The Last Catastrophe: Stories

From Earth to the farthest reaches of the solar system, Hyde’s (Eleutheria) new short story collection ponders how humans cope with climate change, social disruptions, and technology. Here, listeners will find glimpses into an unsettling future. In “Chevalier,” a girl’s friendships are put to the test when she grows a unicorn horn. In “Colonel Merryweather’s Intergalactic Finishing School for Young Ladies of Grace & Good Nature,” a young woman tries to evade an arranged marriage with the help of her AI warden. Each story reminds listeners of what can happen if climate change, capitalism, and exploitation continue unchecked. Natalie Naudus, Kristen Sieh, and Kirby Heyborne lead a cast of narrators who present the stories from varying perspectives, helping listeners to know when one story ends and the next begins. The characters range in age and social class and come from a staggering array of locales, making this full-cast narration an excellent choice.