"Fever Dream" by Samanta Schweblin (BR)

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Buddy read for the Dozen Roses Game.

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[DivaDiane]

I plan to read this - it’s on Scribd! (But is it really only 100 pages?

[Anna]

The English editions seem to be in the 150-200 page range according to GR.

[Anna]

I devoured this in one short sitting, it was just as weird as I hoped! <3 Sorry I don't have much else to say, except it was a chilling ride, and I think I want to reread it soon :)

[〰️Beth〰️]

I just finished her book Little Eyes and liked it. Will definitely try to get a copy of this so I can join in on the discussion.

[Anna]

I read and liked Little Eyes last year, and now I'm super eager to get into Mouthful of Birds next!

edit: And also Seven Empty Houses, but I'll have to wait a bit for that one :)

[Beth]

Started this today and shouldn't have trouble finishing it by the 5th. I've barely touched it and am already at 13%.

[Nicol]

I read this back in 2018 and have no memory of it so I listened to audio and even as I’m listening I still don’t remember it 🤣🤣 but ended up giving it the same rating as 2018. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Beth]

I like this story's Spanish title better than its English one. (view spoiler)[The English one mildly gives some of the story away, while the Spanish one is a reference to a motif. (hide spoiler)] (not much of a spoiler, since we're talking about the titles.)

[Beth]

My guess as to its actual length is more like 100-120 pages than 180, as its GR page claims, so an average reader could easily knock it out in a single sitting.

Because it's so short just about anything about it would be a spoiler. Some odd thoughts:

(view spoiler)[- I really liked the idea of rescue distance, and how it's a feeling that is nearly physical for Amanda, how it gets shorter and shorter the more time goes by.

- I gleaned this one from others' reviews, though it really is very obvious--I was more focused on the rescue distance thing, I guess--the substance in the barrels being an analogue for industrial waste and its destruction of all kinds of life.

- The mild erotic attraction that Amanda had for her friend was intriguing, especially since I didn't get any hint of that between her and her own husband.

- Reminded me a lot of Annihilation. Unfortunately I found Vandermeer's book to be better, more creepy and effective. I never fully got into Fever Dream's headspace, so it was interesting, but not enthralling. (hide spoiler)]

[〰️Beth〰️]

Beth wrote: "My guess as to its actual length is more like 100-120 pages than 180, as its GR page claims, so an average reader could easily knock it out in a single sitting.

Because it's so short just about an..."

I totally agree with (view spoiler)[not getting into the headspace (hide spoiler)]

[Meredith]

Well, I inhaled this book this afternoon. I'm still working my way through my thoughts. I'm glad to have a physical (library) copy that I can go back and re-read bits.

I thought the writing and story development was very well done, (view spoiler)[ that the reading of the book, and the feelings as it went along, was like being in the fever dream too. (hide spoiler)]

In thinking about it after, it reminded me of Connie Willis' Passage *spoiler for Passage and Fever Dream* (view spoiler)[ in the end chapters where the MC is dying and we are reading her thoughts and imaginings, plus the sense of time drawing out. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Meredith, I didn't make that connection to Passage but now that you point it out it's spot on! I loved that part of Passage!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Mwahahaha! I have ended a work day ON TIME (ish) AND have energy because it was 65 degrees F outside today which replenishes me like a cool drink of coffee.

Spoilers for the whole book

(view spoiler)[

The experimental style was very feverish for me, and I liked that we spent so long fighting for the moment. What exact moment do you think it was?

I thought it was very evocative, with its horses and children dying, the "rescue distance" (which, as someone with an anxiety disorder, is like a very relatable thing!)...it all felt very desparate to me. What did you think of the rescue distance concept?

This book is labeled as one about familial horror, the death of the middle class and encroaching environmental crises. What did you think about those themes? (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

In response to Allison's post:

Rescue distance: (view spoiler)[although a lot of the story has already been lost to the short fiction black hole in my brain, the rescue distance aspect remains vivid for me and was the most effective part of the story. That image of a rope or thread tied to one's center, or their gut, and pulling when the child moves away too far, both made my body horror-o-meter flinch, and directly connected me with the fear Amanda has for her child. (hide spoiler)]

Other stuff: (view spoiler)[familial horror? Absolutely--the idea of the daughter being taken by Amanda's friend as a changeling, perhaps, was a strong thread in the latter part of the story.

death of the middle class? That one eluded me, so I'd be interested in seeing what others think.

The environmental crisis aspect was clear in hindsight after reading someone else's review. The barrels of unknown substance that might have been what Amanda and [her child] sat in, water in both pure and impure forms, poison on the outside of the body, or refreshment depending. Mate is mentioned frequently but I'm not sure if there's a connection there. (hide spoiler)]