By DF Parizeau
Novels can feel daunting at times, so in come short stories to save the day: the Netflix of the literary world! Whether you’re a one story at a time kind of reader or you live to binge, these compelling collections from BC publishers are sure to keep you entertained through the gloomier months!
Love After the End
At first blush, a collection of inter/post-apocalyptic stories may seem a bit heavy considering the current world climate. Then again, Love After the End (Arsenal Pulp Press) is not your typical book of speculative fiction. Editor Joshua Whitehead has committed to weaving together stories that centre Indigenous Futures: the love, relationships, and community that can and will exist in a post-post-postmodernist world. You’ll meet a queer-AI-hacker rat on a daring escape; travel to new worlds with folks who are finally getting to live in a body they are comfortable in––all while you encounter new, not-so-far fetched technologies. Each story is its own self-contained nugget of brilliance, while still contributing to the larger body of work that is the book. It’s an ideal way to get yourself back into the rhythm of reading.
We Had No Rules
For those who prefer stories that feature more character-driven content, We Had No Rules by Corinne Manning (Arsenal Pulp Press) has you covered! Featuring eleven stories in first-person, Manning confronts the sometimes chaotic realities of contemporary life as a queer person. Much like Love After the End, we are presented with stories that present the possibilities and capacity for life in a reimagined world. Where We Had No Rules veers in a different direction, is in the manner in which the stories’ characters choose to follow the status quo, rather than embracing the promise of change. Lighthearted and introspective, you’ll find endearing companions for the year’s colder months, throughout these pages.
The Swan Suit
Perhaps the drudgery of fall leaves you needing something more escapist. As we settle into more mundane routines, author Katherine Fawcett’s The Swan Suit (Douglas & McIntyre) is the perfect way to inject some levity into your days. Fawcett adeptly blends the rigours of everyday life with aspects of magic and fairytales, while also diving into her own psyche, to create a collection of inventive stories. Because sometimes you just need to curl up with some tea and read about the three little pigs building a wolf-broth based soup empire or the Devil’s burgeoning feelings for a daycare worker.
Disabled Voices Anthology
The future. We seem to have hit a theme with these book recommendations! It makes sense that our mind is drifting towards distant possibilities, as we face so much uncertainty at this moment. The Disabled Voices Anthology (Rebel Mountain Press) is an excellent collection of stories from authors hailing from Canada, the US, and the UK that celebrate the experiences of folks in the disabled community. Editor sb. smith has assembled a beautiful tapestry of stories that touch on a range of experiences: from the messy, to the celebratory, as well as the middle ground of everyday life. Even if you’re feeling a bit more reclusive during the colder months, this book will help you connect with people and stories that are sure to keep your heart warm.
Fontainebleau
Sometimes, escapism is easiest when we are reading about events that feel oddly prescient or of the moment. It can be reassuring that people can push through truly absurd times, even if they are fictional. You’ll find just this kind of balm in Madeline Sonik’s Fontainebleau (Anvil Press). Sonik’s latest literary effort is set in the reimagined Windsor neighbourhood, Fontainbleau, which is now a full blown city. There’s poison in the water and the sky is eery and ominous. The soil too, is afflicted, with an ancient curse that is causing mysterious bones to surface. What follows is a madcap series of events that’s part picaresque, part murder mystery, and part diabolic comedic romp. A gem of a book for folks who need something a little bit more edgy, Fountainebleau’s cohesive narrative throughout its tales will appeal to those who wish they could read novels in an episodic manner.
The Crooked Thing
Ultimately, what makes great character fiction, are characters that endear themselves to the reader. In her debut collection of stories, Mary MacDonald has crafted just such a set of narrators. The Crooked Thing (Caitlin Press) dives straight into the core of love—grappling with its complexities and drawing out the elements that make us human. Like several of the collections previously mentioned, The Crooked Thing takes a serious look at the difficult aspects of our world, such as loss and missed opportunities. But at their core, these stories hold and celebrate the importance of hope. When the days get dark and rainy, as we move further into the Fall, having this book handy on the bookshelf will help remind you of the beauty humans are capable of.