Written and published before the 1/6 Insurrection, this odd book sadly isn't nearly as speculative as the writers may have thought (or, maybe, hoped.) While not great fiction, it's clear-eyed (if too whimsically) about the challenges, both seen and unseen, facing America. Any recommendation should come with the book's own caveat: "As a parody/satire with occasional over-the-top elements, some reads may find certain portions of these stories caustic. But the read is reminded that this is a satire and neither the authors nor the publisher purport that anything contained in this anthology is either true or likely to happen, or is a true representation of the characters."

The book consists of three novellas:
-The Breaking of Nations by Harry Turtledove
-The Purloined Republic by James Morror
-Because It Is Bitter by Cat Rambo ( )

Meh.
A set of three novellas, each one building on the previous.
The first story, by Turtledove, imagines that the Trump era gets so bad that the Pacific Northwest secedes from the United States, and becomes it's own country. Honestly, this scenario is not so far fetched. I live in Washington. There has been talk of forming a new country, called Cascadia. For years. They even have a flag for the new country! I was wondering when someone was going to get around to writing this scenario into a book. Enter Turtledove. Honestly, it's the area where he is at his best. He's explored the topic before, with the Civil War, and with his World War series. I enjoy his imagination. So, here he's written a good, engaging story. It kept me guessing, right up to the ending. You do have to deal with his somewhat "folksy" dialogues, he never has grown past the "he said, then she said, then he said" descriptions. All in language that seems from the 40's or 50's. But it's okay, if you accept that's just him.
The other two stories build on the first. Each gets a little more "out there". I didn't really enjoy either one. I would have rather let Turtledove build on his scenario.
Mildly entertaining. ( )