Barbarians

by Nick Robideau

Jasmine, her boyfriend Scott, and her best friend Marquise are 30somethings doing their best to navigate ambition, romance, and the brutal aftermath of an environmental disaster. Relationships get murky, society collapses, and oh yeah, Scott joins a local white militia group, which is somewhat controversial back at home since Jasmine and Marquise are Black. Fast-forward a year, and the trio finds themselves in...

Jasmine, her boyfriend Scott, and her best friend Marquise are 30somethings doing their best to navigate ambition, romance, and the brutal aftermath of an environmental disaster. Relationships get murky, society collapses, and oh yeah, Scott joins a local white militia group, which is somewhat controversial back at home since Jasmine and Marquise are Black. Fast-forward a year, and the trio finds themselves in separate interrogations, trying to explain how one of them came to commit a terrible act of violence. As the two timelines unfold, bounce off each other, and slowly start to converge, Jasmine, Scott, and Marquise are forced to truly look at themselves in the harsh light of the apocalypse.

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Barbarians

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  • Nick Malakhow: Barbarians by Nick Robideau
    “

    Really interesting piece that is both a unique and unsettling dystopic/sci fi piece and a sharp exploration of white people's fear of losing power, the toxicity and gaslighting that comes with "accepting" Black and brown folks into white spaces and power, and the frustrating idealization of cis-white-heternormativity. The story was both original in content as well as form, with the shifting chronology and direct address interrogation scenes and monologues helping to build tension, momentum, and suspense. The relationship between Jasmine and Marquise is affecting and heartbreaking to see evolve...

    Really interesting piece that is both a unique and unsettling dystopic/sci fi piece and a sharp exploration of white people's fear of losing power, the toxicity and gaslighting that comes with "accepting" Black and brown folks into white spaces and power, and the frustrating idealization of cis-white-heternormativity. The story was both original in content as well as form, with the shifting chronology and direct address interrogation scenes and monologues helping to build tension, momentum, and suspense. The relationship between Jasmine and Marquise is affecting and heartbreaking to see evolve as Scott's toxic hold takes root. Fascinating!

    read more
    ”
  • Jerry Polner: Barbarians by Nick Robideau
    “

    In Nick Robideau's icy dark comedy, a toxic cloud of unknown origin doesn't completely cancel the funny, but it does scare the daylights out of us. Some part of the country has been wiped out, and the three principal characters retell and relive their mutual betrayals and the crime they can never come to terms with. Barbarians is a brilliant, frightening, devastating piece of work.

    In Nick Robideau's icy dark comedy, a toxic cloud of unknown origin doesn't completely cancel the funny, but it does scare the daylights out of us. Some part of the country has been wiped out, and the three principal characters retell and relive their mutual betrayals and the crime they can never come to terms with. Barbarians is a brilliant, frightening, devastating piece of work.

    ”