The World of Dew and Other Stories

by Julian Mortimer Smith

Imagine a world populated by hideous trolls, time-traveling scientists, and intergalactic freighter captains―with smartphones and social media.

The World of Dew and Other Stories , chosen by Michelle Pretorius as the 2020 Blue Light Books Prize winner, invites readers into 18 different universes that have unexpected resonances with our own modern life. While these tales are unabashedly sci-fi and fantasy, Julian Mortimer Smith approaches each at a curious angle. Ghosts are cataloged using a Pokémon Go–like app, a soldier has to get enough upvotes on social media before he is allowed to take a shot, and a golden age of cooperation begins as societies around the world prepare for a looming pandemic of blindness. In addition to featuring stories that have appeared in some of the world's top speculative fiction outlets, The World of Dew and Other Stories also includes five new stories published here for the first time.

These tales are sometimes terrifying, sometimes touching, sometimes provocative, and occasionally very silly. They function both as windows through which readers can glimpse vast universes waiting to be explored and as mirrors reflecting our own reality back at us in a strange and unfamiliar light.

Genres: Short Stories

162 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[R.A. Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliens, ghosts, trolls, and time travel. These are just a few of the topics covered in this insightful and whimsical collection of stories. Julian Smith's imagination manages to craft compelling and unique short stories that take you to other worlds, while at the same time questioning our own reality.

[Chris]

Speculative fiction from a Nova Scotia author casting light on the world we know and face: social media, climate change, artificial intelligence, virtual planes, hyper commercialization, grifters, war machines, and occasional authoritarianism. A fascinating mix of well crafted stories.

[Jennifer Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of stories. "Barb-the-Bomb and the Yesterday Boy" stood out as my favourite story, and I would love to read more about Yesterday Boy someday (please?).
Each story was consistently as imaginative and unexpected as the last. The stories left me with a sense wonder and a rare magic I'm always craving from stories.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is a delightful exploration of imaginative possibilities. Each story is unique, but they all include elements of unreality that give the reader the sense of being taken along for a ride through the author’s imagination - a vivid and wonderful place full of unexpected settings and characters, in thought-provoking situations. This is not a genre I would typically gravitate toward, but it was a joy and delight to read this book.

(Disclaimer: the author is a friend, but even if he wasn’t, my review would stand.)

[Rhia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked most of these, loved some. In turns magical, joyous, sad, anxiety-provoking, and full of delight. And the author is from Yarmouth!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and funny..but I am not a Science Fiction or Fantasy Fan...so I don't have any more comments.