Emma Lister

As noted by Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Chris Beckett in his foreword, one of the key pleasures of this anthology is the range of different forms, subjects and styles: “Poetry, travelogue, a last will and testament, microfiction (nanofiction, even?) ... and – yeeeessss! – several pieces of science fiction.” The writers involved find themselves at the start of their careers, facing – as we all do – an uncertain future. But anxiety can spur the imagination if we let it, and these writers have chosen to do so. The result is variety and experimentation. Colour, darkness, familiar and alien landscapes, rifts in time and space, tricks of the light, memory and glossary, loss and longing.

This anthology brings together a rich collection of fifteen voices. Each contribution is unique in flavour, origin, and rhythm, yet somehow, like the ingredients of a well-loved recipe, the combination is greater than the sum of its parts. Utilising both prose and poetry, these narrative reflections come in a range of genres, covering expansive stretches of space, time, and emotion. Together, they make up a tapestry – one as intricate and simple as a hand-crafted dish. Here you'll find intimate personal stories, generosity of spirit and langage, and trust in the universal power of storytelling, memory and connection. Whether sweet, bitter, spicy, or simmering to unfold, each piece is a vital part of the whole, and a reminder of stories that linger long after the last page.