by Ken MacLeod
First published 2020
This anthology brings together twenty-two science fiction tales that Donna Scott curated from publications across 2019. The collection spans diverse narratives where characters face separation from those they love, confront abusive relationships, and grapple with sleepless nights. Some stories follow people considering what their alternate selves might accomplish while others watch weeds sprout in places meant for gardens. Characters drink excessively, wish they could freeze time, and listen to birds singing. The volume includes tales of someone trapped with their abuser and creatures severed from their companions. Yet hope persists as rockets launch skyward, pointing toward humanity's future. Contributors include Chris Beckett, Ken MacLeod, Una McCormack, and Lavie Tidhar among others. The stories explore heroism alongside loss, wonder mixed with anxiety, capturing the full spectrum of human experience through speculative fiction.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, speculative-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, loss
Period: 2019
280 pages · Paperback · Newcon Press
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence