Stories for a Rainy Day

When a feral wolf in human form turns up outside Cresa’s house, the humanity that she once sought threatens to become the chain that binds her, and she is forced the weigh the balance between her heart and her freedom. Sandoval’s command of voice and empathy are on full display as she weaves this tale of intrigue, divinity, and destiny into a vivid tapestry of captured affections and bittersweet resignation. While Sandoval’s evocative style has always drawn me to her work, this one made me fall in love with her storytelling, too. The plot is clockwork smart, and her reimagining of classic mythological characters feels both faithful to their antiquity and freshly imaginative. “The Wolf and the Tower Unwoven” easily became a favorite among favorites.

An android caregiver emulates loved ones (living and dead) for a woman whose health and memory are failing her. Shoemaker deftly tap-dances around the maudlin landmines associated with Alzheimer’s stories, delivering a story that impressed me with both its narrative economy and palpable humanity.

2015 NEBULA AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST SHORT STORY

AUDIO & TEXT VERSIONS AVAILABLE AT LINK

Yang paints a haunting, beautifully vivid world in this heart-wrenching tale of airships and dragon silk, losing and finding, and the terrible determination of sorrow; but be warned, Yang means to punch you in the heart, and this story does not miss the mark.

When the war between polarized political factions claims the life of one of its creators, an AI decides to become an independent party. This story is an all-time cyberpunk favorite of mine.

When the plan to thwart a cycle of devastating earthquakes threatens to lay waste to the island of Pearl, a young lord and a eunuch meet at the intersection of honor, sacrifice, and necessary evils. As the pendulum oscillates between stalemate and checkmate, Lien’s novelette plays out against a fascinating backdrop of truly epic proportions.

Fans of Lien's Peasprout Chen series will recognize the world!

Story available via free PDF at the site.