LULLABY FOR A DESERTER

A young man dodges the draft and lands in a place that may not provide the solace he craves in Kushnir’s dystopian novella.

Elias Grant was once patriotic, at least from the comfort of his Denver apartment. But America’s ongoing war with an unnamed country is growing more and more unnerving, even with negative comments “scrubbed” from social media. When an algorithm chooses him to serve in the military, he runs the risk of severe penalties if he disregards the notice. So, like many others, Elias packs a bag and flees the grid. He endures the blistering cold of the mountains until he comes across a cabin. Its sole inhabitant, the 40-something Martha, takes pity on him and welcomes him inside. Now, he has shelter and warmth—and a potential place to hide in case anyone from the military comes looking for him. But staying at the cabin may require Elias to make a sacrifice, leading him to wonder if he’d be better off out in the cold. Kushnir’s bleak tale offers pointed takes on social issues, especially as Elias worries about the draft—there’s no question that people from affluent families are the only ones getting exemptions. Elias is sympathetic, and his situation at the cabin is frighteningly ambiguous; Martha isn’t an outright villain, and she may be the least of various evils. The political views woven into the story are slippery, as a traditionally left-wing stance (the overall anti-military sentiment) eventually shifts to a different, more conservative outlook. The narrative can be repetitive, particularly when describing those exempted from serving or hemming over Elias’ ultimate choice (“The dilemma gnawed ceaselessly: perish as a ‘hero’ for a hollow cause, or…”). The final act delivers a memorable ending that befits the novella’s overall tone.

Relentless dourness and unease fuel this foreboding wartime tale.