Survivor

by Mary Anne Mohanraj, J.J. Pionke (Editor), John Linwood Grant

Speculative fiction is often about sense of wonder and escapism, but the realities of life and its traumas can make wonder elusive, and escape difficult to even imagine. Editors Mary Anne Mohanraj and JJ Pionke bring you stories of people who have endured serious emotional and physical challenges, and who have found new paths forward, learning to both survive and thrive. The authors featured in this anthology offer more than simple catharsis. These are stories that will evoke wonder, yes, but will also inspire us to look up, full of determination, seeing our spirits lifting higher than the stratosphere.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Mary Anne Mohanraj is author of A Feast of Serendib, Bodies in Motion, The Stars Change, and twelve other titles. Other recent publications include stories for George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards series, Perennial: A Garden Romance (Tincture), stories at Clarkesworld, Asimov’s, and Lightspeed, and an essay in Roxane Gay’s Unruly Bodies.

Mohanraj founded Hugo-nominated and World Fantasy Award-winning speculative literature magazine Strange Horizons, and serves as Executive Director of both DesiLit (desilit.org) and the Speculative Literature Foundation (speclit.org). She is Clinical Associate Professor of fiction and literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago. www.maryannemohanraj.com

Reviews

[Chris Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In almost all cases, any given anthology will have a mix of good and not-quite-as good works in them. I've always wondered how editors make the call on which stories go in and which miss out.

"Survivors" is one of those rare collections in which each story is simply excellent. I can't recall the last time I read an antho and didn't flip past one or two works which just did not compel me.

The theme, collection and editing of "Survivor" make it especially strong. They run the gamut from horror to magical realism to science-fictional elements - but all work very well in this collection.

Very strong collection of excellent work.

[Susie Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little close to home in places but I'm very glad this is a thing that exists in the world

['Nathan Burgoine]

Reviews of stories in this anthology will pop up under this tag on my blog, most likely as part of my Short Stories 366 project.