Submerged

by S.C. Butler (Editor), Joshua Palmatier (Editor), Seanan McGuire

Everyone has their eyes set on the black depths of space … but what about the deep abysses of the ocean? What dark monsters swim unseen beneath the waves? What ancient wonders lie hidden, waiting to be discovered? What sirens call, either here on Earth or in the icy waters of a far off planet … or even at the bottom of a wine glass? So much remains to be explored below the surface, where light fades and the pressure kills.

Here are seventeen stories from today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that take us into those depths, whether we want to or not. Join Seanan McGuire, Michael Robertson, Esther Friesner, F. Brett Cox, Wendy Nikel, Marsheila Rockwell & Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Jody Lynn Nye, Bill Kte’pi, Jenna Rhodes, Susan Jett, James Van Pelt, J.C. Koch, Misty Massey, A. Merc Rustad, David Farland, Sara M. Harvey, and Nicky Drayden as they explore unfathomable trenches, underwater volcanoes, and abyssal plains. Take the plunge … into the Deep End!

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Short Stories, Science Fiction

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2017

About the author

S. C. Butler was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the middle of the last century, which really isn’t so very long ago. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with no dogs, no cats, and certainly no shape-shifting bears.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

FYI - I funded the kickstarter that included this book.

Any collection of stories is going to be a mixed bag that will differ from reader to reader. Overall the majority of the stories were good. Not great, but a little above okay. There were three stand-outs.

1. "Rest in Peace" by Seann Macguire - this rift on the idea of a missing ship is wonderful. It's the right mixture of realism and sea legend. Really good ending.

2. "Go With the Flow" by Esther Friesner - Friesner is always best when playing with tropes.

3. "Son of Blob" by Jeffery J Mariottie - real good story with squid.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

bought this for one particular author but I ended up finding a few more with some great talent. and in one of my favorite spots to read about...deep ocean

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this fast-paced anthology containing stories that covered the entire spectrum of speculative fiction. It had science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery. Some of my favourites were~
1. Seanan McGuire's 'Rust in Peace';
2. Wendy Nickel's 'Through Milkweed and Gloom';
3. Jenna Rhodes' 'The Windlost';
4. Susan Jett's 'Tamatori' (beautiful and poetic);
5. James Van Pelt's 'High Sulfur Hot Springs and Camping Park';
6. J.C. Koch's 'The City Under the Sea' (this one was awesome!);
7. Sara M. Harvey's 'The Byssus Woman' (truly poignant);
8. Nicky Drayden's 'The Seven Nights of Squidmas' (a splash of colour amidst the grey-green gloom).
Several of the books also addressed LGBTQ themes, thereby emphasising the 'otherness' of the deep. But it was done nicely.
Recommended.

[Erin Penn]

Participated in Kickstarter.

[Andrew Ahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its truly hard to give any anthology 5 stars because the chances of liking every story is almost nil. That said I give this Anthology 4.5 stars. Did I like every story? No. But I liked more than 3/4 of the stories.

ZNB publishing does it again with Editors SC Butler and Joshua Palmatier. They chose some outstanding talent and a huge variety of Underwater tales; from straight up fantasy, to horror, to ecological apocalypses, to Space exploration and beyond. Some Authors really stood out to me: Bill K'tepi 's story is by far my favorite, it is truly the kind of story i wish I would write. Sara M. Harvey's story is very politically/socially important to our world. For just a fun romance Susan Jett needs to be mentioned. And for a real world magic James Van Pelt's story is incredible.

This is the perfect Anthology for those times you want to escape and don't have time for getting caught up in a Novel: A Bathroom book or a Sunday morning over coffee. If short stories speculative fiction are your thing I truly believe you will not be disappointed by this one.

[Brewergnome · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really neat collection of stories with some real gems, both fantasy and sci-fi. Everything from alien creatures in a hot spring to Cthulhu taking over the galaxy from an alien sea. Very fun. "The Byssus Woman" is an especial favorite about a trans woman finding acceptance in the sea.

[Michelle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of short stories that take place under water.

An excellent selection of stories. Some are Sci-fi, some are Fantasy, some are horror but all are at least good if not excellent.

[LaShawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Rust in Peace” by Seanan McGuire