The Sum of Us: Tales of the Bonded and Bound (Laksa Anthology Series: Speculative Fiction) - Softcover

Marillier, Juliet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0993969690 ISBN 13: 9780993969690

Publisher: Laksa Media Groups Inc., 2017

Synopsis

The world of caregivers and unsung heroes, the province of ghosts . . .

Who are THE SUM OF US?

Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give, and the costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own.

If we believe that we are the protagonists of our lives, then caregivers—our pillars—are ghosts, the bit players, the stock characters, the secondary supports, living lives of quiet trust and toil in the shadows. Summoned to us by the profound magic of great emotional, physical, or psychological need, they play their roles, and when our need diminishes . . .

The caregivers fade.

These are their stories.

Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors capture the depth and breadth of caring and of giving and delve into the complex world of caregivers . They find insight, joy, devastation, and heroism in grand sweeps and in tiny niches. And, like wasps made of stinging words, there is pain in giving, and in working one’s way through to the light.

Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love.

AUTHORS: Colleen Anderson, Charlotte Ashley, Brenda Cooper, Ian Creasey, A.M. Dellamonica, Bev Geddes, Claire Humphrey, Sandra Kasturi, Tyler Keevil, Juliet Marillier, Matt Moore, Heather Osborne, Nisi Shawl, Alex Shvartsman, Kate Story, Karina Sumner-Smith, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, James Van Pelt, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm, Edward Willett, Christie Yant, and Caroline M. Yoachim

Introduction by Dominik Parisien

Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law

Foreword by Lucas K. Law

Afterword by Susan Forest

About this title

About the Author:

Juliet Marillier, New Zealand born, Australian resident, writes historical fantasy novels and short stories, mostly for adult readers. Her work is published internationally and has won numerous awards. Juliet's lifelong love of folklore, fairy tales and mythology is a major influence on her writing. Among her works are the Blackthorn & Grim series, the Sevenwaters series and the Shadowfell series. She is a member of OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.) When not busy writing, Juliet looks after her crew of five rescue dogs.

Susan Forest is a three-time Prix Aurora Award finalist and a writer of science fiction, fantasy and horror, and a freelance fiction editor. She co-edited two anthologies from Laksa Media, Strangers Among Us and The Sum of Us, with Lucas K. Law. They are currently working on their third anthology, Shades Within Us (Laksa Media). Her stories have appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Tesseracts, AE Science Fiction Review, OnSPEC Magazine, and The Urban Green Man, among others. Her collection of short fiction, Immunity to Strange Tales, was published by Five Rivers Publishing. Susan acted as judge for the Endeavour Award, and the Robin Herrington Memorial Short Story Contest, and she contributes to Calgary's annual literary festival, When Words Collide. Susan is also Secretary for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). She teaches creative writing at the Alexandra Centre, and has appeared at numerous local and international writing conventions.

Lucas K. Law is a Malaysian-born freelance editor and published author who divides his time and heart between Calgary and Qualicum Beach. He co-edited two anthologies from Laksa Media, Strangers Among Us and The Sum of Us, with Susan Forest. They are currently working on their third anthology, Shades Within Us (Laksa Media). With Derwin Mak, Lucas co-edited Where The Stars Rise (Laksa Media). He has been a jury member for a number of fiction competitions including Nebula, RITA and Golden Heart awards.When Lucas is not editing, writing, or reading, he is an engineering consultant and business coach, specializing in mergers and acquisition (M&A) activities, asset evaluations, business planning, and corporate development.

Review:

"[A] strong collection . . . make it worth reading." - Publishers Weekly

" Definitely consider buying a copy, if not for yourself, then for someone who is serving as a caretaker. Hopefully the stories can serve as comfort to them. At the very least, it should make us all appreciate caretakers for all they do." - Lightspeed Magazine

"This anthology was one of the better ones, with no 'howlers' and several thought provoking page-turners." -Tangent

2018 Alberta Book Publishing Award (Best Speculative Fiction) Finalist

2018 (Canadian SF&F) Aurora Award (Best Related Work/Anthology) Winner

One story: 2018 (Canadian SF&F) Aurora Award Short Fiction Winner

One story: 2018 The Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Winner

One story: 2018 WSFA Small Press Award Finalist

Three stories: 2018 The Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Winner

One story selected for Best of British Science Fiction 2017 (ed. by Donna Scott, Newcon Press, Aug 2018)

One story selected for Best Indie Speculative Fiction, Vol. 1 (Bards & Sages Publishing, Nov 2018)

One honorable mention in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018 (edited by John Joseph Adams and N.K. Jemisin)

Five stories on Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2017

Anthologies in this series (Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Where the Stars Rise) have been recommended by Publishers Weekly, Booklist (American Library Association), Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews, and Quill & Quire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Laksa Media Groups Inc.
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0993969690
• ISBN 13: 9780993969690
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Forest Susan, Law Lucas K