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49th Parallels: Alternative Canadian Histories and Futures
A country consists of the stories we tell about it. National myths—not all of them based in reality—define how we look at our past and how we consider our future. Sometimes we can only see the truth by contemplating how it all might have been different. By seeing how different choices lead to different outcomes we can better understand how the choices we make now will determine the future we will all live in. Greatness is always a matter of choice, not chance.
49th Parallels offers 20 stories and 5 poems by writers from coast to coast in Canada and abroad which answer the questions: how might it have been different and how might things change?
Bundoran Press anthologies have received four Aurora Award nominations and two wins. They have been called “cool” and “leading edge” (AESciFi), “terrific” (Quill and Quire) and “memorable and thought provoking” (all Our Worlds).
49th Parallels offers 20 stories and 5 poems by writers from coast to coast in Canada and abroad which answer the questions: how might it have been different and how might things change?
Bundoran Press anthologies have received four Aurora Award nominations and two wins. They have been called “cool” and “leading edge” (AESciFi), “terrific” (Quill and Quire) and “memorable and thought provoking” (all Our Worlds).
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 28, 2018
It’s taken me quite some time to get to it in my read pile but I was not disappointed.
This collection presents an eclectic mix of stories that not only present the expected future visions of this country, but a plethora of alternate realities that employ historical hooks to really bring the stories home.
The last entry Northstar by Dave Steinman was easily my favorite as it presents a history of how the hallowed Avro Arrow program should have gone. The fate of the program, the one time Canada truly dominated the skies, still rankles me to this day and so giving a glance at what should have been – damn you Diefenbaker! – was soothing even if only briefly.
Brandon Crilly’s, The Last Best Defence also spins a tale around another dark side of our history with a story in which Louis Riel’s rebellion is sidelined for an alien invasion. The notion that cooperation is key is one that our political forefathers ignored, an injustice that has yet to be fully rectified.
I have to admit that it was with both great anticipation and slight trepidation that I read Tyler Goodier’s Five Days of Summer. You see Tyler is a friend and this being first first published piece I was afraid it may not be as polished a story as one coming from more experienced writers. But I can honestly say that this story of Caucasian adventurers doggedly visiting a native settlement despite imminent doom from viral contagion really hit me. While the tinges of horror were certainly gratifying and to my tastes the fact that he managed to pull off a love story in that setting was quite remarkable.
Those who know me well are quite aware of my interest in rocketry so it should not come as a surprise that I also enjoyed Shoot for the Stars by Andrew P. Blaber. I was well aware of the true and somewhat dark history of Gerald Bull’s dream of launching satellites and people into space via a giant cannon. But what if this dream came to fruition on our sesquicentennial?
And what would a Canadian collection be without at least one story featuring snow? You’ll find lots of it in Virginia O’Dine‘s The Selfish Bastards We Were, a post-apocalyptic Canada set amid 20ft snowdrifts.
Here’s quick roundup of the other treats to be found in 49th Parallels:
Liz Westbrook-Trenholm – Order
An alternate WWII story that blends secret research with immigration naysayers.
Claude Lalumière – The Treaty of Empress Park
Consider the contrasting stance of negotiators of alternate reality Canadian governments at treaty signing.
Kate Heartfield –Not Valid for Spain
Robots fighting fascists in Generalisimo Francisco Franco’s Spain .
Melissa Yuan-Innes – You, Robot
Robot takeover in medicine with a not-so-subtle message for anti-vaxers.
Eileen Gunnel-Lee – The Cicada Year
What is our greatest enemy, climate change or terrorism?
Caitlin Demaris-McKenna – Where the Water Meets the Land
Nice robot ethics story touching on conservation issues with a Forest Service rescuer as the protagonist.
M.L.D. Curelas – Harvesting Moonshine
Philanthropic female scientists in a tale of secret Canadian agents thwarting US nuclear bombs.
David F. Schultz – True North
Pleasant story about survival featuring an Inuit and a white partner, drones and igloos who have to weigh orders against what is right.
Chris Patrick Carolan – The Rankin File
Halifax victorian wartime steampunk mystery regarding secret plans for a perpetual energy “Eternity Engine”.
Krista Wallace – To Serve and Protect
Hi-tech suicide prevention officer has to deal with a jumper on Vancouver’s Lion’s Gate Bridge.
Cathy Smith – A New Genome
The downfall of organic cattle ranching as a result of climate change and over zealous activists that don’t realize shutting down the industry can mean result in the extinction of the very animals they are trying to ‘save’. Vat grown beef. Good story from the point of an old rancher.
Maverick Smith – Looking Back, Looking Ahead
A look at Canada during it’s bicentennial celebrations where climate change has set in but life is good with the country’s enshrined human rights.
Glen Cadigan – 51-49
An alternate reality tale where the country of Labrador is in a bit of conundrum and must weigh the past in order to decide it’s future.
Fiona Moore – Morning in the Republic of America
Forging international relationships where Canada is the Republic of America.
Alexandra Renwick – As Mistress Wishes
Post apocalyptic steampunk in a future after gender wars told from the point of view of … a dog.
This collection presents an eclectic mix of stories that not only present the expected future visions of this country, but a plethora of alternate realities that employ historical hooks to really bring the stories home.
The last entry Northstar by Dave Steinman was easily my favorite as it presents a history of how the hallowed Avro Arrow program should have gone. The fate of the program, the one time Canada truly dominated the skies, still rankles me to this day and so giving a glance at what should have been – damn you Diefenbaker! – was soothing even if only briefly.
Brandon Crilly’s, The Last Best Defence also spins a tale around another dark side of our history with a story in which Louis Riel’s rebellion is sidelined for an alien invasion. The notion that cooperation is key is one that our political forefathers ignored, an injustice that has yet to be fully rectified.
I have to admit that it was with both great anticipation and slight trepidation that I read Tyler Goodier’s Five Days of Summer. You see Tyler is a friend and this being first first published piece I was afraid it may not be as polished a story as one coming from more experienced writers. But I can honestly say that this story of Caucasian adventurers doggedly visiting a native settlement despite imminent doom from viral contagion really hit me. While the tinges of horror were certainly gratifying and to my tastes the fact that he managed to pull off a love story in that setting was quite remarkable.
Those who know me well are quite aware of my interest in rocketry so it should not come as a surprise that I also enjoyed Shoot for the Stars by Andrew P. Blaber. I was well aware of the true and somewhat dark history of Gerald Bull’s dream of launching satellites and people into space via a giant cannon. But what if this dream came to fruition on our sesquicentennial?
And what would a Canadian collection be without at least one story featuring snow? You’ll find lots of it in Virginia O’Dine‘s The Selfish Bastards We Were, a post-apocalyptic Canada set amid 20ft snowdrifts.
Here’s quick roundup of the other treats to be found in 49th Parallels:
Liz Westbrook-Trenholm – Order
An alternate WWII story that blends secret research with immigration naysayers.
Claude Lalumière – The Treaty of Empress Park
Consider the contrasting stance of negotiators of alternate reality Canadian governments at treaty signing.
Kate Heartfield –Not Valid for Spain
Robots fighting fascists in Generalisimo Francisco Franco’s Spain .
Melissa Yuan-Innes – You, Robot
Robot takeover in medicine with a not-so-subtle message for anti-vaxers.
Eileen Gunnel-Lee – The Cicada Year
What is our greatest enemy, climate change or terrorism?
Caitlin Demaris-McKenna – Where the Water Meets the Land
Nice robot ethics story touching on conservation issues with a Forest Service rescuer as the protagonist.
M.L.D. Curelas – Harvesting Moonshine
Philanthropic female scientists in a tale of secret Canadian agents thwarting US nuclear bombs.
David F. Schultz – True North
Pleasant story about survival featuring an Inuit and a white partner, drones and igloos who have to weigh orders against what is right.
Chris Patrick Carolan – The Rankin File
Halifax victorian wartime steampunk mystery regarding secret plans for a perpetual energy “Eternity Engine”.
Krista Wallace – To Serve and Protect
Hi-tech suicide prevention officer has to deal with a jumper on Vancouver’s Lion’s Gate Bridge.
Cathy Smith – A New Genome
The downfall of organic cattle ranching as a result of climate change and over zealous activists that don’t realize shutting down the industry can mean result in the extinction of the very animals they are trying to ‘save’. Vat grown beef. Good story from the point of an old rancher.
Maverick Smith – Looking Back, Looking Ahead
A look at Canada during it’s bicentennial celebrations where climate change has set in but life is good with the country’s enshrined human rights.
Glen Cadigan – 51-49
An alternate reality tale where the country of Labrador is in a bit of conundrum and must weigh the past in order to decide it’s future.
Fiona Moore – Morning in the Republic of America
Forging international relationships where Canada is the Republic of America.
Alexandra Renwick – As Mistress Wishes
Post apocalyptic steampunk in a future after gender wars told from the point of view of … a dog.
October 9, 2018
I contributed to the Kickstarter for this book, so I feel a sense of kinship to it. I absolutely loved some of the stories - my favourite was To Serve and Protect, by Krista Wallace. I did find myself skimming two of the stories, and I didn't especially care for the poetry. I rate short story collections by rating each piece individually and then dividing, so my final rating for this book is 3.5 stars, and here's an alternate future for you - one of these days Goodreads will allow half-star ratings!
August 6, 2018
Favourites were Harvesting Moonshine and You, Robot.
December 4, 2017
This is a book of short stories about Canada in alternative situations. To be frank, I did not understand some of the stories, a couple were interesting but for the most part, the endings left me somewhat wondering what was going on.
As a child I watched cartoons called "Fractured Fairy Tales", I put this on the same level but for adults.
As a child I watched cartoons called "Fractured Fairy Tales", I put this on the same level but for adults.
February 26, 2018
It was OK, but did not live up to my expectations - the anthology veered more towards dystopian near-future scenarios, with even some aliens thrown in, rather than alternate history. "Harvesting Moonshine" and "Northstar" really stood out for me.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews