Laksa Anthology: Strangers Among Us: Tales of the Underdogs and Outcasts

Recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews and Quill & Quire. There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness . . . Who are the STRANGERS AMONG US ? We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes. Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness; how the interplay between our minds' quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths. We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister... Recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness. Who are the STRANGERS AMONG US ? We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes. Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness; how the interplay between our minds' quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths. We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister reaching out at the edge of a black hole, the dog and the sleepwalker, and many more. After all, what harm can be done. AUTHORS: Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Church, A.M. Dellamonica, Gemma Files, James Alan Gardner, Bev Geddes, Erika Holt, Tyler Keevil, Rich Larson, Derwin Mak, Mahtab Narsimhan, Sherry Peters, Ursula Pflug, Robert Runté, Lorina Stephens, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, A.C. Wise Introduction by Julie E. Czerneda Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law Praise for Strangers Among Us "Strangers Among Us . . . is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF&F books of the year. Bravo!" — Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night "Stories do a masterful job of knitting legitimate and painful mental illnesses to characters who still retain agency and power." — Kirkus Reviews "Mental illness is an exciting theme for an anthology, leaving plenty of room for variety." — Library Journal "These stories address such varied subjects as agoraphobia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and addiction . . . readers who have mental illnesses may find themselves somewhere in these pages and as a result may no longer feel so alone or isolated." — School Library Journal "A solid effort, a mixed SF/fantasy original anthology, with a number of entertaining stories to be found within its pages." — Locus (Gardner Dozois) "The stories in Strangers Among Us are as varied in tone and approach as their authors. The power of the collection derives from this variety; while each story can be read in isolation, the assemblage of outsiders feels, on a whole, exultant. There is, indeed, strength in numbers, when each individual is accorded space and respect." — Quill & Quire Honorable Mentions 2017 Aurora (Canadian SF&F) Award Winner 2017 Alberta Book Publishers Award Winner (Speculative Fiction Book of the Year) 2016 Foreword INDIES Finalist (Anthologies) One honorable mention in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017 (ed. by John Joseph Adams and Charles Yu) Six honorable mentions in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fourth Annual Collection (ed. by Gardner Dozois) One story selected for Wilde Stories 2017: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction (ed. by Steve Berman) There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness... Who are STRANGERS AMONG US? We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes. Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness. We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister reaching out at the edge of a black hole, the dog and the sleepwalker, and many more. 2017 Aurora Awards (Canadian SF&F) Winner 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Award Winner (Speculative Fiction Book of the Year) 2016 Foreword INDIES Finalist (Anthologies) 2017 Aurora Awards Winner (Best Short Fiction) and 3 other Best Short Fiction finalists 2017 Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic (Short Story category): one short story finalist The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017 (edited by John Joseph Adams and Charles Yu): one honorable mention The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fourth Annual Collection (edited by Gardner Dozois): seven honorable mentions Wilde Stories 2017: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction (edited by Steve Berman): one story selected Authors: Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Church, A.M. Dellamonica, Gemma Files, James Alan Gardner, Bev Geddes, Erika Holt, Tyler Keevil, Rich Larson, Derwin Mak, Mahtab Narsimhan, Sherry Peters, Ursula Pflug, Robert Runté, Lorina Stephens, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, A.C. Wise Introduction by Julie E. Czerneda Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law Praise for Strangers Among Us "Strangers Among Us . . . is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF&F books of the year. Bravo!" — Robert J. Sawyer , Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night "The stories in Strangers Among Us are as varied in tone and approach as their authors. The power of the collection derives from this variety; while each story can be read in isolation, the assemblage of outsiders feels, on a whole, exultant. There is, indeed, strength in numbers, when each individual is accorded space and respect." — Quill & Quire "Mental illness is an exciting theme for an anthology, leaving plenty of room for variety." — Library Journal "Stories do a masterful job of knitting legitimate and painful mental illnesses to characters who still retain agency and power." — Kirkus Reviews "A number of entertaining stories to be found within its pages." — Locus (Gardner Dozois) "The writers of these stories address such varied subjects as agoraphobia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and addiction . . . readers who have mental illnesses may find themselves somewhere in these pages and as a result may no longer feel so alone or isolated." — Library School Journal "This is a unique collection that should attract readers of all genres." — Foreword Reviews Recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Locus, Foreword Reviews and Quill & Quire. There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness . . .Who are the STRANGERS AMONG US?We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes. Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness; how the interplay between our minds' quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths. We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister reaching out at the edge of a black hole, the dog and the sleepwalker, and many more. After all, what harm can be done ... AUTHORS: Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Church, A.M. Dellamonica, Gemma Files, James Alan Gardner, Bev Geddes, Erika Holt, Tyler Keevil, Rich Larson, Derwin Mak, Mahtab Narsimhan, Sherry Peters, Ursula Pflug, Robert Runté, Lorina Stephens, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, A.C. WiseIntroduction by Julie E. CzernedaForeword by Lucas K. LawAfterword by Susan ForestEdited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. LawPraise for Strangers Among Us"Strangers Among Us ... is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF & F books of the year. Bravo!"--Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night". . . stories do a masterful job of knitting legitimate and painful mental illnesses to characters who still retain agency and power." Recommended as one of "August 2016 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books You'll Want to Read (John DeNardo)" -- Kirkus Reviews"Mental illness is an exciting theme for an anthology, leaving plenty of room for variety." -- Library Journal"The writers of these stories address such varied subjects as agoraphobia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and addiction. Though this book has some shortcomings, readers who have mental illnesses may find themselves somewhere in these pages and as a result may no longer feel so alone or isolated." -- School Library Journal". . . a solid effort, a mixed SF/fantasy original anthology, with a number of entertaining stories to be found within its pages." -- Locus magazine (Gardner Dozois)"The stories in Strangers Among Us are as varied in tone and approach as their authors. The power of the collection derives from this variety; while each story can be read in isolation, the assemblage of outsiders feels, on a whole, exultant. There is, indeed, strength in numbers, when each individual is accorded space and respect." --Quill & Quire*** 2016 Foreword INDIES Finalist ****** 2017 Aurora (Canadian SF & F) Award Winner .. There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness Who are STRANGERS AMONG US? We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes. Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness; how the interplay between our minds' quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths. We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister reaching out at the edge of a black hole, the dog and the sleepwalker, and many more. After all, what harm can be done AUTHORS: Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Church, A.M. Dellamonica, Gemma Files, James Alan Gardner, Bev Geddes, Erika Holt, Tyler Keevil, Rich Larson, Derwin Mak, Mahtab Narsimhan, Sherry Peters, Ursula Pflug, Robert Runt, Lorina Stephens, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, A.C. Wise Introduction by Julie E. Czerneda Foreword by Lucas K. Law Afterword by Susan Forest Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law Praise for Strangers Among Us "Strangers Among Us . . . is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF&F books of the year. Bravo!" -- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night Nineteen Science Fiction And Fantasy Authors Tackle The Division Between Mental Health And Mental Illness; How The Interplay Between Our Minds' Quirks And The Diverse Societies And Cultures We Live In Can Set Us Apart, Or Must Be Concealed, Or Become Unlikely Strengths. Foreword / Lucas K. Law -- Introduction / Julie E. Czerneda -- The Culling / Kelley Armstrong -- Dallas's Booth / Suzanne Church -- What Harm / Amanda Sun -- How Objects Behave On The Edge Of A Black Hole / A.c. Wise -- Washing Lady's Hair / Ursula Pflug -- The Weeds And The Wildness / Tyler Keevil -- Living In Oz / Bev Geddes -- I Count The Light / Edward Willett -- The Dog And The Sleepwalker / James Alan Gardner -- Carnivores / Rich Larson -- Tribes / A.m. Dellamonica -- Troubles / Sherry Peters -- Frog Song / Erika Holt -- Wrath Of Gaia / Mahtab Narsimhan -- Songbun / Derwin Mak -- What You See (when The Lights Are Out) / Gemma Files -- The Age Of Miracles / Robert Runté -- Marion's War / Hayden Trenholm -- The Intersection / Lorina Stephens -- Afterword / Susan Forest. Edited By Susan Forest & Lucas K. Law ; [introduction By Julie E. Czerneda]. Nineteen Science Fiction And Fantasy Authors Explore The Delicate Balance Between Mental Health And Mental Illness; How The Interplay Between Our Minds' Quirks And The Diverse Societies And Cultures We Live In Can Set Us Apart, Or Must Be Concealed, Or Become Unlikely Strengths. Authors Include Kelley Armstrong, A.m. Dellamonica And Gemma Files.