Imaginarium 4: The Best Canadian Speculative Writing
Ed. by Sandra Kasturi and Jerome Stueart
The fourth annual Imaginarium collection of the best Canadian speculative poetry and short fiction is the biggest yet, which if nothing else points to the amount of activity going on in this country’s vibrant genre jungle. If you’re not familiar with many of the names here then you should be, as the line-up is top-notch.
Showcasing an incredible variety of voices and subject matter, there’s a meta-spirit of play afoot throughout, even in the darkest moments (and it can get pretty dark). Genre fiction is all about conventions and rules, and knowing when to break or poke fun at them. The authors here know this, and their characters – both heroes and villains – do too. Indeed, heroes and villains also know that they need each other. Every exorcist needs his demon, and vice versa. It’s all part of the game.
Alex on SF 