First published 2024
This collection gathers short fiction from across Vonda N. McIntyre's distinguished career, showcasing her range from environmental collapse scenarios to elaborate spacefaring societies. The stories move between dying Earth environments and distant civilizations where genetically altered humans navigate complex social structures. Characters confront questions of freedom and control while McIntyre examines how gender shapes power relationships. Some stories offer biting social commentary, while others explore the realities of growing older in changed worlds. The collection demonstrates McIntyre's focus on diversity among both humans and alien species, paired with her belief that survival depends on recognizing our connections to each other. These tales span from grim futures where ecological disaster looms to ornate interstellar cultures, unified by McIntyre's exploration of how individuals respond when systems of authority are challenged.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, literary-fiction, speculative-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, social-commentary
224 pages · Paperback · Goldsmiths Press