When we first moved to the rust city, We kept watch for ways to be heroes found the abandoned, shipwrecked warehouses filled with shadows and monsters.
Award-winning fantasy author Fran Wilde returns to her roots in Clock Star Rose Spine, which brings together poems previously published in Uncanny Magazine, Fireside Magazine, and more with a selection of work never before published. In this collection illuminated with whimsical fountain pen illustrations, Wilde explores family histories, feminism, visual art, disability, mythology, and of course the sea with tangible yearning and keen insight.
Two-time Nebula Award-winner Fran Wilde has (so far) published nine novels, a poetry collection, and over 70 short stories for adults, teens, and kids. Her stories have been finalists for six Nebula Awards, a World Fantasy Award, four Hugo Awards, four Locus Awards, and a Lodestar. They include her Nebula- and Compton Crook-winning debut novel Updraft, and her Nebula-winning, Best of NPR 2019, debut Middle Grade novel Riverland. Her short stories appear in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Tor.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer, Nature, Uncanny Magazine, and multiple years' best anthologies.
The Managing Editor for The Sunday Morning Transport, Fran teaches or has taught for schools including Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She writes nonfiction for publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and Tor.com. You can find her on Instagram, Bluesky, and at franwilde.net.
A magical poetry debut populated by selkies, monsters, and movie stars. "Fabric is a family blood sport," Wilde writes, and that urgency about art and life infuses the collection.
A few illuminating highlights, a few poems just feel flat to me. It took me until about a third the way through to get into it. Rereading the first few poems I appreciate them more, they resonate more within the context of the whole collection. The illustrations add a beautiful touch.
A beautiful book of poetry and visual art by the poet. The shape of the book overall was fascinating, the way it built emotional resonance through echoing imagery.