A contemporary story pitting wealthy corporate moguls against the world for global domination? Is this fiction or the news?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the tenth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

Not a Problem by Matthew Hughes (award-winning Canadian author)

I can’t tell you what this very short and funny sci-fantasy story is about because I’d give it away too quickly. I can give you what I think is the best line:

“Actually, Bunky had never happened to need a baby strangled, but if he ever did, Number-One was there to take care of it.”

I’m familiar with Ms. Hughes works. He’s a prolific writer and has been on the science-fiction/fantasy scene for quite some time. His writing is what I consider to be pared down, but smart. It’s easy to fall into his stories and not realize you’re reading a story.

There was nothing about this story I didn’t like, though I think I spotted a typo. But even with that, this little egg of a story will make you chuckle. If only our problems could so easily be solved with some well-meaning aliens, we’d all be billionaires.

Until next time, enjoy a short story.

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila