Published: May 19, 2012
Words: 8,726 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781476401003

Short description

Beth has the Midas touch, only instead of gold, everything she touches turns to ruin. Stone crumbles between her fingers. Buildings collapse as she brushes past. The earth burns away beneath her feet. And the people she loves… what happens to them is worse than anything they could imagine. Before, she was just another face in the crowd. Now she is the destroyer of worlds.

Extended description

When she left for work this morning, Beth was just another face in the crowd. But now, something’s changed. Now, she holds a power that she neither wants nor can control.

Her touch is death.

Steel and stone warp and crumble in her hands. Buildings fall around her, and the very ground beneath her feet dissolves like sugar in water. (Read more) When she left for work this morning, Beth was just another face in the crowd. But now, something’s changed. Now, she holds a power that she neither wants nor can control.

Her touch is death.

Steel and stone warp and crumble in her hands. Buildings fall around her, and the very ground beneath her feet dissolves like sugar in water.

She dares not touch another human being, not after the last time… and all the blood… and the screaming… and the ripping and tearing of flesh…

She is no longer a normal woman with a normal life.

Now she has become death, the destroyer of worlds.

And all she wants is for it to stop.
(Less)

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

apocalypse, end of the world, loss of control, unholy power

Available ebook reading formats

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Reviews

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Review by: Anthony Chavez on Aug. 06, 2012 :
Very interesting little short story by Kameko Murakami. I loved the premise and driving force of "The Color of Ash," it has a lot of potential for a comic book or a character in a much bigger novella or novel.

The first paragraph alone had me hooked. I can't imagine buying apples at a market, getting home and out of my work clothes and then going to eat one of the apples only to find it shrunken and old, as if it has sat there for weeks. I liked Beth's, the main character's, attempts at finding out exactly what sort of power she wields. Testing her hands on herself, her clothes she is wearing versus clothes that she isn't wearing, touching water, her cellphone, a pen, coffee table, etc. Quite the scientific experiment there and one I could see totally happening if a SUDDEN superpower came upon someone.

Why doesn't her own hands destroy her clothes she is wearing or her own skin and body? "Because a snake is immune to its own poison." - great line.

It has all the workings and a touch of Stephen King in "The Color of Ash," and a nice little interesting mini-twist at the end. I look forward to reading more from Kameko in the future.

3.5 stars.
(review of free book)

Review by: Allison M. Dickson on May 24, 2012 :
This story reads like one of my worst nightmares. A girl whose very touch brings about true destruction. Like Rogue from the X-Men, but about a hundred times worse. Buildings collapse, oceans dissolve, friends disintegrate into bloody masses and then finally evaporate into dust.

The story seems well primed to become a series or even a full-length novel. Murakami is a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing what else she has up her sleeve.
(review of free book)

Review by: Sherri Cornelius on May 24, 2012 :
I came over here to check out Kameko after she reviewed my story, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by what I found. The imagery in "The Color of Ash" is by turns heart-wrenching and downright cool. I've been turning this story over in my mind since reading it, and I have a feeling it'll stick with me for a long time.

I'll be keeping an eye out for more by Kameko Murakami. She's a true talent.
(review of free book)

Review by: Bianca Noire on May 20, 2012 :
The world will be a better place if Ms. Murakami continues to publish her short stories at this rate.

Her sophomore effort doesn't disappoint. Beth's transformation from ordinary young woman to destroyer of worlds is anchored to the world around her in a frighteningly realistic way. As her experiences escalates, her inner turmoil grows, leading the reader down a path of horrible what-ifs.

There's a wonderful taste of vintage Stephen King about The Color of Ash, and the surprise in the last moments left me wondering how Beth will fare. What more can one ask from a short story?
(review of free book)

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