Strangers Among Us - (Laksa Anthology Series: Speculative Fiction) by Kelley Armstrong

About the Book

Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the delicate balance between mental health and mental illness; how the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths. 2017 Aurora (Canadian SF&F) Award Winner. Recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal & School Library Journal.

Book Synopsis

There's a delicate balance between mental health and mental illness . . .

Who are the STRANGERS AMONG US?

We are your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and lovers. We staff your stores, cross your streets, and study in your schools, invisible among you. We are your outcasts and underdogs, and often, your unsung heroes.

Nineteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle the division between mental health and mental illness; how the interplay between our minds' quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart, or must be concealed, or become unlikely strengths.

We find troubles with Irish fay, a North Korean cosmonaut's fear of flying, an aging maid dealing with politics of revenge, a mute boy and an army of darkness, a sister reaching out at the edge of a black hole, the dog and the sleepwalker, and many more.

After all, what harm can be done...

AUTHORS: Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Church, A.M. Dellamonica, Gemma Files, James Alan Gardner, Bev Geddes, Erika Holt, Tyler Keevil, Rich Larson, Derwin Mak, Mahtab Narsimhan, Sherry Peters, Ursula Pflug, Robert Runté, Lorina Stephens, Amanda Sun, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, A.C. Wise.

Introduction by Julie E. Czerneda

Edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law

Praise for Strangers Among Us

"Strangers Among Us . . . is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF&F books of the year. Bravo!"

-- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night

"The writing is excellent throughout, and even the few not-as-strong stories make for a good read. This is a unique collection that should attract readers of all genres.

-- Foreword Reviews

"The stories in Strangers Among Us are as varied in tone and approach as their authors. The power of the collection derives from this variety; while each story can be read in isolation, the assemblage of outsiders feels, on a whole, exultant. There is, indeed, strength in numbers, when each individual is accorded space and respect."

-- Quill & Quire

"VERDICT: Mental illness is an exciting theme for an anthology, leaving plenty of room for variety"

-- Library Journal

The anthology is recommended in Kirkus Reviews as one of "The August 2016 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books You'll Want to Read."

"Though this book has some shortcomings, readers who have mental illnesses may find themselves somewhere in these pages and as a result may no longer feel so alone or isolated."

--School Library Journal

Awards and Honorable Mentions

2017 Aurora Awards Winner (Best Related Work)

2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Winner (Speculative Fiction Book of the Year)

2017 Aurora Awards Winner (Best Short Fiction) and 3 other Best Short Fiction finalists

2017 Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic (Short Story category): one short story finalist

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017 (edited by John Joseph Adams and Charles Yu): one honorable mention

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fourth Annual Collection (edited by Gardner Dozois): six honorable mentions

Wilde Stories 2017: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction (edited by Steve Berman): one story included

2016 Foreword INDIES Awards finalist (Anthologies)

Review Quotes

*** 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Winner (Speculative Fiction Book of the Year) ***

*** 2017 Aurora Awards Winner (Best Related Work) ***

*** 2016 Foreword INDIES Finalist (Anthologies) ***

*** One Winner and three finalists in 2017 Aurora Awards Short Fiction category ***

*** One finalist in 2017 for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic - Short Story category ***

*** One honorable mention in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017 (edited by John Joseph Adams and Charles Yu) ***

*** Six honorable mention in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fourth Annual Collection (edited by Gardner Dozois) ***

*** One story selected for Wilde Stories 2017: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction (edited by Steve Berman) ***

"Mental illness is an exciting theme for an anthology, leaving plenty of room for variety." (Library Journal)

"The writers of these stories address such varied subjects as agoraphobia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and addiction. Though this book has some shortcomings, readers who have mental illnesses may find themselves somewhere in these pages and as a result may no longer feel so alone or isolated." (School Library Journal)

". . . stories do a masterful job of knitting legitimate and painful mental illnesses to characters who still retain agency and power." (Kirkus Reviews)

". . . a solid effort, a mixed SF/fantasy original anthology, with a number of entertaining stories to be found within its pages." (Locus - Gardner Dozois)

"The writing is excellent throughout, and even the few not-as-strong stories make for a good read. This is a unique collection that should attract readers of all genres." (Foreword Reviews)

"The stories in Strangers Among Us are as varied in tone and approach as their authors. The power of the collection derives from this variety; while each story can be read in isolation, the assemblage of outsiders feels, on a whole, exultant. There is, indeed, strength in numbers, when each individual is accorded space and respect." (Quill & Quire)

"Strangers Among Us . . . is important, shining a much-needed spotlight on issues that get far too little attention. A wonderful anthology, one of the major SF&F books of the year. Bravo!"
(Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo award-winning author of Quantum Night)