I have to admit to being a little surprised that an anthology of
Canadian Science Fiction was so dark. It's not that I have anything
against dystopia, but I was taken aback - surely the True North
Strong and Free would have at least one glimmer of happiness? No?
Okay then.
What this anthology does have, however, is some very high quality
entries into short fiction.
Obviously, some names - Robert J. Sawyer - spring to the forefront
of attention, and his story, "Forever," is both clever and quite
moving.
"Walter's Brain," by Kimberley Footit, was absolutely charming, and
made me smile throughout - one of the few science fiction stories
I've read that gave me a sense of "feel-good."
The strongest of the set in my opinion was Stephen Graham King's
"Pas de deux" which echoed with a grim realism and gave me a
shiver-in-the-spine sensation with its closing moments.
While the tales were varied, and I'll admit to not "getting" one or
two of them, as a collection, the anthology is definitely
worthwhile. Kudos to Mark Leslie for gathering some Canadian talent
and making a strong whole.