We get a neat sci-fi future take on the Tempest, where the last man on earth is now our Caliban, and the future that is coming to replace is are our Miranda and Prospero. This was a solid read where we get a man slowly falling apart while the new world struggles to be formed. Also appreciate the turn it takes into play format at the end. Pick this up and enjoy the ride.

I truly appreciate the chance to read “Kalivas! Or, Another Tempest,“ though I’m sorry to say I wasn’t able to finish the story and therefore can’t offer a full review. What I have read is imbued with clever storytelling, wit, wry humor, linguistic elegance, and a thrilling modernization of a classic play—this time featuring a “posthuman” being or two.

That said, the pacing makes it hard to keep the mind glued to the page. Each rise in tension is followed too quickly by a fall. And while the prose is expertly crafted, it reflects its dramatic roots a bit too much, flattening characters and actions to fit a very specific mold. Still, it’s a work I hope to return to in the future with a mind more attuned to its nuance—hence my rating.