Bicycles & Broomsticks: Fantastical Feminist Stories about Witches on Bikes

Bikes in Space #9

by Elly Blue (Editor)

"A coven races-literally-to fight off the magic smog that threatens their city. A janitor at the last rocket launch site on a dying planet sends the rocket up with a special spell of comfort. Instead of casting the resiliency spell she asked for, a girl's grandmother teaches her to ride a bike. A midwife's bicycle is stolen, resulting in a fitting comeuppance. An urban witch falls for a bicycle mechanic and learns to reconcile her double life. Enjoy these and more science fiction and fantasy stories in the pages of the supernatural 9th volume of the popular Bikes in Space series. Featuring work by Hester Dade, M. Lopes da Silva, Monique Cuillerier, A. P. Howell, Ether Nepenthes, M. A. Blanchard, Kathleen Jowitt, G. J. Craddock, Gretchin Lair, and Emily Uduwana"--

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Fiction, Feminism, Short Stories

159 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2023

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an accidental discovery - I saw it on the carousel under the search bar when I was looking for something else. This is the book I did not know I was looking for. Witches and bicycles, what an unexpectedly fascinating combination, seriously, go and try it.

[Krista Harwick · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Is it cheesy or is it fun?” is a question I was asked about this book. It’s both, but as I continued past the halfway point it became more cheesy and less fun. The bikes often felt shoehorned in (they were usually just a substitute for a witch’s broom), and most of the stories slapped the reader in the face with metaphors then backhanded them with allegory. See? It’s even rubbing off on me. The best story, by far, was the one about the two midwife witches with an enchanted bike that killed an abusive husband.

[Larry James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good anthology. Most stories good and interesting. Some really excellent, some only so-so. Nice to see numerous various approaches to the general theme. Recommended!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - stories with a lot of heart and a range of perspectives.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, quirky, enjoyable little anthology of short fiction. Stories were all solid and well-written; none were standouts.