There’s always two sides to a story, isn’t there? While I don’t agree with the underlying premise of today’s story, an anthology about impending ecological change can’t be complete without giving voice to the other side, right?

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 thirteenth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The Grass is Greener on the Other Side by Igor Ljubuncic (award-nominated author)

I’m a fan of Mr. Ljubuncic’s short stories. They are always witty, funny, and heartfelt. But… he also presents an opinion I don’t often agree with. With that said, this military romance (yes, its a thing) with role-reversals and instant love, will make you go awwww at the end.

The details the author includes are very specific, creating a gritty vividness that makes it feel like you’re watching the story of a soldier learning that his world might be much bigger than he initially thought rather than reading it. I really enjoy this writing style. I also laughed-out-loud (lol) at his doctors’ advice and the silly prescriptions. As we follow along with Raun, our young, idealist combatant, we soon learn how some of our current, popular beliefs might play out in the future.

The author employs the use of flash-forwards. Or, if you’d rather, the story is told in flashbacks within a framework of the story “now.” While Mr. Ljubuncic executes this style flawlessly, I felt like it interrupted the action and connection with the characters. When we were thrust into a different time and place, I had to keep recalibrating my attention to the story. I would have preferred a more straight forward presentation.

With that said, by the end of this tale, you’ll probably have a tender smile on your face. In the end, love conquers all–if you can ignore the meta-jibe the author takes at his audience.

Until next time, enjoy a short, romantic 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