Locus on ALL THE ASH WE LEAVE BEHIND by C. Robert Cargill

You can add Locus magazine to those venues adding thoughtful reviews and praise to All the Ash We Leave Behind, C. Robert Cargill’s searing novella that shares the setting of his novels Sea of Rust and Day Zero.

As Locus notes: 

“Cargill wastes no time with excess scenes or unnecessary detail. All the Ash We Leave Behind is a lean, focused window into a brief conflict that spans only a few days. Moreover, readers have a sense that the end may be near, but it’s unclear whether humans or robots will play a larger hand in that. I found this unsettling question to lend well to the suspense; something’s coming to ruin the Confederation, and it’s unlikely that it can be stopped. Readers may wonder if it even should be stopped after encountering multiple antagonists and violent residents… Rather than focus on the fine line between humanity, robots, and intelligence, Car­gill instead focuses on a shared emotion: nostalgia, and loss of purpose. From the violent tragedy that befalls the humans to Nanny’s search for a new purpose in a postapocalyptic world, the quest for individuality becomes a unique throughline among both human and robot.”

And, in case you've forgotten, Publishers Weekly lauded the novella in a starred review:

“In this page-turning novella, Cargill returns to the postapocalyptic future of Day Zero and Sea of Rust, in which robots threaten the extinction of humanity in a civil war. Nanny, a sophisticated robot designed to care for young children, is grieving the death of one of his charges... The result is a taut, suspenseful, and ultimately moving tale that will be fully accessible to first-timers. Cargill continues to prove his storytelling chops.” 

Limited: 1000 signed numbered hardcover copies: $40

An ebook of All the Ash We Leave Behind is also available.