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ladybusinessI really enjoy reading collections, short stories by one author collected in one volume, and anthologies, stories by multiple authors generally centered around a theme. They are great ways to explore the depth and breath of SFF. I like that collections let me see the range of a single author and that anthologies show me so many different takes on the same theme.
Recently I've been reading more collections and anthologies. While I have been having trouble reading things on screens in pandemic times, I have lots of collections and anthologies in either hard copy or ebook, both of which are easier for me. It's nice to dip into the stories between longer works.
Here are some new and some old favorites:
Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth, ed. Jed Sabin and Isabela Oliveira— This is an anothology of queer plant-themed SFF. There's a wide variety of stories here. I liked that many stories featured intergenerational relationships. Also it was fun to see how many different ways stories could feature plants.
A Summer Beyond Your Reach by Xia Jia— Xia is Chinese science fiction writer whose work tends to center daily life. I had read several of the stories in this volume before, but many were new to me and a fair number were first translated into English here. These stories are emotionally rich.
Not For Use In Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma — Datt Sharma’s stories focus on people doing unglamorous work (like siting a sewage plant) to make the world better. They also frequently deal with living in community with others. I find their writing evocative and lovely.
Spirits Aboard by Zen Cho— Cho is another of my favorite authors; she has a strong (and delightful) writing voice. This collection really showcases the breadth of her writing. I love how she brings magic to all kinds of ordinary situations
What are some of your favorite anthologies and collections?
Recently I've been reading more collections and anthologies. While I have been having trouble reading things on screens in pandemic times, I have lots of collections and anthologies in either hard copy or ebook, both of which are easier for me. It's nice to dip into the stories between longer works.
Here are some new and some old favorites:
Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth, ed. Jed Sabin and Isabela Oliveira— This is an anothology of queer plant-themed SFF. There's a wide variety of stories here. I liked that many stories featured intergenerational relationships. Also it was fun to see how many different ways stories could feature plants.
A Summer Beyond Your Reach by Xia Jia— Xia is Chinese science fiction writer whose work tends to center daily life. I had read several of the stories in this volume before, but many were new to me and a fair number were first translated into English here. These stories are emotionally rich.
Not For Use In Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma — Datt Sharma’s stories focus on people doing unglamorous work (like siting a sewage plant) to make the world better. They also frequently deal with living in community with others. I find their writing evocative and lovely.
Spirits Aboard by Zen Cho— Cho is another of my favorite authors; she has a strong (and delightful) writing voice. This collection really showcases the breadth of her writing. I love how she brings magic to all kinds of ordinary situations
What are some of your favorite anthologies and collections?
no subject
Date: 2022-10-18 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-19 12:01 am (UTC)new collection
Date: 2022-10-19 02:32 pm (UTC)Re: new collection
Date: 2022-10-26 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-20 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-20 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-26 03:00 am (UTC)They also frequently deal with living in community with others.
This is such a good observation about Iona Datt Sharma's short stories! I've never articulated it to myself that way but you're right, and I love this about their writing. There's a lot about the work it takes to live in community, resolving conflict with others, working alongside others, etc. (It makes me also realize, so many sff stories *miss out on* the topic of living in community — solo journeys or quests that take you out of community is a big trope.)
The novella Sharma co-wrote with Katherine Fabian is a little like this too, now that I think of it? Having to work alongside a metamour you respect but don't always like because they are a part of your poly community. I loved this aspect of the book — it's a dynamic that I'd never seen before.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-28 05:55 pm (UTC)I think cosy stories are more likely to have caretaking and community than a "typical' story and that's something I like about them.