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Seasons Between Us: Tales of Identities and Memories
From the award-winning series comes an anthology of original hopeful stories centering on "what is a good life?"
What decisions will you make to have a meaningful life? What kind of stories will you leave behind?
Travel with twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors through the seasons of life to capture the memories, identities, and moments of stepping through the portal of change, as they cope with their own journeys of growing older.
From the moment of birth, through each threshold of our lives, to the moment we take our last breath, we age.
Some of us leap into a hopeful future, some cling to the knowns of our former selves, some wander obliviously through the minefields and poppies of change. Something is lost, something is gained in each season. Things forgotten, things remembered.
A child redefines identity and belonging in post-Soviet Hungary. A girl blossoming to adult awareness exchanges life for death in rural Canada. A college student chooses between the magic of ancient spirits and the magic of daily happiness in modern Japan. In futuristic India, a mother finds joy in the balance between family and career. Under the Andulasian sun, a mathematician consults his older self in affairs of love. In alternate Tanzania, a husband and wife discover wisdom in memory loss. A robot eases an old man's grief, and a grandmother opens her heart when she listens to her child.
And many more hopeful stories.
What decisions will you make to have a meaningful life? What kind of stories will you leave behind?
Travel with twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors through the seasons of life to capture the memories, identities, and moments of stepping through the portal of change, as they cope with their own journeys of growing older.
From the moment of birth, through each threshold of our lives, to the moment we take our last breath, we age.
Some of us leap into a hopeful future, some cling to the knowns of our former selves, some wander obliviously through the minefields and poppies of change. Something is lost, something is gained in each season. Things forgotten, things remembered.
A child redefines identity and belonging in post-Soviet Hungary. A girl blossoming to adult awareness exchanges life for death in rural Canada. A college student chooses between the magic of ancient spirits and the magic of daily happiness in modern Japan. In futuristic India, a mother finds joy in the balance between family and career. Under the Andulasian sun, a mathematician consults his older self in affairs of love. In alternate Tanzania, a husband and wife discover wisdom in memory loss. A robot eases an old man's grief, and a grandmother opens her heart when she listens to her child.
And many more hopeful stories.
624 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2021
6 people are currently reading
3826 people want to read
About the author
Susan Forest
25 books91 followersSusan Forest grew up in a family of mountaineers and skiers, and she loves adventure. She also loves the big ideas found in SF/F, and finds fast-paced adventure stories a great place to explore how individuals grapple with complex moral decisions. Aurora Award winners, Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold, first books in her Addicted to Heaven series, confront issues of addiction in an epic fantasy world of intrigue and betrayal.
Susan is also an award-winning fiction editor, has published over 25 short stories (Analog, Asimov's, BCS, & more), and has appeared at many international writing conventions. She loves travel and has been known to dictate novels from the back of her husband's motorcycle. http://speculative-fiction.ca/
Susan is also an award-winning fiction editor, has published over 25 short stories (Analog, Asimov's, BCS, & more), and has appeared at many international writing conventions. She loves travel and has been known to dictate novels from the back of her husband's motorcycle. http://speculative-fiction.ca/
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 23, 2024
I expect that an anthology is likely to include some stories I like and some that I don't, but this particular collection was one of the most uneven I've encountered. I came close to giving up on it because I didn't care for any of the first few stories. It wasn't until I got to Sympathétique, by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, more than a third of the way through the book, that I found a story that really engaged me. From that point, I found the stories overall more enjoyable, and there were a few that I really liked:
Messages Left in Transit, Devices Out of Sync - S.B. Divya
Summer of Our Discontent - Tyler Keevil
A Grave Between Them - Karina Sumner-Smith
The Hidden Knowledge Society - Bogi Takács (seeing eir name on the author list was the main reason I picked up the anthology to begin with, so I was very happy that eir story was one I hadn't read before and one I liked)
The Light of Stars - Amanda Sun
I also appreciated the Astronaut's Four Seasons, by Jane Yolen, as one of the few contributions that spoke in a very obvious way to the theme. In general, I did not feel that the organization and selection of stories did a very good job of illuminating any sort of central idea or focus. I was somewhat anticipating that the stories might be sorted into sections by season, but they were not, nor did there seem to be any other clear guiding principle for the order of entries, which I think could have really helped this feel like a more cohesive collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Messages Left in Transit, Devices Out of Sync - S.B. Divya
Summer of Our Discontent - Tyler Keevil
A Grave Between Them - Karina Sumner-Smith
The Hidden Knowledge Society - Bogi Takács (seeing eir name on the author list was the main reason I picked up the anthology to begin with, so I was very happy that eir story was one I hadn't read before and one I liked)
The Light of Stars - Amanda Sun
I also appreciated the Astronaut's Four Seasons, by Jane Yolen, as one of the few contributions that spoke in a very obvious way to the theme. In general, I did not feel that the organization and selection of stories did a very good job of illuminating any sort of central idea or focus. I was somewhat anticipating that the stories might be sorted into sections by season, but they were not, nor did there seem to be any other clear guiding principle for the order of entries, which I think could have really helped this feel like a more cohesive collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
December 31, 2021
This is an interesting and diverse anthology of stories, if a little out of my comfort zone. Some really resonated with me, others not so much. My favorite parts were the ‘advice to younger self’ notes at the end of each contribution, which I found unfailingly wise and revealing. That said, I’m not convinced that the short story format is for me, as they always seem to end just as I’m getting into the characters. I think I’ll probably stick to full-fledged novels from now on.
August 9, 2021
What is a life well-lived? This topic clips the 23 stories from a broad range of speculative fiction subgenres together.
I expected much from several outstanding authors like Jane Yolen, Alan Dean Foster (my teenage favorite author), Rich Larson, and Maurice Broaddus. Additionally, I’m always on the hunt for new authors surprising me.
Let’s just say that I didn’t write a single review for any of those stories. Nothing catched my eyes, most of the stories were just mediocre and none of them touched me.
Jane Yolen gave a poem – I’m sorry, but I don’t read poems, like at all. Foster’s story was nice, but extremely short, a ten minutes read. Broaddus is capable to produce great stories (like his “City of Refuge”), but this was yet another BLM story, and an unegaging one.
No recommendation for this one from my side.
Content:
Clear Waters by Calvin D. Jim
Groven by Heather Osborne
Robocare by Rich Larson
Dress of Ash by Y.M. Pang
Hope to See the Ghost Tonight Patrick Swenson
Lay Down Your Heart by Elizabeth Westbrook-Trenholm & Hayden Trenholm
The Veil Between by Karin Lowachee
Sympathétique by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
The Selkie’s Skin by Bev Geddes
Messages Left in Transit, Devices Out of Sync by Divya Srinivasan Breed
Joe by Karen Vanessa Farkas-Brahmakshatriya
Summer of Our Discontent by Tyler Keevil
A Grave Between Them by Karina Sumner-Smith
Blue Kueh by Joyce Chng
Second Thoughts by Eric Choi
The Sabhu My Destination by Maurice Broaddus
The Hidden Knowledge Society by Bogi Takács
The Light of Stars by Amanda Sun
The Hollow Oath by Brent Nichols
When Resin Burns to Tar by Maria Haskins
Exchange of Perspective by Alan Dean Foster
The Astronaut’s Four Seasons by Jane Yolen
I expected much from several outstanding authors like Jane Yolen, Alan Dean Foster (my teenage favorite author), Rich Larson, and Maurice Broaddus. Additionally, I’m always on the hunt for new authors surprising me.
Let’s just say that I didn’t write a single review for any of those stories. Nothing catched my eyes, most of the stories were just mediocre and none of them touched me.
Jane Yolen gave a poem – I’m sorry, but I don’t read poems, like at all. Foster’s story was nice, but extremely short, a ten minutes read. Broaddus is capable to produce great stories (like his “City of Refuge”), but this was yet another BLM story, and an unegaging one.
No recommendation for this one from my side.
Content:
Clear Waters by Calvin D. Jim
Groven by Heather Osborne
Robocare by Rich Larson
Dress of Ash by Y.M. Pang
Hope to See the Ghost Tonight Patrick Swenson
Lay Down Your Heart by Elizabeth Westbrook-Trenholm & Hayden Trenholm
The Veil Between by Karin Lowachee
Sympathétique by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
The Selkie’s Skin by Bev Geddes
Messages Left in Transit, Devices Out of Sync by Divya Srinivasan Breed
Joe by Karen Vanessa Farkas-Brahmakshatriya
Summer of Our Discontent by Tyler Keevil
A Grave Between Them by Karina Sumner-Smith
Blue Kueh by Joyce Chng
Second Thoughts by Eric Choi
The Sabhu My Destination by Maurice Broaddus
The Hidden Knowledge Society by Bogi Takács
The Light of Stars by Amanda Sun
The Hollow Oath by Brent Nichols
When Resin Burns to Tar by Maria Haskins
Exchange of Perspective by Alan Dean Foster
The Astronaut’s Four Seasons by Jane Yolen
May 14, 2021
“Seasons Between Us”, edited by Susan Forest & Lukas K. Law, several authors
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Very good read. It is a collection of short stories, a mix of sci-fi, light fantasy and dystopian. Some are a bit creepy but they mainly exams our relationships with others and with ourselves. I would call it “Black Mirror with a heart”.
They are consistently good stories from beginning to end, a rare thing in collections with different authors.
I liked how in a couple paragraphs the authors transported me to the world they created, being it in with a Japanese family and a cyborg, a tar farm hunted by ghosts who can control the weather, an alternative reality where slavery still exists (actually it still does in some places), or in retelling of Cinderella with sword masters.
There was one main feature in each story: human relationships and its importance in every situation. What it represents to us and how far would we go for the ones we love.
Another cool thing of this book is that in the end of each story the author leaves a note to their young self.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Very good read. It is a collection of short stories, a mix of sci-fi, light fantasy and dystopian. Some are a bit creepy but they mainly exams our relationships with others and with ourselves. I would call it “Black Mirror with a heart”.
They are consistently good stories from beginning to end, a rare thing in collections with different authors.
I liked how in a couple paragraphs the authors transported me to the world they created, being it in with a Japanese family and a cyborg, a tar farm hunted by ghosts who can control the weather, an alternative reality where slavery still exists (actually it still does in some places), or in retelling of Cinderella with sword masters.
There was one main feature in each story: human relationships and its importance in every situation. What it represents to us and how far would we go for the ones we love.
Another cool thing of this book is that in the end of each story the author leaves a note to their young self.
February 19, 2021
A fabulously diverse anthology of heartfelt stories, touching dialogues, strong characters and poetry by a well thought out selection of accomplished authors.
I was pleased to be introduced to a few wonderful authors, such as Bev Geddes whose story i did not want to end; Bogi Takac’s endearing and inquisitive protagonist whose perspective of life in Hungary you would forgive because of her innocence and Alan Dean Foster’s wonderful momentary glance into the cosmos.
How inspiring, to add the author’s ‘younger self’ advice at the ends of each story. This gives the book another dimension; an insight into what drives the author. A look into their younger self.
I was pleased to be introduced to a few wonderful authors, such as Bev Geddes whose story i did not want to end; Bogi Takac’s endearing and inquisitive protagonist whose perspective of life in Hungary you would forgive because of her innocence and Alan Dean Foster’s wonderful momentary glance into the cosmos.
How inspiring, to add the author’s ‘younger self’ advice at the ends of each story. This gives the book another dimension; an insight into what drives the author. A look into their younger self.
February 24, 2021
A fabulously diverse anthology of heartfelt stories, touching dialogues, strong characters and poetry by a well thought out selection of accomplished authors.
I was pleased to be introduced to a few wonderful authors, such as Bev Geddes whose story i did not want to end; Bogi Takac’s endearing and inquisitive protagonist whose perspective of life in Hungary you would forgive because of her innocence and Alan Dean Foster’s wonderful momentary glance into the cosmos.
How inspiring, to add the author’s ‘younger self’ advice at the ends of each story. This gives the book another dimension; an insight into what drives the author. A look into their younger self.
I was pleased to be introduced to a few wonderful authors, such as Bev Geddes whose story i did not want to end; Bogi Takac’s endearing and inquisitive protagonist whose perspective of life in Hungary you would forgive because of her innocence and Alan Dean Foster’s wonderful momentary glance into the cosmos.
How inspiring, to add the author’s ‘younger self’ advice at the ends of each story. This gives the book another dimension; an insight into what drives the author. A look into their younger self.
July 14, 2021
What I Didn’t Like:
-Lack of cohesion. I love short story collections. This one, however, doesn’t have a clear thread that brings the stories together. There’s no sense of balance to them, nothing tying them together.
-Short stories really need to pack a punch. Either be emotional, poignant, daring, or shocking. Otherwise, how will you remember this short journey? These lacked that punch. They lacked staying power.
-No world building. I understand we’re dealing with short stories here and there really isn’t TIME for complex world building. The problem here is that to fully appreciate some of these futuristic worlds you needed that building, you needed the time and space to understand it.
What I Did Like:
-The sci-fi aspects dropped into many of these stories were captivating. I love that many of them made AI or other technology commonplace.
-Poetry. Often a short story anthology will shy away from including poetry. This one embraced it, including two poems. Actually, one of my favorite pieces from the collection was one of the poems. Great choice to include it!
Who Should Read This One:
-Anthology readers who like literary voice and sci-fi components.
My Rating: 2 stars. For me the missing cohesion and forgettable nature of the stories was problematic.
-Lack of cohesion. I love short story collections. This one, however, doesn’t have a clear thread that brings the stories together. There’s no sense of balance to them, nothing tying them together.
-Short stories really need to pack a punch. Either be emotional, poignant, daring, or shocking. Otherwise, how will you remember this short journey? These lacked that punch. They lacked staying power.
-No world building. I understand we’re dealing with short stories here and there really isn’t TIME for complex world building. The problem here is that to fully appreciate some of these futuristic worlds you needed that building, you needed the time and space to understand it.
What I Did Like:
-The sci-fi aspects dropped into many of these stories were captivating. I love that many of them made AI or other technology commonplace.
-Poetry. Often a short story anthology will shy away from including poetry. This one embraced it, including two poems. Actually, one of my favorite pieces from the collection was one of the poems. Great choice to include it!
Who Should Read This One:
-Anthology readers who like literary voice and sci-fi components.
My Rating: 2 stars. For me the missing cohesion and forgettable nature of the stories was problematic.
September 7, 2021
I'm often asked for recommendations on what to read. When your reading time is limited, you want a book or author that will transport you from your everyday blahs or educate you. My answer is usually an anthology in the theme of their favorite genre. An anthology serves as a sampler of works, usually with a central theme, that often introduce us to a new-to-us author. The theme for this anthology is "a quality life", a theme we hear often in the news or social media. These authors all approach the theme with an eye to what they would consider a quality life and how to find and live it to the fullest. Each story is short, some a few pages, some longer. This also allows the readers to fit a complete story into a limited time.
I was not familiar with many of these authors, but have since researched and purchased many of their back titles. This anthology has more than met my expectations and will definitely be a gift for many of my reading circle. Add it to your TBR list and you will not be disappointed.
I was not familiar with many of these authors, but have since researched and purchased many of their back titles. This anthology has more than met my expectations and will definitely be a gift for many of my reading circle. Add it to your TBR list and you will not be disappointed.
May 18, 2021
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I always have some difficulty rating a collection of short stories, especially one as diverse as this one. There is a common theme to the stories, the way our identities evolve throughout the seasons of our lives. Every story here is a 'coming of age' story at heart.
But genre and writing style vary a lot, and that automatically means you like some more than others.
There were a few stories I thought were just OK, and a few that I liked a lot and that will linger. Overall, I liked this collection.
I must admit I'm not a huge fan of short stories to begin with. I like to be swept away to another world, immerse myself in other characters, and I find that very hard to experience with a story that's practically over before it's begun. So I guess people who do like short stories will probably get more out of this.
I always have some difficulty rating a collection of short stories, especially one as diverse as this one. There is a common theme to the stories, the way our identities evolve throughout the seasons of our lives. Every story here is a 'coming of age' story at heart.
But genre and writing style vary a lot, and that automatically means you like some more than others.
There were a few stories I thought were just OK, and a few that I liked a lot and that will linger. Overall, I liked this collection.
I must admit I'm not a huge fan of short stories to begin with. I like to be swept away to another world, immerse myself in other characters, and I find that very hard to experience with a story that's practically over before it's begun. So I guess people who do like short stories will probably get more out of this.
April 25, 2021
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This collection of short stories have a common theme- the seasons of life; birth, youth birth growing old and death. And the meaning and wisdom we can gleam from each season or even as each days starts anew, and we are given a chance to try again.
They are a nice mix of fantasy and science fiction, stories and poems, some left me satisfied, and others I really wanted to continue to find out what happens next. I especially enjoyed the advice each other would have given to their younger self. Enjoyable read.
This collection of short stories have a common theme- the seasons of life; birth, youth birth growing old and death. And the meaning and wisdom we can gleam from each season or even as each days starts anew, and we are given a chance to try again.
They are a nice mix of fantasy and science fiction, stories and poems, some left me satisfied, and others I really wanted to continue to find out what happens next. I especially enjoyed the advice each other would have given to their younger self. Enjoyable read.
May 22, 2022
This was disappointing read for me, especially after having read Where The Stars Rise (the 3rd in the Laksa Anthology). Most of the stories are well written but they were not engaging. Several of the stories I sped read.
The stories that stood out for me were:
Dress of Ash by Y. M. Pang, - this has the beginnings of a fantastic novel, I wanted more of this story after it was over.
Hope to See the Ghost Tonight by Patrick Swenson - the main character is truly struggling with self
Second Thoughts by Eric Choi - enjoyed the science fiction aspect
I will still continue to read this series - all the writers are excellent.
The stories that stood out for me were:
Dress of Ash by Y. M. Pang, - this has the beginnings of a fantastic novel, I wanted more of this story after it was over.
Hope to See the Ghost Tonight by Patrick Swenson - the main character is truly struggling with self
Second Thoughts by Eric Choi - enjoyed the science fiction aspect
I will still continue to read this series - all the writers are excellent.
July 16, 2021
Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.
I rarely read short story collections or fantasy or sci fi stories but the premise behind this one sounded interesting. And it did not disappoint. Most stories were interesting and thought provoking. A few were a bit to sci-fi for me but many were realistic and almost plausible especially after living through a pandemic.
I especially liked each other's notes to their younger selves at the end of each story.
I rarely read short story collections or fantasy or sci fi stories but the premise behind this one sounded interesting. And it did not disappoint. Most stories were interesting and thought provoking. A few were a bit to sci-fi for me but many were realistic and almost plausible especially after living through a pandemic.
I especially liked each other's notes to their younger selves at the end of each story.
August 24, 2021
I'm rounding up a bit from what would be my average of ratings for all these stories. There were several I liked very much, quite a few that contained characters or situations of interest, and a handful that left little impression at best.
The notes each author wrote to a younger self ranged from predictable to poignant.
The notes each author wrote to a younger self ranged from predictable to poignant.
October 6, 2021
The stories are mostly told, not shown, which makes them hard to capture and hold, which is a shame, because the tales are diverse and about serious subjects. There's even an appendix with resources for mental health and other needs addressed by the stories. I received this anthology through NetGalley.
Currently reading
February 16, 2024I’ve had this book around for three years in my “to be read pile” but I only got around to it today. So far I’ve only read the first story and I’m already pleased that it finally reached the top of my pile. I actually felt that the Introduction to the book by Candas Jane Dorsey was award worthy in itself.
March 30, 2021
These stories helped me disconnect from the working day during my breaks. I found them to be a little uneven in quality, but the range of voices and styles was refreshing.
Uplifting in places, haunting in others - the younger self advice at the end was charming and quirky
3 stars
Uplifting in places, haunting in others - the younger self advice at the end was charming and quirky
3 stars
August 14, 2021
Is a great collection of stories. This has 23 different short stories. All each have thier own charm. This has a mix of everything so has something for everyone.
July 26, 2025
I loved nearly every story in this collection. Perspectives I didn’t expect, melancholy, uplifting.
May 31, 2021
Very good read. It is a collection of short stories, a mix of sci-fi, light fantasy and dystopian. Some are a bit creepy but they mainly exams our relationships with others and with ourselves. I would call it “Black Mirror with a heart”.
They are consistently good stories from beginning to end, a rare thing in collections with different authors.
I liked how in a couple paragraphs the authors transported me to the world they created, being it in with a Japanese family and a cyborg, a Tar farm hunted by ghosts who can control the weather, an alternative reality where slavery still exists (actually it still does in some places), or in retelling of Cinderella with sword masters.
One thing was a main feature in each story: human relationships and its importance in every situation. What it represents to us and how far would we go for the ones we love.
They are consistently good stories from beginning to end, a rare thing in collections with different authors.
I liked how in a couple paragraphs the authors transported me to the world they created, being it in with a Japanese family and a cyborg, a Tar farm hunted by ghosts who can control the weather, an alternative reality where slavery still exists (actually it still does in some places), or in retelling of Cinderella with sword masters.
One thing was a main feature in each story: human relationships and its importance in every situation. What it represents to us and how far would we go for the ones we love.
April 8, 2024
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I usually love short story collections. This one, however, I have very mixed feelings about. There didn't seem to be a clear theme or at least something to connect the stories together, leaving me wondering what the overall theme was. It was supposed to be "Seasons of Life" but for some reason, this collection didn't leave me with the feeling of exploring what a good life was.
I also felt that some of these lacked a real solid ending. I know that short stories are just that, short. But only a handful of these left me with any sort of feeling after reading them. My favorites were 'Hope to See a Ghost Tonight' (although I wish it were longer to really explore the horror elements), "Robocare' (which reminded me of a short film I watched once on the Dust network), and 'Blue Kueh' (which I felt was one of the few that did have an ending that I was satisfied with).
Overall, it was just ok. I do think that some people would be able to find a common link between these stories but I just couldn't.
I usually love short story collections. This one, however, I have very mixed feelings about. There didn't seem to be a clear theme or at least something to connect the stories together, leaving me wondering what the overall theme was. It was supposed to be "Seasons of Life" but for some reason, this collection didn't leave me with the feeling of exploring what a good life was.
I also felt that some of these lacked a real solid ending. I know that short stories are just that, short. But only a handful of these left me with any sort of feeling after reading them. My favorites were 'Hope to See a Ghost Tonight' (although I wish it were longer to really explore the horror elements), "Robocare' (which reminded me of a short film I watched once on the Dust network), and 'Blue Kueh' (which I felt was one of the few that did have an ending that I was satisfied with).
Overall, it was just ok. I do think that some people would be able to find a common link between these stories but I just couldn't.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews