Sky Songs: Stories of Spirituality and Speculative Science

by Steve Stanton (Editor), Cherith Baldry (Contributor), Colleen Drippe/ (Contributor)

This is an anthology of 25 stories, mostly first published from 1991-2001 in Dreams & Visions, a Canadian-based Christian literary journal (which Stanton also edits), all by Christian authors and all representing the realm of speculative fiction in its broadest definition.

"The anthology mixes modern themes - genetic engineering, android rights, and artificial intelligence - with new twists on old standbys like time travel and vampires. The stories are thought-provoking and often powerful. Together they make for eye-opening and heart-felt writing." - Faith Today

Genres: Short Stories

268 pages, paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Steve Stanton writes science fiction novels about the future of the human brain, artificial intelligence, transhumanist immortality, and the mystery of consciousness. His short stories have been published in sixteen countries in a dozen languages, spanning categories from cyberpunk to space opera. A trilogy of novels, The Bloodlight Chronicles, was published by ECW Press in Toronto from 2010 to 2012. His fourth novel, Freenet, is now available in bookstores and libraries!

Reviews

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Goodreads description above (which I wrote) gives you a basic idea of the contents of this anthology. It doesn't, of course, indicate the most crucial characteristic: that this is a very high-quality, stellar collection of contemporary SF. Some of the stories are better than others, but all of them are worthwhile, imaginative and absorbing. Not all of them have explicitly Christian content (and their appeal would go beyond the Christian reading community; two of them first appeared in secular venues), though all are informed by Christian spiritual and moral attitudes. Many of them probe social and philosophical issues that are both contemporary and timeless, and some demonstrate skilled use of symbolism. In the best tradition of speculative fiction, the writers use the fantastic to illuminate the real. Most of the stories are science fiction; a few are fantasy or supernatural fiction, and a couple are simply surreal (but readable examples of their type), like the one that features a talking goat in a paisley ascot and morning coat. Two of them are "ordinary" or "everyday," real-world fiction -- but even they show the everyday world subtly invaded by the miraculous.

The 16 authors showcased (editor Stanton also contributed a story) are all American, Canadian or British. As the numbers indicate, several are represented more than once: Andrew Seddon and Michael Vance (both of whom are Goodreads friends of mine), Cherith Baldry, Frederick J. McGavran, Stephen G. Stiles, and D. J. Kolacki. Both of Vance's contributions are part of his linked Lovecraftian-tinged story cycle set in Light's End, Maine, which is collected in book form in his Weird Horror Tales (several of the other writers here also have books of their own published, either dating from before this collection was printed, or subsequently). Among the stand-out stories are "The Healer," a poignant exploration of medical ethics by Seddon (who is himself a physician); "Comprehending It Not," Baldry's haunting examination of what it means to be "human;" Stanton's "A Perfect Match," which is set in a very dystopian future; Colleen Drippe's "Lost Rythar," and John Schreiber's "Me and Josh and Gideon," one of the best vampire yarns I've ever read --and I've read a number of them.

Taken as a whole, this collection is a treat for readers who appreciate fresh, well-crafted storytelling, and who are either speculative fiction fans as such or aren't prejudiced against the speculative genres (you don't necessarily have to be an SF fan to just enjoy a good thought-provoking story wherever you happen to find it! :-)).

[John Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the interests of full disclosure, I appreciated the review that liked my story "Me and Josh and Gideon." Thanks!