Book

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

15Score

Essential Reading

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Is Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke Woke? Quick Answer

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke scores 15/100 on the IsItWoke scale and reads as Essential Reading.

That is the story-first end of the scale for this book. The strongest reasons behind the rating are The dialogue serves the dark themes rather than overt messaging. and characters are primarily defined by their complex motivations and desires..

See the full breakdown below.

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Why it received this score

Based on: Published title analysisConfidence: MediumLast updated: 2026-05-29

Key reasons

The dialogue serves the dark themes rather than overt messaging.
Characters are primarily defined by their complex motivations and desires.
The story prioritizes psychological horror over ideological framing.

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There are no significant alterations to existing narratives or properties.
Contemporary issues are present but not dominant or immersion-breaking.

Score signals

Signal	What was measured	Strength	Impact
Anti-traditional framing	How strongly a title normalizes, glamorizes, or positively frames anti-traditional, anti-religious, anti-family, or civilizationally subversive themes in a way that should count as woke or corrosive for this product's audience.	6/20	+4
Message-first dialogue	How much the dialogue, monologues, or character interactions feel driven by overt messaging, moral lecturing, ideological framing, or making a point instead of serving the story naturally.	5/20	+3
Ideology over story	How much the overall storytelling prioritizes ideological framing, message delivery, social commentary, or activism-coded narrative choices over pacing, conflict, immersion, and entertainment.	4/20	+3
Tokenistic characters	How much characters feel inserted or shaped primarily for symbolic representation, political signaling, or demographic checkbox value rather than narrative depth, organic fit, or strong characterization.	3/20	+2
Modern politics injection	How much contemporary political discourse, activist framing, or modern culture-war signaling appears injected into fantasy, sci-fi, historical, or otherwise escapist settings in a way that feels noticeable or immersion-breaking.	2/20	+1

AI cultural analysis

A short read on tone, themes, and messaging — not a plot synopsis.

AI read

This novella dives deep into the psychological horror of obsession and desire, presenting a narrative that is compelling and unsettling. The dialogue feels organic, allowing the characters' twisted motivations to unfold naturally without heavy-handed messaging.

Characters are well-developed, driven by their own complexities rather than serving as mere symbols for representation. While there are elements of anti-traditional themes, they are woven into the narrative without overshadowing the story's core.

The absence of overt political messaging or forced diversity focus allows the reader to engage with the characters and their dark journey authentically. Overall, the novella excels in crafting a chilling atmosphere that prioritizes storytelling over ideological concerns, making it a gripping read for those drawn to the macabre.