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Cataclysmic Evolution
Barron's dad makes him toe the line, and to keep his friends, they do too. The new guy could never fit in... but Revi doesn't act like he even wants to, which drives Barron crazy. Life takes a drastic turn, and Revi Porter's long hair, soft lips, and aggravating emo dress code are the last things on Barron's mind. There's no room for petty grudges in the struggle to survive. When saving a little girl leaves Barron lost in the dark, will he learn how to really see?
Photo Description:
He stood there, fingers twisted into the chain-link, a challenge in his eyes as he stared me down. His curly hair framed his face, but even with the hair you could tell he was all guy. His canted hips and tight pants hid nothing. He wore a giant watch and a ton of bracelets. The brightly colored twisted cord, leather, and braided string stood out against his honey skin.
I was in so much trouble.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
Photo Description:
He stood there, fingers twisted into the chain-link, a challenge in his eyes as he stared me down. His curly hair framed his face, but even with the hair you could tell he was all guy. His canted hips and tight pants hid nothing. He wore a giant watch and a ton of bracelets. The brightly colored twisted cord, leather, and braided string stood out against his honey skin.
I was in so much trouble.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
123 pages, ebook
First published July 10, 2014
2 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Nordwell
56 books166 followersHi! I'm Alicia, also known as Cia. I'm a huge bookworm and I also write straight and gay fiction online under both names. I love to mix modern and paranormal worlds! When I'm not reading for pleasure or writing, I'm beta reading for my author friends, doing photography, or taking care of my very patient family! You can find links to all of my free online fiction through my blog.
You can find a list of my free ebooks under the author name Cia_.
You can find a list of my free ebooks under the author name Cia_.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 14, 2014
Some might consider this review spoilerish.
M/M sci-fi is my favorite genre, and Alicia Nordwell definitely knows how to put together a fun, highly readable tale. This one rather crazily balances high-school flirtations and popularity jockeying with the literal end of the world. Considering that this is an account a planet-wide extinction event, i.e. the apocalypse, the story was remarkably, and to my mind refreshingly, free of horror elements--cruelty, inhumanity, ugliness. Parents are kind of bossy, kids a bit given to bullying and mean pranks, but basically everyone cooperates and helps out, with some minor heroics, but not beyond what you might find in a random group of high schoolers. It's the End of the World rated PG--with a bit of cuddling and kissing between our young lovers once they get over their mutual hatred, but minimal on-page nookie.
The story on the long side for the Love's Landscapes Event, but not long enough to adequately deal with all of the events in the story, which could probably sustain one of those 800 page sci-fi behemoths. I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy-duty, and I definitely appreciated the low stress focus on friendships and flirtation in the midst of the fight for survival. However, I did find the ending problematic. It felt abrupt and didn't really leave me with any sense of the characters' or humanity's future. It doesn't ruin the story by any means, but I didn't find it satisfying. It may be a sequel is planned, in which case count me in.
Bottom line: another entertaining read from this year's M/M event.
M/M sci-fi is my favorite genre, and Alicia Nordwell definitely knows how to put together a fun, highly readable tale. This one rather crazily balances high-school flirtations and popularity jockeying with the literal end of the world. Considering that this is an account a planet-wide extinction event, i.e. the apocalypse, the story was remarkably, and to my mind refreshingly, free of horror elements--cruelty, inhumanity, ugliness. Parents are kind of bossy, kids a bit given to bullying and mean pranks, but basically everyone cooperates and helps out, with some minor heroics, but not beyond what you might find in a random group of high schoolers. It's the End of the World rated PG--with a bit of cuddling and kissing between our young lovers once they get over their mutual hatred, but minimal on-page nookie.
The story on the long side for the Love's Landscapes Event, but not long enough to adequately deal with all of the events in the story, which could probably sustain one of those 800 page sci-fi behemoths. I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy-duty, and I definitely appreciated the low stress focus on friendships and flirtation in the midst of the fight for survival. However, I did find the ending problematic. It felt abrupt and didn't really leave me with any sense of the characters' or humanity's future. It doesn't ruin the story by any means, but I didn't find it satisfying. It may be a sequel is planned, in which case count me in.
Bottom line: another entertaining read from this year's M/M event.
nope
September 24, 2015:Starts reading:
:Sees the word "emo" in the 2nd paragraph:
:Stops reading:
This is probably going to come off kind of mean but it's really bothering me so:
If you're going to write about teenagers and you're going to discuss their style in the first few paragraphs, please know what you're talking about. Baggy clothes are not "in" anymore, skinny pants or even saggy skinny pants are, so your first few paragraphs were already kind of annoying (to me anyway). Secondly, NEWS FLASH: Emo is not a thing anymore. You could go with "hipster" but even that term is starting to fall by the wayside. I know this is sci fi, but still. Come up with something totally new and exciting or be on trend or make them wear space suits and silver hair. Something... Just not that.
If you don't feel the urge to use Google to do some research first, please just don't mention it (It took me 2 seconds to find corroboration that Emo officially stopped being a thing in 2010 but that people, ESPECIALLY the younger folks, were over it in 2006 or whatever. I'm paraphrasing here).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Reader That Is Not Normally Easily Annoyed But Has Noticed This Lazy Tendency Of Authors Not Researching "Young People" Trends They Want To Talk About Before Immortalizing Their Words For All And Sundry To See
:Sees the word "emo" in the 2nd paragraph:
:Stops reading:
This is probably going to come off kind of mean but it's really bothering me so:
If you're going to write about teenagers and you're going to discuss their style in the first few paragraphs, please know what you're talking about. Baggy clothes are not "in" anymore, skinny pants or even saggy skinny pants are, so your first few paragraphs were already kind of annoying (to me anyway). Secondly, NEWS FLASH: Emo is not a thing anymore. You could go with "hipster" but even that term is starting to fall by the wayside. I know this is sci fi, but still. Come up with something totally new and exciting or be on trend or make them wear space suits and silver hair. Something... Just not that.
If you don't feel the urge to use Google to do some research first, please just don't mention it (It took me 2 seconds to find corroboration that Emo officially stopped being a thing in 2010 but that people, ESPECIALLY the younger folks, were over it in 2006 or whatever. I'm paraphrasing here).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Reader That Is Not Normally Easily Annoyed But Has Noticed This Lazy Tendency Of Authors Not Researching "Young People" Trends They Want To Talk About Before Immortalizing Their Words For All And Sundry To See
July 10, 2014
I'm giving this one a 4.5* and rounding up, because wow, this didn't turn out anything like I thought it would, and I'm totally all right with that. We go from a future not to dissimilar to our present, to a cataclysmic event that sets off the science fiction part of this story and sends our heroes, and what realistically teenage heroes they are, into space.
There's hurt/comfort, there's enemies to lovers--kind of, this isn't exactly your typical romance, but I think that's part of what I enjoyed about it. Sometimes I'm more interested in the world building than I am in the sweet lovin', that's just a reality of my sci-fi geekdom, and this story really worked for me in that regard. Long, never too speedy, lots of development without info-dumping...yeah, I really enjoyed it.
There's hurt/comfort, there's enemies to lovers--kind of, this isn't exactly your typical romance, but I think that's part of what I enjoyed about it. Sometimes I'm more interested in the world building than I am in the sweet lovin', that's just a reality of my sci-fi geekdom, and this story really worked for me in that regard. Long, never too speedy, lots of development without info-dumping...yeah, I really enjoyed it.
July 12, 2014
3.5
Pretty good futuristic, apocalyptic story with scify undertones. There's also a bit of romance to complement the young adults that are part of this story.
I liked it, and wouldn't mind re-visting Paradise again. I want more growing up for our young heroes. I want more world building, especially the human-symbiotic connection and developing evolution, and last, but not least, more romance.
I want...yeah, that was a hint that I'd really like a sequel for this story.
Pretty good futuristic, apocalyptic story with scify undertones. There's also a bit of romance to complement the young adults that are part of this story.
I liked it, and wouldn't mind re-visting Paradise again. I want more growing up for our young heroes. I want more world building, especially the human-symbiotic connection and developing evolution, and last, but not least, more romance.
I want...yeah, that was a hint that I'd really like a sequel for this story.
August 10, 2014
3.5 stars
It’s amazing how the prompt is taken and spun out into this post-apocalyptic, sci-fi adventure.
A boy leans against a chain link fence. He catches the fancy of a fellow high-school student. There is tension based on mutual interest. But during a school field trip to underground caves, a cataclysmic event occurs above ground, and their world changes forever.
The story prompt took us from simple boy meets boy to space travel, new worlds and mutant creatures. I liked this voyage, incredible though it was . But that’s science fiction for you and I was willing to make the jump.
I also liked how the two young MCs, Barron and Revi, go from antagonists to friends to lovers. They spend much of the first part of the story apart from each other as the plot thickens-- which doesn’t help the romance-- but Barron goes through an interesting evolution from tough-guy to hero and space pioneer that makes it worthwhile. And Revi, with his loyalty and fearlessness, turns out to be worth the wait. The end of the story is really the beginning, though. This seems to be a teaser for more to come with new and exotic secrets waiting to be uncovered.
September 30, 2014
4.5 Stars rounded up.
That was freaking amazing! I cut my (very old) teeth on SciFi and this surpassed all of my expectations! It started, much like some of my favourite SciFi books, in an almost mundane way - school kids on an outing - and turned a sudden corner to apocalyptic destruction before veering left again into high adventure on a distant planet!
This was written for my prompt in the Love's Landscapes event and, as in previous years, I am totally amazed at the imagination and talent of the writers. The stories may not always go in the direction I had imagined but each year I've been delighted with the authors' vision. This year is no exception!
That was freaking amazing! I cut my (very old) teeth on SciFi and this surpassed all of my expectations! It started, much like some of my favourite SciFi books, in an almost mundane way - school kids on an outing - and turned a sudden corner to apocalyptic destruction before veering left again into high adventure on a distant planet!
This was written for my prompt in the Love's Landscapes event and, as in previous years, I am totally amazed at the imagination and talent of the writers. The stories may not always go in the direction I had imagined but each year I've been delighted with the authors' vision. This year is no exception!
October 1, 2014
What starts out as a deceptively “normal” futuristic story, set at the end of the 21st century, slowly develops into full-out and totally unexpected science fiction. The words “drastic turn” in the blurb are not to be taken lightly, I can tell you that much. With a main character who has a lot to learn, and events that kept me on the edge of my seat, I can fully recommend this to anyone who is looking for an unusual story heavy on fantastic world building and light on the romance.
Barron is a pretty average teenager and a month away from high school graduation. He tries to get away with things his parents don’t want him to do, he leads a group of friends who have been with him since they were small kids, and he is sarcastic. One additional characteristic did not endear him to me in the least: he is a bully. Anyone who doesn’t meet his approval (as defined by his father’s morals) gets taunted, or worse, and it becomes clear only a few pages into the book that he is a very mean guy, at least toward his peers.
The catastrophe hits, and everything changes. Barron is still condescending, but he pulls is weight, and the first cracks in his armor appear when he encounters a little girl who needs him to survive. Suddenly he begins to care, and when he ends up blind, his real learning curve begins. It is steep and long, but it was amazing to watch Barron begin to understand what is really important. Great character development!
I cannot say too much else without spoiling the story, but I think anyone who likes science fiction might want to give it a try. If you like the unexpected, if you enjoy catastrophes and apocalyptic events, and if you’re looking for a read that is as much driven by events as it is by characters, with just a touch of romance, then you will probably enjoy this free novella.
Barron is a pretty average teenager and a month away from high school graduation. He tries to get away with things his parents don’t want him to do, he leads a group of friends who have been with him since they were small kids, and he is sarcastic. One additional characteristic did not endear him to me in the least: he is a bully. Anyone who doesn’t meet his approval (as defined by his father’s morals) gets taunted, or worse, and it becomes clear only a few pages into the book that he is a very mean guy, at least toward his peers.
The catastrophe hits, and everything changes. Barron is still condescending, but he pulls is weight, and the first cracks in his armor appear when he encounters a little girl who needs him to survive. Suddenly he begins to care, and when he ends up blind, his real learning curve begins. It is steep and long, but it was amazing to watch Barron begin to understand what is really important. Great character development!
I cannot say too much else without spoiling the story, but I think anyone who likes science fiction might want to give it a try. If you like the unexpected, if you enjoy catastrophes and apocalyptic events, and if you’re looking for a read that is as much driven by events as it is by characters, with just a touch of romance, then you will probably enjoy this free novella.
September 1, 2014
Quite an interesting read. What if the world as we know it ended? How would humankind survive? I liked how the story addressed these questions.
The two main characters were young boys who had to adapt to the changing world around them. I liked how the story developed and we got to know the characters better.
The ending was weird though. Super weird.
The two main characters were young boys who had to adapt to the changing world around them. I liked how the story developed and we got to know the characters better.
The ending was weird though. Super weird.
June 26, 2018
3.8 Stars
I...don't even know how to review this story. It's basically a bunch of tropes sewn together and yet it somehow worked.
What starts off as sort of YA-ish, with a bully picking on the more femme-looking schoolmate because he actually likes him, morphs into a post-apocalyptic tale of basic survival...and then
Sounds crazy, right? And it is...but again, it works...because the romance developing between the two spans the genres/tropes tying the whole thing together.
Also, again. SCIENCE. Like what caused the apocalypse...a true threat to any planet. A lot of the tale is peppered with science fiction (), but massive #Points! for those accurate details.
I...don't even know how to review this story. It's basically a bunch of tropes sewn together and yet it somehow worked.
What starts off as sort of YA-ish, with a bully picking on the more femme-looking schoolmate because he actually likes him, morphs into a post-apocalyptic tale of basic survival...and then
Sounds crazy, right? And it is...but again, it works...because the romance developing between the two spans the genres/tropes tying the whole thing together.
Also, again. SCIENCE. Like what caused the apocalypse...a true threat to any planet. A lot of the tale is peppered with science fiction (), but massive #Points! for those accurate details.
April 13, 2017
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
I was a little iffy on the description, but I really liked Alicia Nordwell's The Experiment, so I gave this one a try...
My very first thought was, "Uhg, I hate that cover", and my very last thought before I went to write this review was, "Oh... now I get that cover." Still don't particularly like it, but I get it.
So this book, is hard to review. Thinking back to the first chapter, it's hard to believe it's even the same book. And I mean that in the best possible way. Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake is the only other post-apocalyptic book I can think of where we get to witness said apocalypse. Very different take on things from what I'm used to.
Of course, I would have liked a little more romance with my romance, but, really a spectacular M/M Sci-Fi novella. I loved how Nordwell seamlessly clued us in that male-male relationships are viewed as no different from female-male relationships without it being an info dump, and while still having the same parental standards and issues with regards to class, type, prejudice, etc. in a dating partner. I loved how the boys changed, and yet didn't, with all the insane circumstances they underwent. I loved how a crazy sci-fi twist didn't really seem all that crazy, and kinda slid under the radar until it was over and I thought, "damn, that's crazy."
It didn't feel like a cliff-hanger, although given the nature of the situation there are a lot of unknowns. But it felt unknown in a "that's life" sorta way to me, as opposed to a "the author left things hanging." That being said. I would love a follow up
Really very good. Ms Nordwell is quickly approaching auto-buy status for me.
P.S. I love how a freaken Teen Beats pic morphed into a near space opera and I didn't bat an eye. Well done.
August 2, 2014
sci-fi (near future/apocolyptic) novella length story
Barron and his class mates are on a school trip to the local caves and deep underground when tragedy strikes the earth, wiping out most living creatures. This is the story of their survival and eventual transfer to a planet known as Paradise....which is something of a misnomer.
The relationship between Barron and Revi sis a pretty classic enemies to lovers scenario and is very muted compared to the other parts of the story but it works in this situation.
I really enjoyed this until the very end part of the story which just didn't quite work for me. Otherwise though this was a very well written sci fi story.
Barron and his class mates are on a school trip to the local caves and deep underground when tragedy strikes the earth, wiping out most living creatures. This is the story of their survival and eventual transfer to a planet known as Paradise....which is something of a misnomer.
The relationship between Barron and Revi sis a pretty classic enemies to lovers scenario and is very muted compared to the other parts of the story but it works in this situation.
I really enjoyed this until the very end part of the story which just didn't quite work for me. Otherwise though this was a very well written sci fi story.
April 2, 2016
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
August 29, 2015
It left me wanting more, but in a good way! I want to learn more about the planet called Paradise and about what happened if/when Barron and Ravi come into contact with the colony again - especially Ravi's father. I'd also definitely like to know more about the alien biology at play. A really great read.
August 1, 2014
Definitely not your typical romance! Alicia writes awesome scifi adventure that contains sweet sweet romance (yes there is a difference. yes i love this author.).
Fans of this story will enjoy her other works, I think.
Fans of this story will enjoy her other works, I think.
July 25, 2014
Read it in one sitting, until 6 this morning :P
I really loved the story, just wish there was more. I think 40K was not enough words for the story.
I really loved the story, just wish there was more. I think 40K was not enough words for the story.
August 21, 2014
Review to come
July 27, 2025
Very, very good!
September 7, 2014
Wow. That was very detailed and interesting. More world building than relationship building but it was engaging. Very psy-fi stuff.
March 12, 2015
I love love this story. Please tell me there's a sequel. I beg you. Write a sequel #downonmykneesbegging.
May 8, 2015
Interesting how that simple prompt developed into a story about apocalypse and finding a new planet.
January 10, 2016
Enjoyed this very much
July 25, 2015
I'm DNFing this one at 34%.
Mostly because the story is not for me, I suppose. Not what I really care to read, but more importantly, not what I was expecting. I'm not totally au fait with the purpose of the Love's Landscape stories but this one didn't seem to fit the ideal. I mean, it's right there in the title. 'Love'. Which would imply some sort of relationship, right? Well, when the first third of the story has gone by with a single interaction between the potential couple, and that interaction consisted entirely of , then I don't feel that the perceived promise of the story is going to be fulfilled at all.
I do get that in the middle of surviving a cataclysmic event is not the time for love (Dr Jones!) but when the story concept is a relationship, there has to be some sort of nod toward it, surely. Especially when the main character is not particularly sympathetic nor interesting and the story about the cataclysmic event is not that eventful.
Sorry, but this one just doesn't work for me.
Mostly because the story is not for me, I suppose. Not what I really care to read, but more importantly, not what I was expecting. I'm not totally au fait with the purpose of the Love's Landscape stories but this one didn't seem to fit the ideal. I mean, it's right there in the title. 'Love'. Which would imply some sort of relationship, right? Well, when the first third of the story has gone by with a single interaction between the potential couple, and that interaction consisted entirely of , then I don't feel that the perceived promise of the story is going to be fulfilled at all.
I do get that in the middle of surviving a cataclysmic event is not the time for love (Dr Jones!) but when the story concept is a relationship, there has to be some sort of nod toward it, surely. Especially when the main character is not particularly sympathetic nor interesting and the story about the cataclysmic event is not that eventful.
Sorry, but this one just doesn't work for me.
April 12, 2015
DNF at 22%
I'm sorry, but I didn't like any of the characters and their characterization was awfully stereotypical - the bully with the golden heart, the gay emo guy, ALL girls are hysterical chicks that either giggle, cry or scream. It really annoyed me. So much so, that I even wasn't interested in finding out what did happen.
I'm sorry, but I didn't like any of the characters and their characterization was awfully stereotypical - the bully with the golden heart, the gay emo guy, ALL girls are hysterical chicks that either giggle, cry or scream. It really annoyed me. So much so, that I even wasn't interested in finding out what did happen.
mm-stand-alone
May 27, 2016Genre: science fiction
Tags: teens, bullying, post-apocalyptic/ELE, disability, hurt/comfort, space travel, mutation, first love
Tags: teens, bullying, post-apocalyptic/ELE, disability, hurt/comfort, space travel, mutation, first love
event-stories-unread
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
February 9, 2015
I bought the ending, but I did not pay very much for it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews