Ünver Alibey (ed.)
Radioactive Dreams: Mediterranean Sci-Fi Anthology
Armida Books
A Review by Emre Bozkuş
This unique anthology, as far as we can see the first with this topic, gathers eleven authors from across the Mediterranean area, from Southern Europe to the Middle East and Northern Africa. It explores themes of technological and societal decay, environmental disasters, and the potential consequences of our current actions for the future, all within a framework of cosmic and dystopian settings. The book features a diverse range of voices and styles, with stories ranging from space opera to cyberpunk and bio-punk, while maintaining a cohesive narrative arc through the shared Mediterranean lens.
Several of the stories revolve around the currently much debated topic of artificial intelligence. “The Absolute Order Machine” by Yasser Abu-elhassab (Egypt) explores what happens when humanity hands over its decisions to an AI. What starts as an attempt to bring order quickly spirals into chaos, as society becomes hooked on the promise of a rational world, only to find that this supposed “order” is its own kind of madness. Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic characters Sherlock Holmes and Watson, “AI Detective Services” by Chiara de Giorgi (Italy) delves into the fear of the possible perils of artificial intelligences, a fear so profound that it has spawned various conspiracy theories aimed at halting AI’s progress. The downside of the story is that, although it seems to be a detective story, it is rooted in philosophical discourse but fails to explore it in depth, neglecting the narrative drive of a suspenseful detective story that could have left a stronger impact.
As “Impostor” by Cem Can (Turkey) proves, cyberpunk is still a powerful influence on contemporary science fiction writing. Here it lends a fresh perspective on the historical transformations of Istanbul. The main character is a thief who tries to reclaim his stolen identity. The gripping storyline explores the classical mind-body problem and the concept of identity against a futuristic, distinctly Turkish backdrop.
Two stories are centered around political and historical issues. “Opalescence” by Selin Arapkirli (Turkey) is a finely crafted tale that transports the reader into a society governed by Sharia law, following the relentless struggle of a heroine who navigates a world built on deception — yet one that feels eerily familiar. “Even More than Earth” by David Bry (France) presents an alternate reality in which the power dynamics of history are reversed — this time, people of African descent come to the rescue of those who once exiled them. By exploring racism within the framework of colonization, Bry poses a profound question: What happens when we are forced to sacrifice even the things we once considered indispensable?
Complementing such stories that clearly show the timestamp of being written in the 2020ies and correspond with themes that are also explored in mainstream literature are a number of tales that try a fresh take on classical science fiction tropes. “The Scar at the End of the World” by Dimitra Nikoladiou from Cyprus is a post doomsday story set two hundred years after a great flood that submerged Earth. In the society of this age, where anything left from our civilization is considered ‘antique’, treasure hunters diving in the Mediterranean Sea search for a very special statue. It’s a action-mystery story that unfolds masterfully.
“Reality Rip” by Elana Gomel (Israel) opens with fast-paced action, immediately setting the tone with its first sentence: “Tagging is a very tiring job.” From there, the narrative unfolds through the various connotations evoked by the word tagging. The story revolves around a typical hard sf mystery: What if there was a reality where the universe’s deepest secrets are hidden within annihilation? Set in an unknowable future, the story explores how the temporary solutions devised in a world where reality is shattered only serve to accelerate its destruction. Inspired by Vonnegut, the narrative has the depth of a novel, though its pacing is somewhat flawed. The story would have benefited from a better balance between fast paced and reflective passages.
Another story set in a hard sf context is “Reflection” by Tuğrul Sultanzade (Cyprus). It reminds of a famous quote by Nietzsche: “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” For the two individuals lost in the vacuum of space, this metaphor becomes strikingly real. Their hopes for life on distant planets gradually dissipate as they plunge into endless darkness. “Reflection” is an impressive and thought-provoking work, leaving readers with an unsettling yet captivating sense of existential dread.
It might by argued that soft science stories revolving around psychological and social topics, originating in the idea of “inner space” in the British new wave science fiction of the late 1960ies, are by now just as classic as hard sf settings. The anthology includes three fine examples of this sub-genre. “To Sleep, and Not to Dream” by Hephaestion Christopoulos (Greece) explores the question what would be if we no longer had dreams and if colors, sounds, and smells vanished. What if touch lost its sensation and surfaces turned indistinct? Through the the eyes of a character who realizes how alien he is to everyone around him, we follow the search for his identity. As the story unfolds the reader finds himself in a dark and haunting dreamscape. “Death Doesn’t Change Anything” by Julia Richard (France) follows a relationship that begins happily but gradually drifts into an unsettling reality because nothing is quite as it seems. Blurring the line between obsession and madness, “Crawling Things” by Onur Selamet (Turkey) explores the lengths to which people will go for their beliefs. The protagonist, convinced he is communicating with the consciousness of a star-like being, begins to lose control, causing the reader to wonder: Is our reality all there is? Is it really impossible that transcendental ideas have a factual foundation? And what would one be willing to do to prove it?
From the Mediterranean shores to the farthest reaches of possibility, this anthology serves as a powerful reminder that science fiction is not merely escapism — it is a lens through which we explore, question, and redefine the future. In the collision of diverse minds, perspectives, and experiences, Radioactive Dreams offers readers a compelling invitation: to envision a world where the impossible becomes tangible and to realize that the dreams of today can shape the realities of tomorrow. In a rapidly changing world, these stories remind us that even in fiction, the power of ideas can be as transformative as the world itself.
