This collection of short stories by Jemisin, the first person to win the Hugo award for best novel three years in a row (most recently for The Stone Sky, 2017), eloquently develops a series of passionately felt themes.Many of these science-fiction and fantasy tales explore the nature of resistance. Some do so on a personal scale: In "The Elevator Dancer," an office worker and a security guard separately search for the tiniest drop of joy in a grim theocratic future, while in "Valedictorian," a high school student fiercely challenges herself to excel while knowing that alien forces outside her community take a specific interest in the best and brightest. Other stories fight back with a wider scope. "Red Dirt Witch" begins with a mother's struggle to protect her children but ends with a family's commitment to the civil rights movement. "The Effluent Engine" takes place in an alternate 19th-century New Orleans where a Haitian spy seeks technological support for her island's resistance to the French. In contrast, "The Trojan Girl" is set in a virtual future where rogue bits of code quest for freedom and enhanced capabilities. "Cloud Dragon Skies" is a cautionary tale about pollution and the dangers of ignoring local culture, while "L'Alchimista" and "Cuisine des Mémoires" celebrate the pleasures and profound power of food. Others are specific and defiant responses to classic sf stories. The collection also includes an early version of the Broken Earth universe and a lovely tragedy set in the lands of the Dreamblood duology.These stories span Jemisin's career; they demonstrate both the growth and active flourishing of one of speculative fiction's most thoughtful and exciting writers.

This collection of short stories by Jemisin, the first person to win the Hugo award for best novel three years in a row (most recently for The Stone Sky, 2017), eloquently develops a series of passionately felt themes.Many of these science-fiction and fantasy tales explore the nature of resistance. Some do so on a personal scale: In "The Elevator Dancer," an office worker and a security guard separately search for the tiniest drop of joy in a grim theocratic future, while in "Valedictorian," a high school student fiercely challenges herself to excel while knowing that alien forces outside her community take a specific interest in the best and brightest. Other stories fight back with a wider scope. "Red Dirt Witch" begins with a mother's struggle to protect her children but ends with a family's commitment to the civil rights movement. "The Effluent Engine" takes place in an alternate 19th-century New Orleans where a Haitian spy seeks technological support for her island's resistance to the French. In contrast, "The Trojan Girl" is set in a virtual future where rogue bits of code quest for freedom and enhanced capabilities. "Cloud Dragon Skies" is a cautionary tale about pollution and the dangers of ignoring local culture, while "L'Alchimista" and "Cuisine des Mémoires" celebrate the pleasures and profound power of food. Others are specific and defiant responses to classic sf stories. The collection also includes an early version of the Broken Earth universe and a lovely tragedy set in the lands of the Dreamblood duology.These stories span Jemisin's career; they demonstrate both the growth and active flourishing of one of speculative fiction's most thoughtful and exciting writers.

In 22 powerful and mind-expanding stories, several of which appear for the first time here, Hugo winner Jemisin (The Stone Sky) pushes boundaries, experiments with format and theme, and challenges expectations. While her tales span science fiction and fantasy, certain themes of defiance, feminism, and self-acceptance shine through no matter what the setting or premise. A king devours a dragon-s heart to restore his virility in -The Storyteller-s Replacement,- only to experience unexpected consequences. A gifted chef is challenged to test new recipes by a mysterious benefactor in -L-Alchimista.- In -The Effluent Engine,- a Haitian spy meets her match in an American inventor. In -Walking Awake,- a tale inspired by Robert A. Heinlein-s The Puppet Masters, a woman enslaved by parasitic aliens is given a chance to both avenge and free humankind. Throughout these stories, Jemisin-s versatility is on full display, giving her diverse protagonists numerous chances to shine. Though not every story will resonate with every reader, there-s something in this collection for just about everyone, and many of the works are memorable gems. Those who only know Jemisin for her groundbreaking novels will be impressed all over again by her short fiction, and it serves as an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with her work. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Dec.)