Ferry Back the Gifts

Ten speculative fiction tales in which the author impersonates a virtuoso ring master, pulling up the curtain on a series of players who yearn, shock, succor, and entertain. Mermaids twine tails around foul-mouthed oil executives; wounded children forge their own magical salvation; a cup of tea on Bell Island is a conduit to another planet; a hiking trail leads to the end of the world, and beyond. Hilarious, moving, and dazzling by turns, this speculative fiction collection from one of Newfoundland’ s most idiosyncratic writers will seduce you with raw wisdom, befriend you with wry wit, and stay with you.

Kate Story is a genderqueer writer and theatre artist. She is the author of six novels, and her work ranges from adult literary fiction to hard SF and Young Adult fantasy. Her short fiction has appeared in World Fantasy and Aurora Award-winning collections, been shortlisted for the CBC Literary Award, and appeared in Imaginarium: Best Canadian Speculative Writing. Kate’s hard SF short fiction has been featured in award-winning Laksa Media anthology The Sum Of Us, and in Carbide Tipped Pens, edited by Eric Choi and the late, great Ben Bova.

Contents Anniversary Animate Flame Retarded Where the Seas Roll Up Their Thunder Demoted Show and Tell Martinis, My Dear, Are Dangerous Unicorn Ferry Back the Gifts The Ghost of the Cherry Blossom Acknowledgements About the Author