Orpheus + Eurydice Unbound

by Mark S. Bailen, Liam Burke, Avi Burton

Orpheus and Eurydice have one of the most adaptable narratives in Western Civilization. With themes of love and loss, death and rebirth, faithfulness and betrayal, it remains a Greek myth best open to interpretations and retellings in relation to modern thought.
This anthology collects authors who take key elements of the mythic tale and apply them to new stories in range of genres.

This book features the stories:
Hell-Bound Hold Up by Mark S. Bailen
Augmented Orpheus by Liam Burke
Desert Death Don't Stick by Avi Burton
Turn Around by Meg Candelaria
None Escape Untorn by C. S. E. Cooney
This Time by David Costa
A Song For Life And Death by Lyndsey Croal
Honey-Yellow Light by Jane Doring
In This Dress, Stitched of Anger, I Thee Wed by Lindsey Godfrey Eccles
The Weight of Promises Kept by Shannon Fox
Snake Bite Day by Lynn Gazis
A Brook of Beesong by J. F. Gleeson
Eurydice* by Anja Hendrikse Liu
Eurydice in the Rearview by Liam Hogan
You Carry It with You by Elizabeth Hosang
Death's Song by Emily Jane
Under My Own Shadow by Elena Savva Kotsile
A Ring of Flowers, A Ring of Song by Christina Ladd
Outro by Alexandria LeForce
Elegeia by Steven Lord
What I Wish You Would Have Known by Avra Margariti
Emily Stands at the Spartan Gates by Stewart Moore
A Second with You is Worth More than Eternity Alone by Mike Morgan
From Fruit to Seed by Emilee Prado
Sostenuto by Rachel Sudbeck
An Excuse, An Invitation Even by Sherri Cook Woosley
Ripe with Grief by Brendon Zatirka

Genres: Short Stories

298 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2022

About the author

I tend to write speculative fiction. I have an MFA from the University of Arizona, attended Taos Toolbox, and participated in the Storied Imaginarium. I am a member of Codex and the SFWA. I have published in Fantasy, Nature, and Little Blue Marble. I have also written and illustrated an award winning children’s book titled, Earf.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit to a vested interest in this one: One of my short stories, "Snake Bite Day," is included. And of course I want people to read my short story.

I wrote for the anthology, though, because I think it's a cool idea, and, having read all the other short stories, I think they do the idea justice. The anthology is a collection of stories reimagining the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in different genres - you can find Western Orpheus and Eurydice, science fiction Orpheus and Eurydice, etc, with diverse takes even in the same broad genre. Some stories focus on their wedding, some (mine included) on Eurydice's death, some on Orpheus' journey to the underworld, and some on the look back, with a couple of Coda stories that don't quite fit into any of these four categories.

In all, a fun read.

[Jane Doring · Rating 5 out of 5]

My story "Honey-Yellow Light" appears in this one, so I will not pretend this review isn't entirely biased, however I must say that every author did an amazing job with their take on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice! If variety had been a goal, the publisher reached it without doubt!
There's joy and sorrow, resentment and empowerment, love and hatred, taxi cabs and spaceships, gods and dogs (literally) and so much more!
Lovely to be a part of this.

Please enjoy our restless mornings and sleepless nights!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection. I bought it because my sister Lynn has a story in it, and it turns out to be a terrific anthology. Despite all the stories being based on one original tale, they offer amazing range and variety in concepts, characters, settings, styles, and themes. Even when stories overlap (dystopian, cyberspace) each take is distinct and unique. It shows how the archetypal myths can resonate well beyond any standard interpretation. Well worth a read.