One Thousand Words for War

March 15, 2016
Nineteen rising stars answer a challenge to write in a distinctive narrative frame native to East Asian literature, offering visions of alien contact, escape from repression, and exploits in alternate, virtual, and extraterrestrial worlds. The editors begin their collection by loosely defining the four-stage form commonly transliterated as "Kishotenketsu" as storytelling in which conflict is just another element in the authorial toolbox rather than, as in Western conventions, central to plots and themes, inviting readers to see peacemongering as the common thread here. Though folding in violence either implied or explicit, most of the contributors work ingenious twists on this notion. Potential wars with aliens are headed off by new friends of different species who discover that the translation program their diplomat parents are using has been hacked ("In Other Words") and also when a Pakistani village welcomes a pair of "Unexpected Guests" with tea. A transgender child crosses a personal "Threshold" by fighting off a bully at the boundary between this world and the magical Hidden Lands. Contrary to mythology, there is, it turns out, an afterlife "Beyond the Promised Land" for dead Viking heroes who weary of slaughtering one another over and over again in Valhalla. The stories range in length from short shorts on up, and if none of their authors are household names (yet), each is well-crafted and thought-provoking in both form and content. Useful fare for creative-writing classes but more significantly, an above-average set of takes on a worthy theme. (Science fiction/fantasy short stories. 11-14)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-A thought-provoking if uneven collection of sci-fi short stories about the powerful ways young adults can overcome and embrace grim circumstances. The volume focuses on protagonists whose environments or societal expectations threaten to destroy them physically or emotionally. For example, one entry centers on a transgender girl standing up to bullies, while another poignantly tells the story of a child soldier trying to save his fellow friends from war and death. Some of the themes covered include adversity, persistence, and change. Other darker topics pertaining to abuse and assault are present but not graphic. Many of these vignettes might resonate with teens who are underdogs or who feel "othered." Reluctant readers will enjoy these fast-paced narratives; however, they might have an arduous time acclimating to different settings as well as getting to know the main protagonists. Full-length sci-fi novels have complex, detailed worlds, and the short lengths of these selections don't always allow for much depth. The stories are conceptually creative, but they might feel disjointed to readers. Character development, especially of some of the one-dimensional supporting roles, is also lacking. VERDICT An additional choice to complement YA sci-fi collections.-Katie Flynn, Williston Northampton School, MA

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