Love Story [Short Story Review]

[I spoil this entire story.]

"Love Story" is a short science fiction story written by Gary K. Wolf. It was published as part of a collection in 2012.

"Love Story" takes place in a dystopian world that has become so overcrowded that it has basically reached its limit. Everything has to be automated, and bureaucracy has actually become a necessity just to keep track of everyone.

The focus on this story is, as he title suggests, all about love. It has to do with marriage, love, and child bearing, but these things are entirely different in a world where taking two steps means you'll bump into someone. There are forms to fill out and requests needed to be made in order to even have a child.

Also it's a bit backwards here. Baby-making comes first, and then you get married. I'll explain why in a second. This baby, once approved, actually happens inside a pregnant robot named Wombette. They still pull the genetic material from the parents, though. Also the baby has to be perfect or else it does not make it to completion. This all has to do with the fact that they are living in an over-crowded world and nobody has the resources to deal with children with problems.

The story goes over all these issues, and the children are going to be born and indoctrinated into the world as it presently is. Now, they are allowed to get married, and they do. They are married by a priest, given some crackers to eat, and those crackers happen to be poisoned. They die right there at the ceremony. Why? So that their two new children can fill their slots.

This is an example of a very well made dystopian story. I have read others like this, and they always leave you with weird feelings, and they might even make you giggle a little... like in a crazy way. Although it does deal with topics that make me very uncomfortable, I still recommend it for what it is. Dystopian fiction is intended to make people feel uncomfortable, and, if it fails to do that, it fails in general.

This blog was written on March 31, 2026.

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