Synopsis:
From outer space to inner space, from realms of the never-were to those of the here-and-now and the soon-to-be, the twenty-four authors in this fifth and final collection of science fiction and fantasy by writers featured on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers plunge readers into fantastic worlds filled with unforgettable characters.
Teenagers are disappearing in a mysterious grove, and no one knows why—not even those who escape it. The god of love finds magical arrows just don’t cut it in the modern world of digital matchmaking. A prisoner discovers he has been stripped of thirty-five years of memories as punishment for a crime he cannot remember. Far from being a refuge from humdrum reality, dreams become a trap for one young man when he encounters those who dwell there. A man who hunts angels for a living has the tables turned on him by the last angel he corners. Talking beasts from the island of a certain infamous doctor arrive in London to make their way in the world of men, only to be caught up in the ongoing Martian invasion . . .
Shapers of Worlds Volume V showcases stories by Brad C. Anderson, Edo van Belkom, J. G. Gardner, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, Chadwick Ginther, Evan Graham, M. C. A. Hogarth, M. J. Kuhn, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Kevin Moore, Robin Stevens Payes, James S. Peet, Omari Richards, Lawrence M. Schoen, Alex Shvartsman, Alan Smale, Richard Sparks, P. L. Stuart, Brad R. Torgersen, Hayden Trenholm, Brian Trent, Eli K. P. William, Edward Willett, and Natalie Wright. Every story is illustrated with an original black-and-white drawing by Wendi Nordell.
Review:
This collection has a wide range of fantasy and sci-fi stories, each unique and interesting in their own way. There isn’t an overall unifying theme as there is with some anthologies, but I think that gave the authors a little more creative license. From sirens to cybernetic Greek goddesses to dragons and augmented reality, there’s a bit of everything for fans of sci-fi and fantasy to enjoy.
There are 24 stories in total, so I’m not going to recap all of them. But here are a few of the stories that stood out to me as favorites:
Mad Dog by Evan Graham features a mercenary band hired to eliminate rogue AIs. The mercs are led by “Mad Dog,” who seems to be a veteran of the job, and she gets pretty creative when faced with difficult problems.
Rumspringa in Sanzheika by Alex Shvartsman is a story about augmented reality and how a future society imposes “sabbaticals” on its citizens (basically, week-long stints where they’re cut off from their implants and the net.) Not everyone handles the sabbaticals well…
Forest Dark by P.L. Stuart explores some of the lore that has only been mentioned (so far) in his Drowned Kingdom Saga regarding a somewhat obscure sect of the Anibian people. And they’re ruthless when it comes to meting out vengeance. Since I’ve been following his series for several years now, I loved getting this extra bit of worldbuilding/lore.
‘Twas by Richard Sparks is a hilarious piece featuring a band of D&D-style heroes and poetry. It had me laughing out loud.
Cupid 2.0 by Brad C. Anderson explores what the god of love might do if he was almost made obsolete by a dating app. It was entertaining and cute, with an undercurrent of hope for the future.
The Crumbling Walls: A Tale of Nahwalla by Omari Richards is set in an African-inspired fantasy world of warring clans and gods who grant foresight. Thought it’s a short story, the glimpse of the politics of that world were complex and intriguing.
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