Episode Two

4.5 out of 5 stars

If you’re unfamiliar with serialized fiction – it’s the idea that you take a story and separate it out into episodes – like a TV show.  These are usually released on a website or as a podcast. I’ll be reviewing each episode separately as they come out to provide an episode by episode review of the story. Read my review of Episode One

Some of my reviews may contain spoilers to past episodes – I’ll try and keep that to a minimum but I can’t guarantee anything.

In episode two of Convergence, we’re introduced to the camps where our main character lives.  Hicks’ description of the way that people live, the way that everything is not really safe, and the overall vibe of the camp really sets the tone.  It’s gritty and right on the cusp of being “too much” (which I’m sure the characters feel every damn day). Not everyone would or could make it there (and that’s the point).

The most fascinating part of this episode in my eyes was that Hicks tells us a little more about how we go to where we are.  We find out that they are in California, which the US considered a complete loss.  There were attacks on Hawaii, EMPs set off in major US cities on the West Coast.  It sounds like it was a complete surprise attack and caught everyone off guard.

In episode two, another character is introduced: Mesa.  She’s an “older than her eighteen years” 18-year-old who has, given the statement, has had a rough life. She’s Jonah’s daughter and I feel like she’s going to have a more major part of the story in the upcoming episodes. She’s only in the story for a few moments but I have a feeling that Jonah will have to do something major to save or protect her.

Some other things that were talked about were nano-filaments (in regards to tattoos) – it sounds a little bit like having a tattoo that’s also a gif.  Pretty cool idea and definitely a quick intro into some of the other mods that people can have. I know and understand that memories are going to play a major role but it’s neat to see what else people would and could do to their bodies.

Overall, episode two is an introduction to Jonah’s life, a little more into where he lives (his “home” aka “it’s not home, these are just tents”), and a description of what happened to get us to today. It flew by and definitely made me want to know more about what is going to happen with Jonah and Mesa in the upcoming episodes. The memory chips/memories part of it that we were introduced to in the first episode was only mentioned once in passing, but I know it’ll come back soon with a vengeance.

This is completely disjointed from the rest of my review/episode synopsis, but, Hicks talks about fingerling potatoes fried in bacon grease, topped with bechamel, topped with bacon and green onions and now I’m hungry. I believe it’s completely unrelated to the story but worked to make me want something for lunch now.

Check out Episode Two Here (or subscribe on other podcast apps)

Book Description:

Convergence Episode Two by Michael Patrick Hicks
Narrator: Travis Baldree
Length: 38 mins
Series: Convergence #2
Published by Serial Audio on December 12th 2018
Genres: Science Fiction
Also by this author: Revolver, From The Ashes, Mass Hysteria, Consumption
Also in this series: Convergence Episode One, Convergence Episode Three, Convergence Episode 3, Convergence Episode 5

Brian
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