly relatable. It was fascinating to see how every new faction the travelers met offered a completely different kind of social madness, keeping their entire journey fresh and unpredictable. The character growth feels natural as the machine-like dome citizens learn to navigate real, unhygienic reality. Overall, this is a creative look at humanity that keeps you smiling while making you think about how we live today. Ultimately, this little volume packs a lot of imagination into a memorable package. Very highly recommended.
