The Sum of Us - (Laksa Anthology Series: Speculative Fiction) by Juliet Marillier (Paperback)

About the Book

"Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors explore the depth and breadth of caring and of giving. 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. These are their stories. 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. The costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own. Introduction by Dominik Parisien. In addition to dealing with caregiving and caregivers, the book also deals with mental health and mental illness. There is an appendix in the book for Mental Health Resources and another appendix for Caregiving and Caregivers Resources"--

Book Synopsis

Recommended by Publishers Weekly

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

2018 Alberta Book Publishing Award Finalist (Best Speculative Fiction Book)

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

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

Five stories on Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2017

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

One story - 2018 WSFA Small Press Award Finalist

One story nominated - 2018 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Shortlist

Three stories nominated - 2018 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic Short Fiction Longlist

The greatest gift to us is caring. What would the world be like without someone to care for or to care with? Would love survive if we don't care? From the world of twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors comes a world that can be funny, heartwarming, strange, or sad. Or not what we expect.

How can a henchman keep up with a mischievous retired supervillain? Can a dog help a hockey player score again? Will an odd couple with a zany sense of adventure and diminished capabilities survive an earthquake? Where does a stray cat go to find love every night? What secret does a pious monk have with a cargo of sleeping human? Will terrorism in space take out a young apprentice and a blind welder? What does an oracle tell a lover about her final days? Can a "heart of gold" prevent a soldier from crossing the enemy line with the governor's children? These, and many more.

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

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

PRAISE FOR THE SUM OF US

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

" So 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

"One of the better ones, with no 'howlers' and several thought provoking page-turners." -Tangent

Review Quotes

"[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.