What do you think?
Rate this book
You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories
"Elegant, incisive, memorable." — Foreword Reviews “Punches will not be pulled.” — Locus Magazine "The 15 masterful stories in Cade’s sophomore collection (after The Mythology of Salt) offer a hauntingly beautiful melding of hard science and raw emotion against the backdrop of the climate crisis. ... Cade skillfully interweaves her characters’ existential despair in the face of a dying planet with more personal grief, all while maintaining a through line of hope and resilience. In its union of deeply human and environmental narratives, Cade’s collection will put readers in mind of Richard Powers’s The Overstory." — Publishers Weekly starred review Eco-horror to Solarpunk short stories from award-winning author Octavia Cade.
Sometimes change can hurt. This collection of short stories traces the growing pains of a new world, beginning with the death throes of our current way of life and ending with a world transformed by science and technology, and by grief, hope, love, and humanity’s will to transform. This is a collection that will both tear you apart and tend to your wounds. Cade’s beautifully-wrought stories are informed by science, tracing the biological and emotional threads that bind us, human and non-human alike. Including an original novelette in the award-winning The Impossible Resurrection of Grief universe, You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories is a promise of what worlds are possible if we allow ourselves to change.
Sometimes change can hurt. This collection of short stories traces the growing pains of a new world, beginning with the death throes of our current way of life and ending with a world transformed by science and technology, and by grief, hope, love, and humanity’s will to transform. This is a collection that will both tear you apart and tend to your wounds. Cade’s beautifully-wrought stories are informed by science, tracing the biological and emotional threads that bind us, human and non-human alike. Including an original novelette in the award-winning The Impossible Resurrection of Grief universe, You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories is a promise of what worlds are possible if we allow ourselves to change.
212 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2023
5 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Read
June 10, 2024I'm giving up on this book, I just can't with the writing. Not rating.
September 18, 2023
This was a weird, dark, beautiful and ultimately hopeful short story collection. I think I ran the gamut of emotions while reading it. The pieces interweave themes of grief (climate grief and personal grief) with themes of interhuman connection and also connection with nature. Cities are compared with reefs. It's pretty great. A lot of the stories have really awesome unexpected elements that bring a sense of fun. The variety is great, is what I'm trying to say.
There are many scientist main characters, in all kinds of situations. But not only that, and there are some wild (pun intended) concepts that I thought were just unique. And a lot of the collection has solarpunk vibes, which is sunny and hopeful and constructive. Some of the pieces don't have a narrative per se, but they're more like lyrical sometimes angry little essays that I quite appreciated.
I wrote a bit about each of the stories (in the hope that when people read this, they'll want to talk about some of the stories in particular), but most of them are more complex and have more layers than I wanted to express (so as not to ruin the pleasure of reading it). I very recommend this!
We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice: really lovely, painfully sad, poetic story about climate change, but focused on different types of bears. This had a sort of mythical, song with a chorus quality that I liked.
Eight Things We Found Under the Ice, After the Arctic Melted: short and punchy, this is exactly what the tin says. It’s sad and infuriating and really lyrical.
You Are My Sunshine: such an interesting and unique take on climate grief or as it's called in the novelette itself, the Grief. I loved it, it was so damn weird and off-kilter.
Instead, he woke in the cool early mornings and lay in bed, wondering if that day he’d find another arm, and what he could say to it (what he could do with it) if he did. Cyrus thought that there were three possibilities: beauty, creativity, and love.
The ingredients: severed arms, dying starfish, sunflowers and art therapy. I vocalized my whoa at the end, it was pretty intense.
Our Flesh was Bred for This: this story is just a few pages long so I don't want to spoil it. It felt bleak and accepting at the same time is what I can say and it continues a theme from 'You Are My Sunshine'.
Tidemarks is somewhat experimental as a piece, it's about a sort of urban legend that an aquarium is haunted by extinct animals. So it's a ghost story, yeah, but also not, in an interesting way.
Gone to Earth: a tale that subverts the whole Muskian excitement for going to Mars in a way I don't think I've seen before. Three astronauts go to Mars and they come back with Earthsickness.
Mars was rejection all through. It didn’t want them, didn’t want any of them. I think it hates the living, he thought, but he didn’t say it aloud because that was insane, wasn’t it? A planet didn’t hate anything.
This was so visceral and just darkly beautiful. I was super into it and it felt like a unique concept.
Inside the Body of Relatives: This is quite an affecting story about an old person and their AI house. It really doesn't go where you think it might and the ending was perfect, I got all emotional. It had all of these musings on loneliness that I appreciated.
The house won’t understand that there’s pleasure in loneliness, sometimes — that living for so long with absence fits you to it, curls you round the hollow of it so that your entire self is shaped around space, spiraled around it as if you were a seashell, or a cell full of vacuole. That any attempt to rid yourself of it is a destabilizing force, as if the space that fills your form has become a structural thing, and necessary.
Pollen and Salt: Also emotional, a story where climate grief and personal grief and loss are entwined and it's sad and bittersweet.
The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps: A very cute and hopeful story, which I would probably classify as solarpunk. It's about subterranean ecosystems under the city and an eel in a bathtub and a strained relationship.
Resilience: This one gave me goosebumps because it was cute, about two wonderfully not nice girls. Also solarpunky, which I welcome.
Tranquility: Great concept I loved - a dying woman goes to die on a planet for reasons I won't spoil. I quite loved the execution as well, I just don't know how I feel about it, ethically. It's complicated. I will be thinking about this one and talking about it with others for quite a while.
The Body Politic: Fascinating take on fascism and the body. Short and punchy.
The Stone Wētā: Super cool story about a badass network of women scientists and smugglers, in a world where scientific data is being suppressed / modified.
Come Water, Be One of Us is a clever exploration of the corporations as people and also some rivers getting human status. I basically cheered throughout.
Indicator Species: A story that taps into one of the main themes of this short story collection: everything is connected.
You're Not The Only One: This one made me cry and I don't want to spoil it. It's just sad but also beautiful, because sad things happen, but the community is lovely and strong and takes care of the people, and the people in the community put it first before their own wants. This was also very solarpunky.
Metamorphosis: This story is about... *checks notes* Gregor Samsa's sister?! Yeah, it's a clever play on Kafka's Metamorphosis and it's about transforming your home into an ecosystem, and attracting all kinds of insects on your roof garden. Also, it's about revulsion. It is quite good and suuuper fun.
The History of a Coral Future: Perfect piece to end on, it brings all of the themes together for one last time and it also highlights the importance of storytelling and what stories are told. It was beautiful.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this collection!
There are many scientist main characters, in all kinds of situations. But not only that, and there are some wild (pun intended) concepts that I thought were just unique. And a lot of the collection has solarpunk vibes, which is sunny and hopeful and constructive. Some of the pieces don't have a narrative per se, but they're more like lyrical sometimes angry little essays that I quite appreciated.
I wrote a bit about each of the stories (in the hope that when people read this, they'll want to talk about some of the stories in particular), but most of them are more complex and have more layers than I wanted to express (so as not to ruin the pleasure of reading it). I very recommend this!
We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice: really lovely, painfully sad, poetic story about climate change, but focused on different types of bears. This had a sort of mythical, song with a chorus quality that I liked.
Eight Things We Found Under the Ice, After the Arctic Melted: short and punchy, this is exactly what the tin says. It’s sad and infuriating and really lyrical.
You Are My Sunshine: such an interesting and unique take on climate grief or as it's called in the novelette itself, the Grief. I loved it, it was so damn weird and off-kilter.
Instead, he woke in the cool early mornings and lay in bed, wondering if that day he’d find another arm, and what he could say to it (what he could do with it) if he did. Cyrus thought that there were three possibilities: beauty, creativity, and love.
The ingredients: severed arms, dying starfish, sunflowers and art therapy. I vocalized my whoa at the end, it was pretty intense.
Our Flesh was Bred for This: this story is just a few pages long so I don't want to spoil it. It felt bleak and accepting at the same time is what I can say and it continues a theme from 'You Are My Sunshine'.
Tidemarks is somewhat experimental as a piece, it's about a sort of urban legend that an aquarium is haunted by extinct animals. So it's a ghost story, yeah, but also not, in an interesting way.
Gone to Earth: a tale that subverts the whole Muskian excitement for going to Mars in a way I don't think I've seen before. Three astronauts go to Mars and they come back with Earthsickness.
Mars was rejection all through. It didn’t want them, didn’t want any of them. I think it hates the living, he thought, but he didn’t say it aloud because that was insane, wasn’t it? A planet didn’t hate anything.
This was so visceral and just darkly beautiful. I was super into it and it felt like a unique concept.
Inside the Body of Relatives: This is quite an affecting story about an old person and their AI house. It really doesn't go where you think it might and the ending was perfect, I got all emotional. It had all of these musings on loneliness that I appreciated.
The house won’t understand that there’s pleasure in loneliness, sometimes — that living for so long with absence fits you to it, curls you round the hollow of it so that your entire self is shaped around space, spiraled around it as if you were a seashell, or a cell full of vacuole. That any attempt to rid yourself of it is a destabilizing force, as if the space that fills your form has become a structural thing, and necessary.
Pollen and Salt: Also emotional, a story where climate grief and personal grief and loss are entwined and it's sad and bittersweet.
The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps: A very cute and hopeful story, which I would probably classify as solarpunk. It's about subterranean ecosystems under the city and an eel in a bathtub and a strained relationship.
Resilience: This one gave me goosebumps because it was cute, about two wonderfully not nice girls. Also solarpunky, which I welcome.
Tranquility: Great concept I loved - a dying woman goes to die on a planet for reasons I won't spoil. I quite loved the execution as well, I just don't know how I feel about it, ethically. It's complicated. I will be thinking about this one and talking about it with others for quite a while.
The Body Politic: Fascinating take on fascism and the body. Short and punchy.
The Stone Wētā: Super cool story about a badass network of women scientists and smugglers, in a world where scientific data is being suppressed / modified.
Come Water, Be One of Us is a clever exploration of the corporations as people and also some rivers getting human status. I basically cheered throughout.
Indicator Species: A story that taps into one of the main themes of this short story collection: everything is connected.
You're Not The Only One: This one made me cry and I don't want to spoil it. It's just sad but also beautiful, because sad things happen, but the community is lovely and strong and takes care of the people, and the people in the community put it first before their own wants. This was also very solarpunky.
Metamorphosis: This story is about... *checks notes* Gregor Samsa's sister?! Yeah, it's a clever play on Kafka's Metamorphosis and it's about transforming your home into an ecosystem, and attracting all kinds of insects on your roof garden. Also, it's about revulsion. It is quite good and suuuper fun.
The History of a Coral Future: Perfect piece to end on, it brings all of the themes together for one last time and it also highlights the importance of storytelling and what stories are told. It was beautiful.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this collection!
July 7, 2023
”This is the story of a reef. This is the story of a billion of them. They are all beautiful, and they are all real, and they are coming.” — THE HISTORY OF A CORAL FUTURE; YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE AND OTHER STORIES
tw: body mutilation, climate change, light spoilers
As usual, I’ll be reviewing each short story in this collection separately, and I’ll be updating this review as I go.
WE FEED THE BEARS OF FIRE AND ICE
☆☆☆☆☆
This was a masterpiece. The symbolism of the bears and how they die due to climate change used to represent how we will eventually succumb to the consequences of human actions. The bear analogy makes one feel sympathy, feel pity for the bears, without realizing that we ourselves are the bears too. It’s more than just an analogy, it’s an incredibly smart way to get people to feel bad without realizing what they’re really feeling bad for in the first place.
EIGHT THINGS WE FOUND UNDER THE ICE, AFTER THE ARCTIC MELTED
☆☆☆
Less impact than the first story, because the stories are so similar. Before I get flack for this, I know that short story collections are meant to have stories that have some relation to each other, but that’s not the issue. This story blends in too much with the first one, lessening its impact as a whole in my eyes. Perhaps if it were placed after a different story, the impact would have returned. Unfortunately, I’m not as impressed with this one. Though, I did like the layering in the archaeological discoveries and what that represented. It was an interesting concept, just not enough to stand out to me.
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
☆☆☆☆☆
Firstly, the imagery in this story is on a different level. I’ve been slowly warming up to Cade’s writing style as I read through this anthology, but this was some of the best imagery I’ve read in a while. Especially when describing Cyrus’ childhood and the relation between real sunflowers and the sunflower sea star, it was like a burst of color before my eyes. Secondly, the big switch between the colorful life of the sea stars and the zombie disease that took them out was a shocker, and progressed the story in a easy way. This reminds me a lot of how swept up some people get in the state of the world—this isn’t a bad thing nor a criticism, just something that I’m pointing out, and also something that I’m a victim of too—especially when it comes to the debate between sea stars and coral. Which is to blame? Should the sea star have been eradicated even though all it did was its natural actions, and humans were to blame for making it an invasive species?
There’s so much meaning here that I don’t think I’d be able to understand it all no matter how many times I read through this book. Though, this isn’t a bad thing. Rather, the opposite.
OUR FLESH WAS BRED FOR THIS
☆☆☆☆
At first I didn’t like the length of this story; I thought it was much too short to establish anything lasting or promising. However, after completing it, I realized the sheer amount of talent that one needs to be able to say so much in so few words. This is definitely one of the better stories so far, even though it was shorter by quite a lot. The repetition really made me focus on every last words that was written, and I loved the dark foreshadowing right before the ending. Really, really good.
TIDEMARKS
☆☆☆☆
I really like all of the different perspectives that Cade is showing us. There’s a great variety, and I really liked reading this story, from the perspective of a scientist who’s giving up hope. The language, though familiar as it was echoed in the previous stories, was still so different simultaneously. It’s a gift to be able to switch so eloquently between styles, and this was a treat. It really felt like a different voice than the previous few stories.
As for the story itself, I liked this one a little bit less than my other favorites. It was still very good, and I loved how ghosts and death were tied into marine life and the aquarium that the main characters worked at. It reminds me a lot of old folktales about death surrounding the ocean.
GONE TO EARTH
☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this one; this diversity is what I like to see in a collection of short stories. This was just different enough to set it apart from the others, but there’s still a connection there. The message that I got here was how people can lose some of their humanity when they go to the extremes of our world; such as going to Mars (in this story), or exploring the depths of the ocean. Pushing those limits of human existence is bound to take away some of one’s humanity.
I can’t bring myself to feel bad for these characters. I know that it’s the results of their own choices, of their own privileged minds. It’s like how I lack empathy for billionaires who make stupid decisions or vapid and cocky influencers. Regardless, this was an enjoyable short.
INSIDE THE BODY OF RELATIVES
☆☆☆
I liked the difference in this story; it was a nice break from the previous ones. It’s also interesting to see the personification of the house, symbolizing the decline of an aging, lonely elder. But there really wasn’t anything special about this one, so unfortunately it wasn’t one of my favorites.
POLLEN AND SALT
☆☆☆☆
Everything about this story was beautiful, from the title to the descriptions to the comparisons of pollen to death. There’s so much grief stuffed into just a few pages, and it made my heart ache for these unnamed characters.
THE STREAMS ARE PAVED WITH FISH TRAPS
☆☆☆☆
This was a gorgeous short one; I really liked how the characters were able to find small bits of happiness in a post-apocalyptic world. It wasn’t my favorite, but I did enjoy it.
RESILIENCE
☆☆☆☆
I really liked the time that this story was set in. The romanticization of oceans (and more specifically coral) by parents was really interesting to see. To me, it was very reminiscent of how people in the modern day romanticize certain periods of time in history. Much like the parents here, people today seem to neglect the problematic aspects of the past and instead focus on the “good” and “aesthetic” parts of history. This was a really interesting one, different than the last few.
TRANQUILITY
☆☆☆☆☆
Oh, I really loved this one! The idea of assisted suicide isn’t illegal in a few places outside of the USA, so I feel like this isn’t completely ruled out for the future. At least, the morality isn’t. The harsh but true descriptions of caring for an ailing loved one was also heartbreaking; it was very reminiscent of seeing my own older relatives decline in their later years. One can only hope that in the future, something as peaceful as this could be a real thing instead of suffering well past your intended expiration date.
THE BODY POLITIC
☆☆☆
I can see what this one was going for, but it just didn’t really resonate with me. I wasn’t a fan of this one, but it wasn’t inherently bad either.
THE STONE WĒTĀ
☆☆☆
I was a little bit confused about what this story was supposed to mean, and therefore this must just not be for me. I tried to look for a deeper meaning but I just couldn’t resonate with it. The only two plausible meanings for this in my mind were the idea of a friend group splintering apart because of differences, or the different pulls that one individual feels throughout their life. I doubt that either of my “theories” are correct, but that’s what I was able to glean from this.
COME WATER, BE ONE OF US
☆☆☆☆☆
This was an incredible short. The satire and exaggeration of the personification of inanimate objects was obviously a critique on the ever-changing acceptable societal changes one can make. More so, I saw this as slap in the face to close-minded individuals who refuse to accept changes in the modern world, whether it’s about politics, race, sexuality, etc.
The continuous rise of the rivers and their increasingly “human” personalities was also interesting. It was like the more the general public accepted the rivers as people, the more real it became; the more human-like the rivers actually became.
INDICATOR SPECIES
☆☆☆
Just very meh and unmemorable compared to the other stories in this collection. Not bad by any means, but “less good” by comparison.
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE
☆☆☆
This one was quite sad, but again it didn’t stand out much to me. I liked the parallel between Hannah and Marcus and their involvement in the main character’s life. As Hannah grows closer, Marcus grows more distant. Only when Hannah is dead does Marcus come back to his partner, both physically and mentally checked in once again. Interesting, but not the best story in this collection by far.
METAMORPHOSIS
☆☆☆☆☆
I feel like this has a really interesting message behind it. What deems something socially acceptable in comparison to something that’s awkward and wrong? Why do conventionally beautiful and or attractive beings get away with more, when their insides are the same as anyone else’s? Here, the line is drawn between beetles and cockroaches—with pretty beetles like jewel beetles being much more widely accepted than cockroaches, even though the two insects are not really all that different. The hate for ugly creatures is so intense that the main character has to dress up as one to convince children to stop killing them just for being unpleasant to look at.
Also, loved the Kafka references here.
THE HISTORY OF A CORAL FUTURE
☆☆☆
This was very average for a simple story. But for a closing story, it was good. All in one, it was able to summarize the entire collection without being too long or wordy.
Thank you to Netgalley, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for the ARC!!
tw: body mutilation, climate change, light spoilers
As usual, I’ll be reviewing each short story in this collection separately, and I’ll be updating this review as I go.
WE FEED THE BEARS OF FIRE AND ICE
☆☆☆☆☆
This was a masterpiece. The symbolism of the bears and how they die due to climate change used to represent how we will eventually succumb to the consequences of human actions. The bear analogy makes one feel sympathy, feel pity for the bears, without realizing that we ourselves are the bears too. It’s more than just an analogy, it’s an incredibly smart way to get people to feel bad without realizing what they’re really feeling bad for in the first place.
EIGHT THINGS WE FOUND UNDER THE ICE, AFTER THE ARCTIC MELTED
☆☆☆
Less impact than the first story, because the stories are so similar. Before I get flack for this, I know that short story collections are meant to have stories that have some relation to each other, but that’s not the issue. This story blends in too much with the first one, lessening its impact as a whole in my eyes. Perhaps if it were placed after a different story, the impact would have returned. Unfortunately, I’m not as impressed with this one. Though, I did like the layering in the archaeological discoveries and what that represented. It was an interesting concept, just not enough to stand out to me.
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
☆☆☆☆☆
Firstly, the imagery in this story is on a different level. I’ve been slowly warming up to Cade’s writing style as I read through this anthology, but this was some of the best imagery I’ve read in a while. Especially when describing Cyrus’ childhood and the relation between real sunflowers and the sunflower sea star, it was like a burst of color before my eyes. Secondly, the big switch between the colorful life of the sea stars and the zombie disease that took them out was a shocker, and progressed the story in a easy way. This reminds me a lot of how swept up some people get in the state of the world—this isn’t a bad thing nor a criticism, just something that I’m pointing out, and also something that I’m a victim of too—especially when it comes to the debate between sea stars and coral. Which is to blame? Should the sea star have been eradicated even though all it did was its natural actions, and humans were to blame for making it an invasive species?
There’s so much meaning here that I don’t think I’d be able to understand it all no matter how many times I read through this book. Though, this isn’t a bad thing. Rather, the opposite.
OUR FLESH WAS BRED FOR THIS
☆☆☆☆
At first I didn’t like the length of this story; I thought it was much too short to establish anything lasting or promising. However, after completing it, I realized the sheer amount of talent that one needs to be able to say so much in so few words. This is definitely one of the better stories so far, even though it was shorter by quite a lot. The repetition really made me focus on every last words that was written, and I loved the dark foreshadowing right before the ending. Really, really good.
TIDEMARKS
☆☆☆☆
I really like all of the different perspectives that Cade is showing us. There’s a great variety, and I really liked reading this story, from the perspective of a scientist who’s giving up hope. The language, though familiar as it was echoed in the previous stories, was still so different simultaneously. It’s a gift to be able to switch so eloquently between styles, and this was a treat. It really felt like a different voice than the previous few stories.
As for the story itself, I liked this one a little bit less than my other favorites. It was still very good, and I loved how ghosts and death were tied into marine life and the aquarium that the main characters worked at. It reminds me a lot of old folktales about death surrounding the ocean.
GONE TO EARTH
☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this one; this diversity is what I like to see in a collection of short stories. This was just different enough to set it apart from the others, but there’s still a connection there. The message that I got here was how people can lose some of their humanity when they go to the extremes of our world; such as going to Mars (in this story), or exploring the depths of the ocean. Pushing those limits of human existence is bound to take away some of one’s humanity.
I can’t bring myself to feel bad for these characters. I know that it’s the results of their own choices, of their own privileged minds. It’s like how I lack empathy for billionaires who make stupid decisions or vapid and cocky influencers. Regardless, this was an enjoyable short.
INSIDE THE BODY OF RELATIVES
☆☆☆
I liked the difference in this story; it was a nice break from the previous ones. It’s also interesting to see the personification of the house, symbolizing the decline of an aging, lonely elder. But there really wasn’t anything special about this one, so unfortunately it wasn’t one of my favorites.
POLLEN AND SALT
☆☆☆☆
Everything about this story was beautiful, from the title to the descriptions to the comparisons of pollen to death. There’s so much grief stuffed into just a few pages, and it made my heart ache for these unnamed characters.
THE STREAMS ARE PAVED WITH FISH TRAPS
☆☆☆☆
This was a gorgeous short one; I really liked how the characters were able to find small bits of happiness in a post-apocalyptic world. It wasn’t my favorite, but I did enjoy it.
RESILIENCE
☆☆☆☆
I really liked the time that this story was set in. The romanticization of oceans (and more specifically coral) by parents was really interesting to see. To me, it was very reminiscent of how people in the modern day romanticize certain periods of time in history. Much like the parents here, people today seem to neglect the problematic aspects of the past and instead focus on the “good” and “aesthetic” parts of history. This was a really interesting one, different than the last few.
TRANQUILITY
☆☆☆☆☆
Oh, I really loved this one! The idea of assisted suicide isn’t illegal in a few places outside of the USA, so I feel like this isn’t completely ruled out for the future. At least, the morality isn’t. The harsh but true descriptions of caring for an ailing loved one was also heartbreaking; it was very reminiscent of seeing my own older relatives decline in their later years. One can only hope that in the future, something as peaceful as this could be a real thing instead of suffering well past your intended expiration date.
THE BODY POLITIC
☆☆☆
I can see what this one was going for, but it just didn’t really resonate with me. I wasn’t a fan of this one, but it wasn’t inherently bad either.
THE STONE WĒTĀ
☆☆☆
I was a little bit confused about what this story was supposed to mean, and therefore this must just not be for me. I tried to look for a deeper meaning but I just couldn’t resonate with it. The only two plausible meanings for this in my mind were the idea of a friend group splintering apart because of differences, or the different pulls that one individual feels throughout their life. I doubt that either of my “theories” are correct, but that’s what I was able to glean from this.
COME WATER, BE ONE OF US
☆☆☆☆☆
This was an incredible short. The satire and exaggeration of the personification of inanimate objects was obviously a critique on the ever-changing acceptable societal changes one can make. More so, I saw this as slap in the face to close-minded individuals who refuse to accept changes in the modern world, whether it’s about politics, race, sexuality, etc.
The continuous rise of the rivers and their increasingly “human” personalities was also interesting. It was like the more the general public accepted the rivers as people, the more real it became; the more human-like the rivers actually became.
INDICATOR SPECIES
☆☆☆
Just very meh and unmemorable compared to the other stories in this collection. Not bad by any means, but “less good” by comparison.
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE
☆☆☆
This one was quite sad, but again it didn’t stand out much to me. I liked the parallel between Hannah and Marcus and their involvement in the main character’s life. As Hannah grows closer, Marcus grows more distant. Only when Hannah is dead does Marcus come back to his partner, both physically and mentally checked in once again. Interesting, but not the best story in this collection by far.
METAMORPHOSIS
☆☆☆☆☆
I feel like this has a really interesting message behind it. What deems something socially acceptable in comparison to something that’s awkward and wrong? Why do conventionally beautiful and or attractive beings get away with more, when their insides are the same as anyone else’s? Here, the line is drawn between beetles and cockroaches—with pretty beetles like jewel beetles being much more widely accepted than cockroaches, even though the two insects are not really all that different. The hate for ugly creatures is so intense that the main character has to dress up as one to convince children to stop killing them just for being unpleasant to look at.
Also, loved the Kafka references here.
THE HISTORY OF A CORAL FUTURE
☆☆☆
This was very average for a simple story. But for a closing story, it was good. All in one, it was able to summarize the entire collection without being too long or wordy.
Thank you to Netgalley, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for the ARC!!
August 25, 2024
An excellent collection of short stories mostly set in a world trying to adapt to climate change. Ecology, biodiversity, adaptation of city environments to encourage wildlife (eg sea life in drains, gardens on roofs). The mood is probably melancholy (one story in particular, ‘Gone to Earth’, astronauts returning from Mars suffering from Earthsickness) but there is optimism, humans becoming more conscious of the environment, ecology and living within it. My favourite story was ‘Tranquility’, about a dying woman who is sending her body to a lifeless planet to hopefully seed life there, such a brilliant idea.
July 2, 2023
This books is filled with powerfully-written, poetic, black-mirror-esk stories that really make you sit back and think about life. It's as heartbreaking as it is enlightening, and that's what makes it beautiful.
It features many topics, and I loved how invested each story had me. From gorey horror to dark sci-fi, this little collection is as fascinating as it is whimsical. I found myself highlighting so many quotes which took me a moment to sit and reflect before I could continue. Some of the stories get pretty dark, and I'm here for it!
This one left me with a lot to think about. Like any set of short stories, I found some much more enjoyable than others. Most of the stories have a very peculiar premise, which I absolutely loved.
I would highly recommend this beautifully haunting - yet utterly bizaar - book to anyone who finds themselves often exploring the darker sides of life, or for anyone who appreciates the artistry and craftsmanship of more emotional, thought-provoking stories.
Thank you To NetGalley, Stelliform Press, and the author for the e-copy in return for an honest review.
"That is what ghosts do. They open up possibilities, they bring you face to face with things you don't want to face, and there's no guarantee of how you'll react when you see them."
It features many topics, and I loved how invested each story had me. From gorey horror to dark sci-fi, this little collection is as fascinating as it is whimsical. I found myself highlighting so many quotes which took me a moment to sit and reflect before I could continue. Some of the stories get pretty dark, and I'm here for it!
This one left me with a lot to think about. Like any set of short stories, I found some much more enjoyable than others. Most of the stories have a very peculiar premise, which I absolutely loved.
I would highly recommend this beautifully haunting - yet utterly bizaar - book to anyone who finds themselves often exploring the darker sides of life, or for anyone who appreciates the artistry and craftsmanship of more emotional, thought-provoking stories.
Thank you To NetGalley, Stelliform Press, and the author for the e-copy in return for an honest review.
"That is what ghosts do. They open up possibilities, they bring you face to face with things you don't want to face, and there's no guarantee of how you'll react when you see them."
November 4, 2023
4.5. Thank you to Stelliform Press for the ARC! This short story anthology was both beautiful and devastating. I felt Cade weaved the stories together in such a lovely way and they all built off each other. Each story felt impactful and I walked away thinking about ecosystems or biology or nature and humanity every time. I also feel I learned a lot of new things related to the topics examined in this book. I never knew there were so many types of beetles! The last two stories gave me hope for what can be. Is it truly too late? Or can we save ourselves? Cade leaves me to believe we CAN make change even if we think it's too late.
December 16, 2023
My very 1st ARC read and I am thrilled that it was this!! I was immediately drawn in by the cover, isn’t it so pretty?? (My favorite part is that it ties into one of the stories
July 20, 2023
Wow, oh, wow. There is so much to say about this book. I want to preface that I found the writing style to be just breathtaking. It was interesting how the author often has the narrator to talk to the reader- makes it more personal. This book outlines the harm and impact of climate change- looking at its extremities and different impacts that it could have on society. So many of these stories are just odd: the arm, the connection to ghosts, the talking with the house over "loneliness," the obsession with a salt marsh: it's giving OCD and trauma. However, I find the interlaced metaphors to be impactful. Although, I had to reread many sections to ensure that I fully got what I was supposed to put of it. I find it interesting how some of the short stories connect as the foundation for the next. Thematically, they all center around similar topics, but the author provides small nods in the next story from the previous one. Ultimately, I found the last chapter to be an amazing way to tie everything together: "we built for diversity, and for strength.
I believe that is is a great read. I also learned that I am not a shore story kind of gal, which may be why my rating is the way it is, but the book is still worth the read. Just prepare to cringe at times.
Some random thoughts I had during reading:
-tell me why my heart was hurting for the fish and the eels???
-the river as a person: I mean, what a concept! ...oof you've been read capitalism and corporate America
Trigger Warnings: Grief, Animal Abuse, Body Dismemberment, Suicide, Blood, Mental Illness, Climate Crisis.
I believe that is is a great read. I also learned that I am not a shore story kind of gal, which may be why my rating is the way it is, but the book is still worth the read. Just prepare to cringe at times.
Some random thoughts I had during reading:
-tell me why my heart was hurting for the fish and the eels???
-the river as a person: I mean, what a concept! ...oof you've been read capitalism and corporate America
Trigger Warnings: Grief, Animal Abuse, Body Dismemberment, Suicide, Blood, Mental Illness, Climate Crisis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
This collection of short stories was wonderful. Themes of climate change and loss were prominent, and many of the stories were heartbreaking in some ways. There was also a thread of anger and resilience which kept them from being too depressing overall. Each story is unique, but the common themes tie the collection together in a nice way. I loved the poetic style in which the author wrote because it gave the stories a melancholy feeling that made the imagery more impactful. I look forward to reading more titles by Octavia Cade!
I am grateful to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am grateful to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Octavia Cade for the ARC!
I think this book has a lot of depth and if you read these stories at face value they just seem a little strange. But once you start to look deeper, they’re very intense stories. I felt like my heart was ripped out and put back into me several times while reading this.
It was beautiful
I think this book has a lot of depth and if you read these stories at face value they just seem a little strange. But once you start to look deeper, they’re very intense stories. I felt like my heart was ripped out and put back into me several times while reading this.
It was beautiful
July 8, 2023
You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories illustrates a gentle balance between the stark reality of world events and poetic narration. While this was not my usual genre, I was pleasantly surprised.
September 22, 2023
I loved this one so much. A must-read! Highly recommended. One of the best anthologies out this year, for sure.
18 stories by Octavia Cade collected in here. According to the story credits in the back of the book, at least 15 of them were previously published in various magazines and anthologies between 2013 to 2022. I'd experienced a few before, so I knew I was in for a real treat reading this one through.
I really enjoyed how the stories were organized. The themes and interests of the stories flowed beautifully together. Some of the stories spoke to each other well, dancing along the ideas of sunshine, environment having its revenge, and adapting to the world to create something deeply beautiful and sustainable.
Everything within is climate fiction of some sort, though it certainly shows Cade's range in considering the topic. Readers are presented an interesting mash-up of dark and frightening with hopeful and wonderfully alive. Do be warned, a few of the opening stories are not afraid to dip into horror, while others, especially towards the second half of the book are overjoyed to be more well-adjusted solarpunk, hopepunk, and/or completely joyous. You have stories with a constant barrage of death and sadness, limbs being cut off, bears devouring us, lots of death. The title story of course, which matches well with this book's excellent cover, opens with a severed arm in a mailbox with a brief apology note. Among the most intense of stories presented herein. And the first story is all about the bears and fears in an apocalyptic future: "We feed them pieces of ourselves. Sacrificial offerings, to make them go away. Sometimes it even works."
But then you have these stories full of so much love and brilliant adaptation to a world that's been broken, Gregor Samsa's sister making up for her disgust by helping children prepare to not be disgusted by all the insects we need to live closely with; a relationship breaking finds rejuvenation through the restoration of underwater passages and fish and eels; the unreal and fantastic treatment of making rivers people, after we have giving corporations recognition as a person, and considering what that leads to; the wonderful search for a species the protagonist adores.
"And if I spend most of my time underground, now, with the eels and with the fish… it's because things seem more hopeful here. Witnessing the restoration of a species in real time rejuvenates my faith in the restoration of other things." This story surprised me by how touched I felt by the end.
"A river was never just water; a mountain never just rocks and snow. They were systems as much as we were. So we made our landmarks people, and then we made ourselves--all of ourselves--believe it." This kind of idea is returned to in several stories, and done so well. An idea that needs to be applied by our governments and communities more.
Even the treatment of death can be rather refreshing, sometimes with the most simple of lines that punch you in the gut after what you've read:
"The kids asked if the grief was worth it.
I told them that it was."
I honestly could not pick out a favorite story. By the end, I adored every single one. But I am the kind of reader that dives in for both the darkness and the light. Perfect for me.
I'll be reading these again. And I hope you do, too. There's so much substance. There's so much to think about. There's so much our communities need to consider in adapting to the world around us.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
18 stories by Octavia Cade collected in here. According to the story credits in the back of the book, at least 15 of them were previously published in various magazines and anthologies between 2013 to 2022. I'd experienced a few before, so I knew I was in for a real treat reading this one through.
I really enjoyed how the stories were organized. The themes and interests of the stories flowed beautifully together. Some of the stories spoke to each other well, dancing along the ideas of sunshine, environment having its revenge, and adapting to the world to create something deeply beautiful and sustainable.
Everything within is climate fiction of some sort, though it certainly shows Cade's range in considering the topic. Readers are presented an interesting mash-up of dark and frightening with hopeful and wonderfully alive. Do be warned, a few of the opening stories are not afraid to dip into horror, while others, especially towards the second half of the book are overjoyed to be more well-adjusted solarpunk, hopepunk, and/or completely joyous. You have stories with a constant barrage of death and sadness, limbs being cut off, bears devouring us, lots of death. The title story of course, which matches well with this book's excellent cover, opens with a severed arm in a mailbox with a brief apology note. Among the most intense of stories presented herein. And the first story is all about the bears and fears in an apocalyptic future: "We feed them pieces of ourselves. Sacrificial offerings, to make them go away. Sometimes it even works."
But then you have these stories full of so much love and brilliant adaptation to a world that's been broken, Gregor Samsa's sister making up for her disgust by helping children prepare to not be disgusted by all the insects we need to live closely with; a relationship breaking finds rejuvenation through the restoration of underwater passages and fish and eels; the unreal and fantastic treatment of making rivers people, after we have giving corporations recognition as a person, and considering what that leads to; the wonderful search for a species the protagonist adores.
"And if I spend most of my time underground, now, with the eels and with the fish… it's because things seem more hopeful here. Witnessing the restoration of a species in real time rejuvenates my faith in the restoration of other things." This story surprised me by how touched I felt by the end.
"A river was never just water; a mountain never just rocks and snow. They were systems as much as we were. So we made our landmarks people, and then we made ourselves--all of ourselves--believe it." This kind of idea is returned to in several stories, and done so well. An idea that needs to be applied by our governments and communities more.
Even the treatment of death can be rather refreshing, sometimes with the most simple of lines that punch you in the gut after what you've read:
"The kids asked if the grief was worth it.
I told them that it was."
I honestly could not pick out a favorite story. By the end, I adored every single one. But I am the kind of reader that dives in for both the darkness and the light. Perfect for me.
I'll be reading these again. And I hope you do, too. There's so much substance. There's so much to think about. There's so much our communities need to consider in adapting to the world around us.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 18, 2023
This is a poignant collection of short stories focusing on climate change/collapse and stewardship. There were several stories I loved all on their own (Tranquility, Come Water, Be One of Us, You’re Not the Only One), but they are so much more powerful together. There are subtle nods between them, which added depth to my reading experience.
“We were less human once. We burnt and boiled and choked, we let ourselves change the world instead of realizing that the world was inside us.”
Some story lines are familiar to the world we live in, but there’s plenty of speculation here, too. I particularly loved the ideas of mothering a new planet, rivers as people, and cities as reefs.
The collection starts out on the darker side—this is where it gets the horror classifier, I think—but it evolves to explore not only grief, dread, and pain, but also hope, resilience, and beauty. Octavia Cade’s writing is poetic and dark and gorgeous—I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stelliform Press for sending me this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own.
“We were less human once. We burnt and boiled and choked, we let ourselves change the world instead of realizing that the world was inside us.”
Some story lines are familiar to the world we live in, but there’s plenty of speculation here, too. I particularly loved the ideas of mothering a new planet, rivers as people, and cities as reefs.
The collection starts out on the darker side—this is where it gets the horror classifier, I think—but it evolves to explore not only grief, dread, and pain, but also hope, resilience, and beauty. Octavia Cade’s writing is poetic and dark and gorgeous—I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stelliform Press for sending me this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 21, 2023
Horror fans: you need to read this book! And even if you’re not into horror, but you care about the destiny of our planet and themes like climate change, give this book a chance.
Think Black Mirror, but the bad guys are us, humans, destroying our planet. Many of the stories present a bleak or alternative future: a world where we never changed our ways.
I was terrified of the actual stories, and the question in the back of my mind was: Would it comes to this? If we don’t do anything about our climate situation, we could end in one of the scenarios presented in the stories.
But also, don’t let the save the planet message make you believe this is not horror. This is horror at its finest, and it had me feeling actual fear, among other emotions.
I felt all of the emotions while reading the stories: Horror, fear, awe, sadness, grief, hope.
I was broken, mended, and broken again. This book was both the ruthless mirror about our current / future situation and also the balm and call to action to avoid it.
My favorite story was the one that gives the title to this anthology of short stories (You Are My Sunshine. It was gruesome, horrifying… and hauntingly beautiful.
The author is a magnificent artist that creates magic with every word, and has a special talent to create innovative stories. Tidemarks, another one of my favorite stories, puts on display the incredible imagination and storytelling ability to the author. Top tier storytelling.
I highly recommended this book… but maybe don’t read it before bed… so you can avoid nightmares!
*Thank you Stelliform Press and BookSires for my free electronic advance review copy!*
Think Black Mirror, but the bad guys are us, humans, destroying our planet. Many of the stories present a bleak or alternative future: a world where we never changed our ways.
I was terrified of the actual stories, and the question in the back of my mind was: Would it comes to this? If we don’t do anything about our climate situation, we could end in one of the scenarios presented in the stories.
But also, don’t let the save the planet message make you believe this is not horror. This is horror at its finest, and it had me feeling actual fear, among other emotions.
I felt all of the emotions while reading the stories: Horror, fear, awe, sadness, grief, hope.
I was broken, mended, and broken again. This book was both the ruthless mirror about our current / future situation and also the balm and call to action to avoid it.
My favorite story was the one that gives the title to this anthology of short stories (You Are My Sunshine. It was gruesome, horrifying… and hauntingly beautiful.
The author is a magnificent artist that creates magic with every word, and has a special talent to create innovative stories. Tidemarks, another one of my favorite stories, puts on display the incredible imagination and storytelling ability to the author. Top tier storytelling.
I highly recommended this book… but maybe don’t read it before bed… so you can avoid nightmares!
*Thank you Stelliform Press and BookSires for my free electronic advance review copy!*
September 21, 2023
"We let ourselves change the world instead of realizing that the world was inside us."
This is a collection of short stories surrounding a common theme of climate change. The whole of this collection is beautifully written, with magical prose that felt almost like poetry at times. The first couple of stories made me worry that I wouldn't be able to get through the whole thing because they were harrowing and pessimistic (realistic really), but then a thread of hope and tenderness is weaved beautifully through the majority of the other stories.
This is an important collection that I believe everyone should read (although care should be taken as sensitive topics are mentioned). I'll be thinking about this collection for a long time!
We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice - 4/5
Starting with an absolute gut-punch. Harrowing but lyrical. Great mix of factual information and sections that feel midway between metaphor and fantasy. I think it would have retained more impact for me by the end if it was a little shorter.
Eight Things We Found Under the Ice, After the Arctic Melted - 3/5
Felt similar to the first story, but conveying more anger than the bleakness of the first. I felt myself becoming a little defensive but not enough to make me ignore the message of the story which I believe was the intention of the author so it was cleverly executed!
You Are My Sunshine - 4/5
Surreal and beautiful imagery. A story of devotion, giving up hope, and sacrifice. There were parts that I wasn't quite sure if I completely grasped the symbolism but it was a very imaginative and informative story nonetheless.
Our Flesh was Bred for This - 4/5
Much shorter than the previous stories but I love the shorter format! This one was about sacrifice, similar to the previous one, but was much more hopeful.
Tidemarks - 3.5/5
This was a weird one and I think I'll have to read it again to completely understand the message behind it. It was an interesting and well written story even though I didn't quite get it. I think maybe it's about the different ways people react and cope when confronted by the hard truth, whether it's with grief or fear or indifference.
Gone To Earth - 5/5
Maybe I'm biased because I did an astrophysics degree and this one was about astronauts, but I loved this story! It emphasised to me how much we are tied to and need the natural world but simultaneously how we try to separate ourselves from it.
Inside the Body of Relatives - 5/5
I always love a story from the POV of an older woman and this is no exception! A much lighter and more hopeful tone than some of the other stories - I enjoyed the bickering between her and her AI house.
Pollen & Salt - 3.5/5
This one was a heartbreaking tale of loss but with a friendly goose! I just didn't connect with it as much as I have with some of the others in this collection.
The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps - 4/5
This story presented a proposal for a different way of living in the city, embracing the nature around us more and making space for it. I am here for it! It felt like the beginning of a healing and positive journey, both for society and the characters in this story.
Resilience - 4/5
This felt like a continuation of the previous story after the successes of reintroducing nature to the city. I enjoyed reading about these two mean girls with secret tender sides!
Tranquillity - 5/5
This has been my favourite so far! An imaginative and amazing take on euthanasia. I loved the wit and determination that the main character showed while facing her death.
The Body Politic - 3.5/5
Short and visceral. This was more like a vignette capturing the narrator's feelings about their body than a story.
The Stone Wētā - 3.5/5
Another great combination of facts and storytelling. Less character-focused than some of the other stories, but an interesting glance into the motivations of a group of data-smugglers.
Come Water, Be One of Us - 5/5
A fantastic story that makes the concept of corporate personhood and environmental personhood literal, shining a light on the greed and selfishness of capitalism and considering how nature would react to it's treatment.
Indicator Species - 4.5/5
A hopeful story about mental health and nature. A very thoughtful piece, without the toxic positivity that can be so prevelant in discussions about mental health.
You're Not the Only One - 4/5
A sad story about going through immense grief and disappointment, but at the same time showing resilience and selflessness. The importance of community is strongly felt in this one, and it's this that allows the main character her space to grieve. In a way, the community described is a bit of a utopia - I'd love society to be this thoughtful and kind in real life!
Metamorphosis - 4/5
This felt like a love letter to beetles! A very sweet and slightly weird story about learning to accept and embrace the more "undesirable" creatures in our ecosystem. A perfect one for fans of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis - I haven't actually read it, so perhaps I'd have got a deeper understanding of this story if I had!
The History of a Coral Future - 3.5/5
This was a good story to wrap up the whole collection, it connected the themes of all of them and highlighted the importance of those themes for creating a better future.
Thank you to Booksirens, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for the ARC!
This is a collection of short stories surrounding a common theme of climate change. The whole of this collection is beautifully written, with magical prose that felt almost like poetry at times. The first couple of stories made me worry that I wouldn't be able to get through the whole thing because they were harrowing and pessimistic (realistic really), but then a thread of hope and tenderness is weaved beautifully through the majority of the other stories.
This is an important collection that I believe everyone should read (although care should be taken as sensitive topics are mentioned). I'll be thinking about this collection for a long time!
We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice - 4/5
Starting with an absolute gut-punch. Harrowing but lyrical. Great mix of factual information and sections that feel midway between metaphor and fantasy. I think it would have retained more impact for me by the end if it was a little shorter.
Eight Things We Found Under the Ice, After the Arctic Melted - 3/5
Felt similar to the first story, but conveying more anger than the bleakness of the first. I felt myself becoming a little defensive but not enough to make me ignore the message of the story which I believe was the intention of the author so it was cleverly executed!
You Are My Sunshine - 4/5
Surreal and beautiful imagery. A story of devotion, giving up hope, and sacrifice. There were parts that I wasn't quite sure if I completely grasped the symbolism but it was a very imaginative and informative story nonetheless.
Our Flesh was Bred for This - 4/5
Much shorter than the previous stories but I love the shorter format! This one was about sacrifice, similar to the previous one, but was much more hopeful.
Tidemarks - 3.5/5
This was a weird one and I think I'll have to read it again to completely understand the message behind it. It was an interesting and well written story even though I didn't quite get it. I think maybe it's about the different ways people react and cope when confronted by the hard truth, whether it's with grief or fear or indifference.
Gone To Earth - 5/5
Maybe I'm biased because I did an astrophysics degree and this one was about astronauts, but I loved this story! It emphasised to me how much we are tied to and need the natural world but simultaneously how we try to separate ourselves from it.
Inside the Body of Relatives - 5/5
I always love a story from the POV of an older woman and this is no exception! A much lighter and more hopeful tone than some of the other stories - I enjoyed the bickering between her and her AI house.
Pollen & Salt - 3.5/5
This one was a heartbreaking tale of loss but with a friendly goose! I just didn't connect with it as much as I have with some of the others in this collection.
The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps - 4/5
This story presented a proposal for a different way of living in the city, embracing the nature around us more and making space for it. I am here for it! It felt like the beginning of a healing and positive journey, both for society and the characters in this story.
Resilience - 4/5
This felt like a continuation of the previous story after the successes of reintroducing nature to the city. I enjoyed reading about these two mean girls with secret tender sides!
Tranquillity - 5/5
This has been my favourite so far! An imaginative and amazing take on euthanasia. I loved the wit and determination that the main character showed while facing her death.
The Body Politic - 3.5/5
Short and visceral. This was more like a vignette capturing the narrator's feelings about their body than a story.
The Stone Wētā - 3.5/5
Another great combination of facts and storytelling. Less character-focused than some of the other stories, but an interesting glance into the motivations of a group of data-smugglers.
Come Water, Be One of Us - 5/5
A fantastic story that makes the concept of corporate personhood and environmental personhood literal, shining a light on the greed and selfishness of capitalism and considering how nature would react to it's treatment.
Indicator Species - 4.5/5
A hopeful story about mental health and nature. A very thoughtful piece, without the toxic positivity that can be so prevelant in discussions about mental health.
You're Not the Only One - 4/5
A sad story about going through immense grief and disappointment, but at the same time showing resilience and selflessness. The importance of community is strongly felt in this one, and it's this that allows the main character her space to grieve. In a way, the community described is a bit of a utopia - I'd love society to be this thoughtful and kind in real life!
Metamorphosis - 4/5
This felt like a love letter to beetles! A very sweet and slightly weird story about learning to accept and embrace the more "undesirable" creatures in our ecosystem. A perfect one for fans of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis - I haven't actually read it, so perhaps I'd have got a deeper understanding of this story if I had!
The History of a Coral Future - 3.5/5
This was a good story to wrap up the whole collection, it connected the themes of all of them and highlighted the importance of those themes for creating a better future.
Thank you to Booksirens, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for the ARC!
February 18, 2024
I begin with “We Feed Bears of Fire and Ice” while listening to “Put on a Happy Face” with Dick Van Dyke crooning, and it is surreal. When I first picked up this book, I was hungry for speculative fiction that acknowledges the crisis our environment is suffering.
The novel begins with a short condemnation.
“Look at what we woke,” (Cade, page 5).
It is a sad statement. Cade includes herself in the judgment. Is it impossible to detach ourselves from that destructive “we" and become part of a solution that protects our planet?
The title was ironic for me, too. The words “You Are My Sunshine" are from a song that makes people think of loved ones who bring happiness “when skies are gray,” so, when I read the opening story, essentially a tale of how the world heats up to the point that “heatstroke bites with red teeth, more dangerous than mouths,” (Cade page 15), I think of the sun as an enemy rather than a smiling friend.
The story is set in a dystopian future where it is so hot that koala bears catch fire and, fur alit, die screaming. It is not so fantastic, she reminds us by interlacing the fiction with references to actual articles on climate change from magazines like Scientific American and Science.
Later, in the title story, I read about a group of activists so eager to make change happen that they chop off their arms and leave them in the mailbox of a marine biologist. This marine biologist protects starfish that multiply in the warming ocean waters and then become “zombie starfish.” Other scientists hate the starfish because the creatures eat up the coral. All that happens because of the warming oceans in the story. In reality in 1960, the oceans had temperatures of less than .2° C. As of 2022, that temperature has risen higher than .6° C. This information is from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Cade's grotesque descriptions of detached body parts reveal her deep frustration and great anger at the seeming inability of people who should know better to do something about something as serious as the destruction of our common home. By making the main character in her title story an inept and desperate scientist pursuing the objective that his fellow scientists deplore, Cade clarifies a problem that exists in the field. If there is a lack of consensus between people who should know, stakeholders will not listen.
After reading story after story in this collection, I was at times repulsed by the imagery and at other times thankful that Cade was able to take the gruesome topic to an extreme that would make a suitable point. It brings no tranquility to read, but it is necessary.
The conflicts created by Cade in the stories are not always resolved by their ends and that is the state of the subject at this time. While politicians debate and we continue to make choices based on personal needs and wants rather than planetary health, these problems keep returning like the warming tide.
I received this book as an advance reader copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily because of my esteem.
The novel begins with a short condemnation.
“Look at what we woke,” (Cade, page 5).
It is a sad statement. Cade includes herself in the judgment. Is it impossible to detach ourselves from that destructive “we" and become part of a solution that protects our planet?
The title was ironic for me, too. The words “You Are My Sunshine" are from a song that makes people think of loved ones who bring happiness “when skies are gray,” so, when I read the opening story, essentially a tale of how the world heats up to the point that “heatstroke bites with red teeth, more dangerous than mouths,” (Cade page 15), I think of the sun as an enemy rather than a smiling friend.
The story is set in a dystopian future where it is so hot that koala bears catch fire and, fur alit, die screaming. It is not so fantastic, she reminds us by interlacing the fiction with references to actual articles on climate change from magazines like Scientific American and Science.
Later, in the title story, I read about a group of activists so eager to make change happen that they chop off their arms and leave them in the mailbox of a marine biologist. This marine biologist protects starfish that multiply in the warming ocean waters and then become “zombie starfish.” Other scientists hate the starfish because the creatures eat up the coral. All that happens because of the warming oceans in the story. In reality in 1960, the oceans had temperatures of less than .2° C. As of 2022, that temperature has risen higher than .6° C. This information is from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Cade's grotesque descriptions of detached body parts reveal her deep frustration and great anger at the seeming inability of people who should know better to do something about something as serious as the destruction of our common home. By making the main character in her title story an inept and desperate scientist pursuing the objective that his fellow scientists deplore, Cade clarifies a problem that exists in the field. If there is a lack of consensus between people who should know, stakeholders will not listen.
After reading story after story in this collection, I was at times repulsed by the imagery and at other times thankful that Cade was able to take the gruesome topic to an extreme that would make a suitable point. It brings no tranquility to read, but it is necessary.
The conflicts created by Cade in the stories are not always resolved by their ends and that is the state of the subject at this time. While politicians debate and we continue to make choices based on personal needs and wants rather than planetary health, these problems keep returning like the warming tide.
I received this book as an advance reader copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily because of my esteem.
July 28, 2023
Compilations of short stories are a fairly new area to me, they aren't something that I normally pick up because I tend to get distracted if the subject matter jumps around too much. I did not find that to be the case with this volume. I really like how each story tied in together and evolved into an over-arcing theme and plot as I progressed further into the book.
What originally drew my attention to this novel was first the stunning cover and then the description of it being an ode to environmentalism in a sci-fi/horror format. I will say that the collection of stories were a bit different than I was anticipating perhaps a bit more metaphorically realistic and stark than I was originally prepared for. Not that this was at all a bad thing! I enjoy when Books defy my expectations.
All of the stories focused on human impact on the would around us, how that world is then forced to adapt and how those adaptations then impact us and our humanity. All of the stories were written in such a poetically lyrical, highly visual way, which I really loved. Personally, I did struggle with the first two stories as they did seem to come across a bit preachy to me. I've always been very interested in environmentalism and the importance of conservation, but the first two stories seemed very heavy handed. However all of the following stories were marvelous. My favorites were: You Are My Sunshine, Inside the Body of Relatives, and Metamorphosis. I appreciated the message of hope, innovation, and adaptation that was given towards how our working relationship with the environment could potentially evolve to be more symbiotic in the future and while its a shame that it may take catastrophic disaster for our current populace to come to that epiphany, it doesn't have to be the end. I imagine it can also be said that the author means for these stories to be a warning against staying on our current course, and while I do support that, I also fall into the cynical category of knowing it is very possible that we as a species have already set ourselves on a path of loss. I want to believe that there is positive change in our future, as these stories suggest. Overall this was truly a delightful, heart - aching read that gave me so much to reflect on. As soon as I am able, I plan on purchasing copies to share with friends.
I want to thank NetGalley, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for providing me with an advanced digital copy of the volume in exchange for my honest feedback.
What originally drew my attention to this novel was first the stunning cover and then the description of it being an ode to environmentalism in a sci-fi/horror format. I will say that the collection of stories were a bit different than I was anticipating perhaps a bit more metaphorically realistic and stark than I was originally prepared for. Not that this was at all a bad thing! I enjoy when Books defy my expectations.
All of the stories focused on human impact on the would around us, how that world is then forced to adapt and how those adaptations then impact us and our humanity. All of the stories were written in such a poetically lyrical, highly visual way, which I really loved. Personally, I did struggle with the first two stories as they did seem to come across a bit preachy to me. I've always been very interested in environmentalism and the importance of conservation, but the first two stories seemed very heavy handed. However all of the following stories were marvelous. My favorites were: You Are My Sunshine, Inside the Body of Relatives, and Metamorphosis. I appreciated the message of hope, innovation, and adaptation that was given towards how our working relationship with the environment could potentially evolve to be more symbiotic in the future and while its a shame that it may take catastrophic disaster for our current populace to come to that epiphany, it doesn't have to be the end. I imagine it can also be said that the author means for these stories to be a warning against staying on our current course, and while I do support that, I also fall into the cynical category of knowing it is very possible that we as a species have already set ourselves on a path of loss. I want to believe that there is positive change in our future, as these stories suggest. Overall this was truly a delightful, heart - aching read that gave me so much to reflect on. As soon as I am able, I plan on purchasing copies to share with friends.
I want to thank NetGalley, Stelliform Press, and Octavia Cade for providing me with an advanced digital copy of the volume in exchange for my honest feedback.
July 8, 2023
"You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories" is a captivating collection of short stories that explores the intricate process of change and its profound impact on individuals and society as a whole. The author, Cade, weaves a tapestry of emotions and experiences, guiding readers through the bittersweet journey of transformation.
The book opens with a poignant portrayal of the death throes of our familiar way of life, setting the stage for the transformative narrative that unfolds. With each story, Cade delves into the depths of human emotions, inviting readers to explore the challenges and growth that accompany change. Through their words, the author paints a vivid picture of a world reshaped by the forces of science, technology, grief, hope, love, and humanity's indomitable will to adapt.
One of the remarkable aspects of this collection is how it interweaves scientific elements with the emotional fabric of the characters. Cade skillfully connects the biological and emotional threads that bind us, transcending the boundaries between human and non-human entities. This fusion of science and empathy adds a unique layer of depth and realism to the stories, making them both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
The strength of "You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories" lies in its ability to elicit a myriad of emotions from its readers. The tales within these pages will wrench your heart, yet they also possess a remarkable ability to heal. Cade's writing style is evocative and lyrical, capable of conveying the rawness of human experience in a way that is both devastating and therapeutic. The stories offer solace and provoke contemplation, leaving readers with a sense of catharsis and a renewed perspective on the power of change.
Ultimately, "You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories" serves as a powerful reminder of the infinite possibilities that exist if we are willing to embrace transformation. It beckons readers to explore new worlds and challenge their preconceptions. Through the pages of this collection, Cade paints a vivid tapestry of hope, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for growth that lies within each of us.
Cade's storytelling prowess and ability to navigate the complexities of change make this book a must-read for those seeking stories that both break and mend the heart.
September 28, 2023
You are my sunshine and other stories, is a series of short stories centred around climate change. In some of them starfish are dying, in some penguins have become extinct, in others this sea has turned red.
I found the first few stories to be intriguing, hard hitting and exciting to read. one of the first stories has really powerful imagery about a town-sized koala, polar bear, and grizzly bear rampaging around the world in search of food and shelter. I learned a couple of good facts from that story alone, one that koala bears aren't actually bears but are marsupials ( to be honest I think I knew that already, but I’d forgotten) and that polar bears and brown bears can procreate, and in fact polar bears are brown bears that moved North and adapted to the climate.
However, after a few more stories, I felt that the point had been made quite well, the climate change is destroying a while and it's almost too late to do anything about it. One of the things I love about short story collections is examining an idea or ideas from many different points of view. turning something over and examining it from all angles-the animals in the sea, the oil companies, imagining what it will be like and 100 years if we do something that does positively impact the damage we've done already. I felt that the narrators in the stories in this collection were just too close in voice and thought, it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began full stop. Sometimes I had to check that I was in a different story, as I got mixed up with another protagonist.
I did love the writing, which was poetic and beautiful in places. There was a story about sunflowers which was particularly impactful, and talks about colours and how that affects humans; the connection we have with the sea. Ultimately though, and this may be a reflection more on me than the author, I found them just too depressing. I would be interested to read more of this authors work-perhaps a novella rather than a short story collection, or maybe poetry?I recommend this for readers who do enjoy short stories, are interested and invested in our planet (as we all should be, really) and are looking for an autumnal collection to cozy up with.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the first few stories to be intriguing, hard hitting and exciting to read. one of the first stories has really powerful imagery about a town-sized koala, polar bear, and grizzly bear rampaging around the world in search of food and shelter. I learned a couple of good facts from that story alone, one that koala bears aren't actually bears but are marsupials ( to be honest I think I knew that already, but I’d forgotten) and that polar bears and brown bears can procreate, and in fact polar bears are brown bears that moved North and adapted to the climate.
However, after a few more stories, I felt that the point had been made quite well, the climate change is destroying a while and it's almost too late to do anything about it. One of the things I love about short story collections is examining an idea or ideas from many different points of view. turning something over and examining it from all angles-the animals in the sea, the oil companies, imagining what it will be like and 100 years if we do something that does positively impact the damage we've done already. I felt that the narrators in the stories in this collection were just too close in voice and thought, it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began full stop. Sometimes I had to check that I was in a different story, as I got mixed up with another protagonist.
I did love the writing, which was poetic and beautiful in places. There was a story about sunflowers which was particularly impactful, and talks about colours and how that affects humans; the connection we have with the sea. Ultimately though, and this may be a reflection more on me than the author, I found them just too depressing. I would be interested to read more of this authors work-perhaps a novella rather than a short story collection, or maybe poetry?I recommend this for readers who do enjoy short stories, are interested and invested in our planet (as we all should be, really) and are looking for an autumnal collection to cozy up with.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2023
You Are My Sunshine is an emotional and deeply satisfying collection of short stories that transforms grief for a dying planet into a resilient hope.
In the beginning, there is eco-horror. A nightmarish future where animals burn or starve and humans are sacrificed to atone for at least a little of the planetary devastation. It’s a near future that feels believable, and the beginning of a revolution, or perhaps anarchy born of climate change.
Then there is guilt and an attempt at atonement for dying ecosystems. In the titular story You Are My Sunshine, Cyrus is a marine biologist who has a deep connection with sea stars. When they begin massively dying he is helpless to stop it. When dismembered human arms begin showing up on his property, he finds a curious solace and connection with a larger Grief shared by others. He finds his own version of peace in bodily transformation.
In Gone To Earth, Alan is a Mars astronaut but comes back to Earth with a malady called Earthsickness. He finds solace in deep connection with the physical Earth. Cade plays with notions of blood sacrifice, atonement and connection. There is a visceral longing to be one with the natural elements and need for symbiosis:
“He rubbed the moist dirt into his cuts, reveling in the symbiosis between them; rolled in it and felt the rolling again as a relief. He could taste his kinship in the blood-soaked earth whenever it touched his tongue; Iron and earth, they were relatives.”
Cade’s stories wander through new territory. There is future fascism and scientific rebellion. At the same time, new ecosystems form, nurtured by people who have internalized the ideas of interconnection with everything on earth as a necessity for survival.
In the end there is joy, making the collection deeply satisfying. I had to descend into the Grief, hardship and disconnection with nature before I could emerge into Cade’s audaciously hopeful future. Her writing is strong and assured, so I could take this journey with her and feel every part of it. It was beautiful.
See my full blog post at TrishTalksBooks.com. Thanks to Stelliform Press and BookSirens for a gifted copy.
In the beginning, there is eco-horror. A nightmarish future where animals burn or starve and humans are sacrificed to atone for at least a little of the planetary devastation. It’s a near future that feels believable, and the beginning of a revolution, or perhaps anarchy born of climate change.
Then there is guilt and an attempt at atonement for dying ecosystems. In the titular story You Are My Sunshine, Cyrus is a marine biologist who has a deep connection with sea stars. When they begin massively dying he is helpless to stop it. When dismembered human arms begin showing up on his property, he finds a curious solace and connection with a larger Grief shared by others. He finds his own version of peace in bodily transformation.
In Gone To Earth, Alan is a Mars astronaut but comes back to Earth with a malady called Earthsickness. He finds solace in deep connection with the physical Earth. Cade plays with notions of blood sacrifice, atonement and connection. There is a visceral longing to be one with the natural elements and need for symbiosis:
“He rubbed the moist dirt into his cuts, reveling in the symbiosis between them; rolled in it and felt the rolling again as a relief. He could taste his kinship in the blood-soaked earth whenever it touched his tongue; Iron and earth, they were relatives.”
Cade’s stories wander through new territory. There is future fascism and scientific rebellion. At the same time, new ecosystems form, nurtured by people who have internalized the ideas of interconnection with everything on earth as a necessity for survival.
In the end there is joy, making the collection deeply satisfying. I had to descend into the Grief, hardship and disconnection with nature before I could emerge into Cade’s audaciously hopeful future. Her writing is strong and assured, so I could take this journey with her and feel every part of it. It was beautiful.
See my full blog post at TrishTalksBooks.com. Thanks to Stelliform Press and BookSirens for a gifted copy.
August 18, 2023
Trigger warnings: suicide, death, loss of a child.
Firstly...the cover 🐙 🔥 😍
This collection of short stories was such a beautifully weird ride. The running theme is of climate change but it's also about how we sapiens can learn to grow and evolve in order to respect and support all life forms and the planet we live on.
There are a few stories which verge in to the realms of Black Mirror territory - so I would totally recommend checking this out if you like Black Mirror 📺 . The joy of the stories being short is that, for the more disturbing ones, you can take a break to digest what you've just read before diving into the next one 🙂
Cade is described as being a speculative fiction writer from New Zealand, with a PhD in science communication and a particular interest in how science is used in horror and science fiction...This definitely comes through in her writing! Whilst she educated me on many things, where I went away to Google more, she also disturbed me!
I'm usually a reader of non-fiction/novels rather than short stories but each of these were utterly compelling. I'm so very glad that I stumbled across this strange and thought provoking little treasure of a book 🖤
My favourites were:
- We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice
Based on koala's and polar bears and how they suffer 😭
- You Are My Sunshine
I really can't give anything away on this without spoiling it.
- Gone to Earth
Astronauts back from Mars struggling to deal with how lifeless a planet it was and being back on earth.
- Inside the Body of Relatives
I think this one was my overall favourite about a talking house, social interactions and loneliness. Made me laugh out loud.
- Tranquility.
Imagine that instead of being buried you could go to an empty planet and become the creator of all living things.
Massive thanks to Book Sirens and Stelliform Press for my copy. All opinions are my own.
Firstly...the cover 🐙 🔥 😍
This collection of short stories was such a beautifully weird ride. The running theme is of climate change but it's also about how we sapiens can learn to grow and evolve in order to respect and support all life forms and the planet we live on.
There are a few stories which verge in to the realms of Black Mirror territory - so I would totally recommend checking this out if you like Black Mirror 📺 . The joy of the stories being short is that, for the more disturbing ones, you can take a break to digest what you've just read before diving into the next one 🙂
Cade is described as being a speculative fiction writer from New Zealand, with a PhD in science communication and a particular interest in how science is used in horror and science fiction...This definitely comes through in her writing! Whilst she educated me on many things, where I went away to Google more, she also disturbed me!
I'm usually a reader of non-fiction/novels rather than short stories but each of these were utterly compelling. I'm so very glad that I stumbled across this strange and thought provoking little treasure of a book 🖤
My favourites were:
- We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice
Based on koala's and polar bears and how they suffer 😭
- You Are My Sunshine
I really can't give anything away on this without spoiling it.
- Gone to Earth
Astronauts back from Mars struggling to deal with how lifeless a planet it was and being back on earth.
- Inside the Body of Relatives
I think this one was my overall favourite about a talking house, social interactions and loneliness. Made me laugh out loud.
- Tranquility.
Imagine that instead of being buried you could go to an empty planet and become the creator of all living things.
Massive thanks to Book Sirens and Stelliform Press for my copy. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2023
This collection of short stories by Octavia Cade is a pull-no-punches imagination of a near-future Earth under the influence of climate change, as seen intimately from the eyes of individuals. It is an exploration of our connection to the other living things with whom we share our planet.
At their core, these stories are about the losses we will suffer as the full effects of climate change take hold. In these terse and well-crafted stories, personal loss and environmental loss are mirrors of one another, and sometimes it isn’t entirely clear where one leaves off and the other begins. Some, like You Are My Sunshine and Gone to Earth lean towards horror, with characters whose relationship with the world around them veers into the surreal waters of mental health crises.
I read this book slowly, needing to pause and digest each story before moving on to the next. I will admit that the drumbeat of despair in the first half of the book made me almost dread what fresh pain the next story would reveal. But the second half focuses more on hope—the hope of those who have felt loss, the hope that we as a species will recognise our place on Earth as kin to all the other living things on the planet, the hope that we will change our ways and create a better future for all life on Earth.
Science is at the core of the book, and the sea is a recurring theme, almost a character, in some stories. Many of the stories are set in New Zealand and draw on places, people and events in New Zealand, but the experiences and emotions of the characters are universal. They will surely resonate with people everywhere.
If you are looking for a vivid and personal exploration of our possible future, or an examination of loss and the recovery of hope after loss, these stories are a must-read.
At their core, these stories are about the losses we will suffer as the full effects of climate change take hold. In these terse and well-crafted stories, personal loss and environmental loss are mirrors of one another, and sometimes it isn’t entirely clear where one leaves off and the other begins. Some, like You Are My Sunshine and Gone to Earth lean towards horror, with characters whose relationship with the world around them veers into the surreal waters of mental health crises.
I read this book slowly, needing to pause and digest each story before moving on to the next. I will admit that the drumbeat of despair in the first half of the book made me almost dread what fresh pain the next story would reveal. But the second half focuses more on hope—the hope of those who have felt loss, the hope that we as a species will recognise our place on Earth as kin to all the other living things on the planet, the hope that we will change our ways and create a better future for all life on Earth.
Science is at the core of the book, and the sea is a recurring theme, almost a character, in some stories. Many of the stories are set in New Zealand and draw on places, people and events in New Zealand, but the experiences and emotions of the characters are universal. They will surely resonate with people everywhere.
If you are looking for a vivid and personal exploration of our possible future, or an examination of loss and the recovery of hope after loss, these stories are a must-read.
February 12, 2024
What a whopper of a short story collection. Weird, haunting; hard science, deep emotion; elements of horror, elements of hope... really strong and compulsively readable but in a way I had to take pauses to consider and dwell on the world of each story. I even felt like I learned some things abotu sustainability and ecology from it.
While the collection as a whole is great, here are some standouts for me:
I was gasping at the first story, "We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice." A brutal telling of the story of bears around the world, dying to to human action. My description makes it sound a bit trite, the style of writing is also lovely.
"Tidemarks" was another favourite of mine, a very much post-climate-change story about a scientist who has stopped hoping, and a folk legend about the ghosts of penguins at a shuttered aquarium. Really haunting.
"The Streams are Paved with Fishtraps" is a sweet story about a husband/wife relationships, fish in the sewer systems, and an eel in the bathtub. Really well done emotionally, and makes you think ecologically.
The last story, "The History of a Coral Future" is like a write-up of what the world could be like if we approached it as an interconnected world - humans and nature together. Less a short story and more a "what if?" but it really worked for me as an ending piece. The bio at the end says the author is "currently plotting a non-fiction book on urban ecology" and now I desperately want to read that too! This story felt almost like an intro to what could be non-fic.
While the collection as a whole is great, here are some standouts for me:
I was gasping at the first story, "We Feed the Bears of Fire and Ice." A brutal telling of the story of bears around the world, dying to to human action. My description makes it sound a bit trite, the style of writing is also lovely.
"Tidemarks" was another favourite of mine, a very much post-climate-change story about a scientist who has stopped hoping, and a folk legend about the ghosts of penguins at a shuttered aquarium. Really haunting.
"The Streams are Paved with Fishtraps" is a sweet story about a husband/wife relationships, fish in the sewer systems, and an eel in the bathtub. Really well done emotionally, and makes you think ecologically.
The last story, "The History of a Coral Future" is like a write-up of what the world could be like if we approached it as an interconnected world - humans and nature together. Less a short story and more a "what if?" but it really worked for me as an ending piece. The bio at the end says the author is "currently plotting a non-fiction book on urban ecology" and now I desperately want to read that too! This story felt almost like an intro to what could be non-fic.
Read
February 16, 2024There is such fantastic power in Cade's writing, and this brief collection screams with passion and with stories worth whole worlds.
Stelliform Press has become a favorite of mine ever since I discovered them, and so I expected great things from this collection. Yet, I was still blown away. Cade's writing marries speculative thrills and high-concept stories with a passion for science, the environment, and the natural world. While the stories range through genres, with a few being closer to horror and many being closer to near-future sci-fi or even potentially near-future realism, they come together in a collage of insight and nuance that screams with emotional intelligence and a desperate hope for the world. Cade's natural story-telling ability is alone worth seeking out, but the ideas and characters here are so unique and real, the book is perhaps the most powerful collection I've read, and I adored it.
Some of my favorite stories in the bunch: "You are My Sunshine" (the title story), "Tidemarks", "Inside the Body of Relatives", "The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps", "Tranquility", and "You're Not the Only One".
But in truth, I'm sure I'll re-read the whole collection.
Absolutely recommended.
Stelliform Press has become a favorite of mine ever since I discovered them, and so I expected great things from this collection. Yet, I was still blown away. Cade's writing marries speculative thrills and high-concept stories with a passion for science, the environment, and the natural world. While the stories range through genres, with a few being closer to horror and many being closer to near-future sci-fi or even potentially near-future realism, they come together in a collage of insight and nuance that screams with emotional intelligence and a desperate hope for the world. Cade's natural story-telling ability is alone worth seeking out, but the ideas and characters here are so unique and real, the book is perhaps the most powerful collection I've read, and I adored it.
Some of my favorite stories in the bunch: "You are My Sunshine" (the title story), "Tidemarks", "Inside the Body of Relatives", "The Streams are Paved with Fish Traps", "Tranquility", and "You're Not the Only One".
But in truth, I'm sure I'll re-read the whole collection.
Absolutely recommended.
August 26, 2023
This was an enlightening and very poignant read. These stories focus on the reality of what our environment has come to along with what the author foresees as a future for humanity given the devastating climate change. A rather enjoyable set of stories that provokes a lot of emotion. These stories are meant to make you feel something and they certainly do. There’s a fine line between political narratives and poetic narratives and these shorts really balanced lovely between that line.
It starts off with a couple of deeper stories that really set the seen for grief and loss before a more transformative narrative beginning with 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 that shows humanity’s hope after devastation. The writing is lyrical, evocative, and raw, and it provides the basis of some beautifully haunting stories that touched on some darker thoughts and involved technology along with some science fiction in humanity’s will to persevere. I really went into this blind but was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this collection of stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It starts off with a couple of deeper stories that really set the seen for grief and loss before a more transformative narrative beginning with 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 that shows humanity’s hope after devastation. The writing is lyrical, evocative, and raw, and it provides the basis of some beautifully haunting stories that touched on some darker thoughts and involved technology along with some science fiction in humanity’s will to persevere. I really went into this blind but was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this collection of stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 22, 2023
You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories was completely different from what I was expecting, and yet it exceeded my expectations. The book covers a future existence if we ignore current climate issues and let them continue to get worse. It also references things we are doing now that are accelerating climate change. The collection of stories was so devastating and so moving.
When first starting this book, I struggled a bit with the prose, but I absolutely loved the premise. Each story is a little different, but they all follow a central theme of destruction and the guilt we need to feel for what we are doing to our planet. It feels as if this is not science fiction, this is reality. The writing truly made me think about how my actions impact the world around me, and I know it will do the same for others.
Each story drew me in quickly, even if it was only a couple pages long, and I love how they were all so different, yet had the same message. I had no expectations when I picked up this book, and I so happy that I did.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When first starting this book, I struggled a bit with the prose, but I absolutely loved the premise. Each story is a little different, but they all follow a central theme of destruction and the guilt we need to feel for what we are doing to our planet. It feels as if this is not science fiction, this is reality. The writing truly made me think about how my actions impact the world around me, and I know it will do the same for others.
Each story drew me in quickly, even if it was only a couple pages long, and I love how they were all so different, yet had the same message. I had no expectations when I picked up this book, and I so happy that I did.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 6, 2023
This book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it was brilliant. It's a harsh look at a world vastly affected by climate change and honestly not hard to envision as a near future reality. It made me uncomfortable to read at times. It made me think. It gave me new ways of looking at things that I hadn't previously considered. The first story was metaphoric but made an impression. I enjoyed Eight Things We Found Under the Ice, After the Arctic Melted a lot. You Are My Sunshine was probably the longest story and my least favorite. Gone to Earth was haunting. Inside the Body of Relatives spoke to me personally and I really liked it. Tranquility and the idea of being a mother of a planet was probably one of my favorites in the collection. The Stone Weta was impactful and carried a strong message about truth and information. The History of a Coral Future gave a an odd sense of comfort...as someone who has contamination OCD, by making me view bacteria and our microbiome as a good thing and a needed thing.
October 7, 2024
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After reading this book, I realize that I would like to read more of ecological horror/thrillers.
Honestly, I felt the perspective was quite refreshing and unlike the things I normally read.
The ideas in this book were like a sucker punch - very strong and disturbing. If you are someone who can't handle bad things happening to animals in a book, then maybe you should sit this one out. One thing thought, here the animal kingdom suffers as a result of deterioration of the planet, and many of the deaths described are natural, albeit graphic.
One thing that I struggled with was the writing style. It felt a bit too lyrical and flowy for me. I felt my brain was struggling to grab on to things and kept wandering regularly.
This book feels more like a meditation than a story. It talks about very important things, but the writing lacks clear plot development. There are so many amazing ideas, but they are not explored further. In a way, this felt unfinished to me.
After reading this book, I realize that I would like to read more of ecological horror/thrillers.
Honestly, I felt the perspective was quite refreshing and unlike the things I normally read.
The ideas in this book were like a sucker punch - very strong and disturbing. If you are someone who can't handle bad things happening to animals in a book, then maybe you should sit this one out. One thing thought, here the animal kingdom suffers as a result of deterioration of the planet, and many of the deaths described are natural, albeit graphic.
One thing that I struggled with was the writing style. It felt a bit too lyrical and flowy for me. I felt my brain was struggling to grab on to things and kept wandering regularly.
This book feels more like a meditation than a story. It talks about very important things, but the writing lacks clear plot development. There are so many amazing ideas, but they are not explored further. In a way, this felt unfinished to me.
April 11, 2024
The stories in the collection are lush and filled to the brim with ideas. This was my first time reading Cli-fi and they opened up a new perspective and way of storytelling. They are experimental and lyrical, varying in lengths and formats. Even when I struggled with a story, i was still captured by the creativity and passion.
Its clear how the author sees the world, especially the plant and animal life as well as her clear passion for conservation & grief at the degradation of our natural world.
Almost all the characters are scientists but their relationship with their area of research is deeply emotional.
Despite the dark stories, I see this as a hopeful book which imagines people with the capacity to deeply empathize with nature and take action for it.
I received an advance review copy for free. Thanks!
Its clear how the author sees the world, especially the plant and animal life as well as her clear passion for conservation & grief at the degradation of our natural world.
Almost all the characters are scientists but their relationship with their area of research is deeply emotional.
Despite the dark stories, I see this as a hopeful book which imagines people with the capacity to deeply empathize with nature and take action for it.
I received an advance review copy for free. Thanks!
August 5, 2023
*thank you to netgally for giving me an e-arc to review!*
overall rating: 3.5 stars
anthologies are very hit or miss for me, but this one was overall written well and i enjoyed quite a few of the stories. they were very poetically written and thought-provoking. as you read the stories you start to see more of the overarching theme of human impact on the world around us and just life in general. i also feel like it is an easy book to pick up if you are new to science fiction since you each story is short and you can walk away from the book for a while without forgetting what is going on. my definite favorites were metamorphosis and gone to earth.
overall rating: 3.5 stars
anthologies are very hit or miss for me, but this one was overall written well and i enjoyed quite a few of the stories. they were very poetically written and thought-provoking. as you read the stories you start to see more of the overarching theme of human impact on the world around us and just life in general. i also feel like it is an easy book to pick up if you are new to science fiction since you each story is short and you can walk away from the book for a while without forgetting what is going on. my definite favorites were metamorphosis and gone to earth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews