Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The world of caregivers and unsung heroes, the province of ghosts . . .
Who are THE SUM OF US?
Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give, and the costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own.
If we believe that we are the protagonists of our lives, then caregivers--our pillars--are ghosts, the bit players, the stock characters, the secondary supports, living lives of quiet trust and toil in the shadows. Summoned to us by the profound magic of great emotional, physical, or psychological need, they play their roles, and when our need diminishes . . .
The caregivers fade.
These are their stories.
Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors capture the depth and breadth of caring and of giving. They find insight, joy, devastation, and heroism in grand sweeps and in tiny niches. And, like wasps made of stinging words, there is pain in giving, and in working one's way through to the light.
Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love.
AUTHORS: Colleen Anderson, Charlotte Ashley, Brenda Cooper, Ian Creasey, A.M. Dellamonica, Bev Geddes, Claire Humphrey, Sandra Kasturi, Tyler Keevil, Juliet Marillier, Matt Moore, Heather Osborne, Nisi Shawl, Alex Shvartsman, Kate Story, Karina Sumner-Smith, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, James Van Pelt, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Edward Willett, Christie Yant, and Caroline M. Yoachim
Introduction by Dominik Parisien
Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law
Foreword by Lucas K. Law
Afterword by Susan Forest
PRAISE FOR THE SUM OF US
"This is overall a strong collection . . . make it worth reading." - Publishers Weekly
" . . . so definitely consider buying a copy, if not for yourself, then for someone who is serving as a caretaker. Hopefully the stories can serve as comfort to them. At the very least, it should make us all appreciate caretakers for all they do." - Lightspeed Magazine
Synopsis
Recommended by Publishers Weekly ("This is overall a strong collection . . . make it worth reading." )
Explore the depth and breadth of giving and of caring and delve into the world of caregivers--where they can be funny, sad, or heartwarming--with twenty-three original thought-provoking and moving stories.
A henchman looks after an aged supervillain. A soldier in charge of the governor's children. A cat helps his patients pass on. An android tends to a terminally ill patient. A service dog looks after an ice hockey player. A young apprentice guides a blind welder in space. An old couple with diminished capabilities depend on each other to survive an earthquake. An aging tutor overcomes the reservation of her pupil to build a submersible vessel. A hospice director trying to do the right thing. A pious monk makes the ultimate decision. And many more.
The world of caregivers and unsung heroes, the province of ghosts . . .
Who are THE SUM OF US?
Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give, and the costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own.
If we believe that we are the protagonists of our lives, then caregivers--our pillars--are ghosts, the bit players, the stock characters, the secondary supports, living lives of quiet trust and toil in the shadows. Summoned to us by the profound magic of great emotional, physical, or psychological need, they play their roles, and when our need diminishes . . .
The caregivers fade.
These are their stories.
Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors capture the depth and breadth of caring and of giving. They find insight, joy, devastation, and heroism in grand sweeps and in tiny niches. And, like wasps made of stinging words, there is pain in giving, and in working one's way through to the light.
Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love.
AUTHORS: Colleen Anderson, Charlotte Ashley, Brenda Cooper, Ian Creasey, A.M. Dellamonica, Bev Geddes, Claire Humphrey, Sandra Kasturi, Tyler Keevil, Juliet Marillier, Matt Moore, Heather Osborne, Nisi Shawl, Alex Shvartsman, Kate Story, Karina Sumner-Smith, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, James Van Pelt, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Edward Willett, Christie Yant, and Caroline M. Yoachim
Introduction by Dominik Parisien
Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law
Foreword by Lucas K. Law
Afterword by Susan Forest
PRAISE FOR THE SUM OF US
"This is overall a strong collection . . . make it worth reading." - Publishers Weekly
" . . . so definitely consider buying a copy, if not for yourself, then for someone who is serving as a caretaker. Hopefully the stories can serve as comfort to them. At the very least, it should make us all appreciate caretakers for all they do." - Lightspeed Magazine
"This anthology was one of the better ones, with no 'howlers' and several thought provoking page-turners." -Tangent
Synopsis
Recommended by Publishers Weekly ("This is overall a strong collection . . . make it worth reading." )
One story selected for Best of British Science Fiction 2017 (ed. by Donna Scott, Newcon Press, Aug 2018)
One story selected for Best Indie Speculative Fiction, Vol. 1 (Bards & Sages Publishing, Nov 2018)
Explore the depth and breadth of giving and of caring and delve into the world of caregivers--where they can be funny, sad, or heartwarming--with twenty-three original thought-provoking and moving stories.
A henchman looks after an aged supervillain. A soldier in charge of the governor's children. A cat helps his patients pass on. An android tends to a terminally ill patient. A service dog looks after an ice hockey player. A young apprentice guides a blind welder in space. An old couple with diminished capabilities depend on each other to survive an earthquake. An aging tutor overcomes the reservation of her pupil to build a submersible vessel. A hospice director trying to do the right thing. A pious monk makes the ultimate decision. And many more.
The world of caregivers and unsung heroes, the province of ghosts . . .
Who are THE SUM OF US?
Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give, and the costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own.
If we believe that we are the protagonists of our lives, then caregivers--our pillars--are ghosts, the bit players, the stock characters, the secondary supports, living lives of quiet trust and toil in the shadows. Summoned to us by the profound magic of great emotional, physical, or psychological need, they play their roles, and when our need diminishes . . .
The caregivers fade.
These are their stories.
Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love.
AUTHORS: Colleen Anderson, Charlotte Ashley, Brenda Cooper, Ian Creasey, A.M. Dellamonica, Bev Geddes, Claire Humphrey, Sandra Kasturi, Tyler Keevil, Juliet Marillier, Matt Moore, Heather Osborne, Nisi Shawl, Alex Shvartsman, Kate Story, Karina Sumner-Smith, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, James Van Pelt, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Edward Willett, Christie Yant, and Caroline M. Yoachim
Introduction by Dominik Parisien
Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law
Anthologies in this series (Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Where the Stars Rise) have been recommended by Publishers Weekly, Booklist (American Library Association), Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews, and Quill & Quire.
PRAISE FOR THE SUM OF US
"This is overall a strong collection . . . make it worth reading." - Publishers Weekly
" . . . so definitely consider buying a copy, if not for yourself, then for someone who is serving as a caretaker. Hopefully the stories can serve as comfort to them. At the very least, it should make us all appreciate caretakers for all they do." - Lightspeed Magazine
"This anthology was one of the better ones, with no 'howlers' and several thought provoking page-turners." -Tangent
Synopsis
Recommended by Publishers Weekly
The greatest gift to us is caring. What would the world be like without someone to care for or to care with? Would love survive if we don't care? From the world of twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors comes a world that can be funny, heartwarming, strange, or sad. Or not what we expect.
How can a henchman keep up with a mischievous retired supervillain? Can a dog help a hockey player score again? Will an odd couple with a zany sense of adventure and diminished capabilities survive an earthquake? Where does a stray cat go to find love every night? What secret does a pious monk have with a cargo of sleeping human? Will terrorism in space take out a young apprentice and a blind welder? What does an oracle tell a lover about her final days? Can a "heart of gold" prevent a soldier from crossing the enemy line with the governor's children? These, and many more.
2018 (Canadian SF&F) Aurora Award Winner (Best Anthology/Related Work)
2018 Alberta Book Publishing Award Finalist (Best Speculative Fiction Book)
One story selected for Best of British Science Fiction 2017 (ed. by Donna Scott, Aug 2018)
One story selected for Best Indie Speculative Fiction, Vol. 1 (Bards & Sages Publishing, Nov 2018)
Five stories on Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2017
One story - 2018 (Canadian SF&F) Aurora Award Short Fiction Winner
One story - 2018 WSFA Small Press Award Finalist
One story nominated - 2018 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Shortlist
Three stories nominated - 2018 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Longlist
AUTHORS: Colleen Anderson, Charlotte Ashley, Brenda Cooper, Ian Creasey, A.M. Dellamonica, Bev Geddes, Claire Humphrey, Sandra Kasturi, Tyler Keevil, Juliet Marillier, Matt Moore, Heather Osborne, Nisi Shawl, Alex Shvartsman, Kate Story, Karina Sumner-Smith, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, James Van Pelt, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Edward Willett, Christie Yant, and Caroline M. Yoachim
Introduction by Dominik Parisien
Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law
Anthologies in this series (Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Where the Stars Rise, Shades Within Us) have been recommended by Publishers Weekly, Booklist (American Library Association), Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews, and Quill & Quire.
PRAISE FOR THE SUM OF US
"A strong collection . . . make it worth reading." - Publishers Weekly
"So definitely consider buying a copy, if not for yourself, then for someone who is serving as a caretaker. Hopefully the stories can serve as comfort to them. At the very least, it should make us all appreciate caretakers for all they do." - Lightspeed Magazine
"One of the better ones, with no 'howlers' and several thought provoking page-turners." -Tangent