Writer Spotlight: Ramez Yoakeim
Welcome to the eleventh installment of Writer Spotlight. This week’s focus is Ramez Yoakeim. I’ve reviewed 14 of Yoakeim’s pieces, twelve of them individually on Inkfoundry’s “Get WYSR” feed. (In case you didn’t know, Inkfoundry is a wonderful and free resource that aggregates short fiction and poetry pieces!)
Recurring Themes:
Gay / Queerness & Homophobia
Wealth Disparity
Impoverished Communities
Overcoming Barriers
Loneliness/Feeling Outcast
Fiery One-Liners!
Day One - March 12
Afaf leaves the safety of the locked community to find the Caretakers and confront them about their dwindling quality of life.
A sentient robot cares for an impoverished community and comes to realize a difficult truth.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
Both of these stories feature communities in poverty, albeit for different reasons.
Individually:
"Rise Again” has an underground community on a far-off planet and ancient old Earth technology. There’s a theme of the danger of humanity versus its need to survive, and how important it is to oppose harmful values even if someone you love holds those values.
"Life According to Tabeeb” has themes around caring for the vulnerable even when they might lash out, the evils of wealth disparity, and the power of when a community comes together.
Day Two - March 13
Waleed comes looking for Omar’s falafel. And maybe . . . maybe something more.
Geraldine is forced to work with an Angel, though she hates everything they stand for.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
Both these stories included a twist on a popular mythical/religious archetype: Jinns and Angels.
Individually:
“Omar’s Perfect Falafel” is a coming out story wrapped in gorgeous prose. There’s also wonderful descriptions of food and lovemaking. It’s rather impactful in its brevity, highlighting the prose. It’s also set in Cairo!
“The Diamond Noose” echoes both “Rise Again” and “Tabeeb” in that it incorporates the theme of an impoverished community, specifically “Tabeeb” even more because of the “haves and the have-nots” mentality of the Angels versus the normal humans, similar to the rich sector that refuses to aid the poor Tabeeb is supposed to care for. “Diamond” also introduces the theme of immortality and/or more perfect bodies.
There was also a line I noted in the Inkfoundry review that made me really sit up and take notice, and the same thing happened in “Rise Again.” Yoakeim has impressed me so far with one liners that I kind of want to memorize.
Day Three - March 14
5. “Redemption for the Unseen”
Living in a digitized world, Linus takes a job welcoming a rich, new arrival.
Marwa isn't going to lose her robot friend. She doesn't care if he's been deemed unfit.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
Both of these are sci-fi stories, and both of them incorporate themes around the worship of commodification and consumerism. In “Redemption” the corporatocracy rules the digital world and everything there is also bought and sold, just like in today’s hyper-capitalist/end of capitalist society. In “Unfit” this is also explored in how the robots are simply trashed and replaced instead of simply upgraded or mended.
Individually:
“Redemption for the Unseen” has themes around homosexuality, joining “Omar’s Perfect Falafel”! It also echoes the recurring theme of the haves and the have nots and wealth disparity, as in “Life According to Tabeeb” and “The Diamond Noose.”
“Unfit for Purpose” reminded me of “Diamond Noose” in that there are technological upgrades “needed”, though one is set for humans and one is set for robots. This is also from the POV of a young child. “Rise Again” seemed to have a slightly older protagonist, but still coded as a child.
Day Four - March 15
7. “Mashrabiya”
A young man can’t stop visiting a haunted labyrinth, even though what is there is killing him.
8. “3 East”
An adrenaline fueled story where the main character realizes he doesn’t want to allow his father’s homophobia to continue.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories I believe might have something in common in that I was getting queer vibes from the main character in “Mashrabiya,” but I wasn’t sure. If that’s true, then both these will join “Redemption” and “Omar’s” for queer representation! Also, both of these had surreal moments where it is unclear whether or not the main character is undergoing a fractured mental state via panic or drugs, or is actually experiencing something supernatural.
Individually:
“Mashrabiya” This one felt like a horror story, with the haunted nature of the world beyond the mashrabiya, with the undead citizens draining his life force. Vampires, perhaps? I didn’t feel the need to have to know for sure. There’s the possibility they were simply drug addicts - the main character’s blurry state certainly spoke to addiction and the possibility of drugs. I also felt a sort of time dilation effect, which also could have been driven by drugs, or something else. I kind of liked that I wasn’t sure. But in that element, it reminded me of “Redemption” as in that world, there is definitely a time dilation element. As I mentioned in my individual review, there is also a kind of outcast/loneliness feeling to the main character.
“3 East” felt so surreal. It’s one giant adrenaline rush! I should also mention that this one is pretty heavy on the homophobia, which was touched on I think in “Omar’s” but not as much in “Redemption.” This story also has themes around difficult and complex father/son relationships, and a violent death.
Day Five - March 16
Agwambo lives in a world where hurricanes happen often. But when they receive a special gift they must make a difficult choice.
Ari and Gordy love each other, but Ari shows their love in a different way than Gordy expects.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
Both of these are sci fi stories, and both have hostile environments that challenge the main characters.
Individually:
“In the Teeth of the Gale” reminded me of “3 East” for the action/crisis as the main tension in the piece. I also noticed that this is another child character that cares for and must save their younger sibling, similar to “Rise Again.”
“More Than Trinkets” joins “3 East,” “Omar’s,” possibly “Mashrabiya,” and “Redemption” for queer representation with a nonbinary character plus perhaps on the asexual spectrum. Oh, also, time dilation is a thing, here, in the space travel story, so it reminded me of “Mashrabiya” and “Redemption.” There’s also, for sure, a kind of outcast/loneliness theme in this one, as in “Mashrabiya” because Ari isolates themself. The idea of poverty/impoverished community is emphasized in this one through the use of the debt for being born concept, which hearkens back to “Rise Again,” “Tabeeb,” “The Diamond Noose,” and “Redemption.” A subset of that theme emerges, as well, the sense of having to literally “earn” your existence, which for sure occurs in “Rise Again,” “Redemption,” and “The Diamond Noose.”
Day Six - March 17
11. “Farmhouse of the Lost and Found”
Guber can’t wait to settle and thrive in the new world. Alone. Without the annoying neighbors calling him.
Ephraim and Juan have to figure out how to escape the rising hatred and violence threatening their lives.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two are both sci fi stories, one set in the distant future and one too close for comfort. Trigger warning: in both of these stories, dogs die.
Individually:
“Farmhouse of the Lost and Found” has themes about yearning for solitary life while missing the comfort of people, echoing “Mashrabiya.” There’s also the sense of a Robinson Caruso narrative, of striking out on your own.
“Fettle & Sunder” was heartbreaking. Holy crap. Possibly the saddest and most enraging story so far in regards to discrimination. Homophobia rears its head, even more than “3 East” in its intensity, as well as racism. This one features two gay men, so it joins the others I’ve mentioned previously for queer/gay representation. It also reminded me of “3 East” and “Teeth” for the adrenaline/crisis themes. I should also mention I’ve noticed a burgeoning sub theme around a gay couple that disagrees on how to navigate the pressures and discrimination around them, as in “More Than Trinkets” and now “Fettle & Sunder.”
Day Seven - March 18
Humanity is threatened by the Swarm, and must do everything in their power to stop it. Even changing biology.
14. “Son of the Sea”
Kumi is so ready to give birth. The problem is, babies don’t always wait till their due date.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories are, again, both sci-fi, but pretty dissimilar!
Individually:
“Asymptotic Convergence” has one of my favorite sci-fi tricks: that of spanning multiple generations to show humanity’s changes throughout. It also employs philosophical questions about what humanity is, and when they might evolve into something else. This reminds me of “Redemption for the Unseen” and “Diamond Noose” specifically, and the earlier theme I noted about needing to “upgrade” or be tossed aside.
“Son of the Sea” has several elements as “In the Teeth of the Gale”: that of hurricanes and a setting / future where water has covered the earth, and tech billionaires have taken the available land. I also noticed the name Agwambo make an appearance as in “Gale”! The theme of wealth disparity and impoverished communities absolutely both come up in this one, similar to the stories I have noted above. There’s a crisis and an adrenaline rush, as well, like in “3 East” and “Gale.”
Emmie’s Personal Favorite: “Life According to Tabeeb”
Summary!
If I were to summarize Yoakeim’s style in one sentence, I would say he excels in crafting stunning quotable one liners and beautiful prose and worlds, wrapping and presenting themes of wealth disparity and communities rising up, homophobia and queer representation, and the untenable resilience of both loneliness and connection.
Interview Questions
What are the themes you tend to return to the most in your work overall? Why do think that is?
Yoakeim: On my website's bibliography, I tag stories with a handful of terms I believe encapsulate their main themes, and definitely see a pattern emerging where 'Family', 'Queer', 'Inequality', and 'Machine Sentience' dominate. Being a Queer POC writer might readily explain the first three, while the last is an inevitable marker of our times, as we grapple with the implications of the seemingly imminent birth of a man-made life-form long predicted by our genre forebears. The engineer in me wants to solve these problems, the writer is consumed by examining them, and so far (luckily for me!) the writer is in ascendancy.
2. What is one of the characters in your short stories/flash pieces that you relate to the most, and why?
Yoakeim: I'm one of those writers who try to inhabit each of their protagonists psyche, which means I end up relating as deeply as I know how to each of them. Despite the obvious parallels with Ephraim in "Fettle & Sunder," more often I gravitate toward the POV of young women, perhaps because in the culture of my childhood there seemed no graver accusation/insult to a young boy than being labelled a girl, which to the adult seems more a compliment and commendation.
3. What short fiction author do you look up to? Why?
Yoakeim: Of all the questions, this is the toughest! There're SO many that it would end up being a list of most past and current writers. Instead of risking omitting ones I adore, I'll say that the work of decades past is what introduced me to notions of other worlds, realities, and peoples, and left in awe by contemporaries who dare to dream new ideas and perspectives in a culture being rapidly homogenized by an orthodoxy of algorithms.
4. Anything else you’d like to say about your work?
Yoakeim: It took me so long to start writing (I only started pre-COVID, but only just) courtesy of a high school english teacher who counseled me to focus on attainable goals when I professed my desire to write one day. So, to anyone who reads this and have that sort of person in their life, giving them similar advice: please ignore them! The world is far richer when all voices are heard, and perhaps more so when those condemned to silence shrug off the naysayers and prohibitions and share with the rest of us how they see the world, its past, and its future.
5. Do you have any piece, listed here or otherwise, that you would like to promote?
Yoakeim: Despite being first drafted a decade ago, "Fettle & Sunder" seems to be depressingly timely (as Arley Sorg put in his exceedingly insightful Lightspeed review). Meant as a cautionary tale, it suddenly seems only a news cycle or two away from the headlines, and it's up to all of us to push back on that possibility. Nothing is inevitable, unless we allow it to become.