Carol Emshwillerová byla americkou spisovatelkou avantgardních povídek a science fiction. Její díla jsou ceněna pro svou fabulační a magickou realističnost. Její silný a komplexní feministický hlas v literatuře je nezaměnitelný. Její nedávná tvorba se zaměřuje na zkoumání hlubokých a složitých témat.
The second and final volume of Carol Emshwiller's collected fiction showcases her remarkable storytelling, which began in 1954 and earned her prestigious awards, including the Nebula and World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. Born in 1921, Emshwiller's diverse experiences—from serving in the Red Cross during WWII to studying fine art in France—deeply influenced her work. The volume features a dust jacket portrait by her husband, Ed Emshwiller, highlighting her role as his primary model for illustrations.
Crossing the boundaries between fabulist literature, science fiction, and magical realism, the stories in this collection offer a valuable glimpse into the evolution of Carol Emshwiller’s ideas and style during her more than 50-year career. Influenced by J. G. Ballard, Steven Millhauser, Philip K. Dick, and Lydia Davis, Emshwiller has a range of works that is impressive and demonstrates her refusal to be labeled or to stick to one genre. This exhilarating new collection marks the first time many of the early stories have been published in book form and is evidence of the genius of Emshwiller, one of America’s most versatile and imaginative authors.
Set against a backdrop of a hidden city in the wilderness, the narrative explores the struggles of stranded aliens as they strive to maintain their fading culture. With a blend of humanism, complexity, and subtle humor, the story examines the choices between staying in the Secret City or facing the harsh realities of the human world. When mythical rescuers appear, the aliens confront the unsettling truth that they belong to neither their hidden home nor the human realm, prompting a profound exploration of identity and belonging.
Toto číslo lze brát jako mimořádný speciál věnovaný cenám Nebula. Pokud to nevíte, pak vám prozradíme, že cena Nebula je každoročně udílena jako výsledek hlasování Americké společnosti autorů science fiction a fantasy. Daniel Abraham se v hororové povídce Placatá Diana velmi znepokojivým způsobem podívá na problémy jedné neúplné rodiny. Letos si Nebulu v kategorii krátká povídka odnesla Carol Emshwillerová s příběhem Žiji s tebou, v němž odkryla možnou existenci bytosti žijící nepozorovaně přímo vedle vás. U nás dosud neznámá K. D. Wentworthová se představí povídkou Znovuzrození a přinese nám zajímavý pohled na téma klonování. Nebulou oceněná novela Magie pro začátečníky od Kelly Linkové je příběhem chlapce, jenž patří do skupiny dospívajících, kteří propadli kouzlu zvláštního televizního programu. Paolo Bacigalupi se v povídce Škváropísečníci podívá do nehostinné budoucnosti, kdy se lidstvo muselo přizpůsobit zhoršujícím se ekologickým podmínkám na úkor samotného lidství. A na samotný závěr jsme připravili Nebulou opět odměněnou povídku Stvoření od Jeffreyho Forda. Magazín Fantasy & Science Fiction je jednoduše splněným snem každého milovníka dobrých a čtivých příběhů.... celý text
With a blend of absurdist humor and poignant themes, this collection of short stories delves into war, seduction, and censorship. Notable tales include "The Library," which envisions an Eden amid the ruins of burned books, and "Boys," where a weary general faces off against resolute mothers. "I Live with You" introduces chaos through an unexpected visitor. Rich in originality and lyrical prose, this anthology is essential reading for fans of science fiction and adventure.
Set against the backdrop of freedom and slavery, this award-winning novel explores profound themes of liberation and oppression. Through its compelling narrative, it weaves a fable that delves into the complexities of human experience, highlighting the struggle for autonomy and the impact of societal constraints. The characters navigate a world filled with challenges, ultimately revealing the resilience of the human spirit in the quest for freedom.
Set in the West in the early 1900s, Emshwiller's latest novel is the story of Lotti, a young girl uncertain of her place in the world. Her mother has just married the hired man, Ledoyt (or "Old Him," as Lotti likes to say), and Lotti is terribly confused, as only an adolescent can be. Frustrated beyond endurance, she dresses as a boy and runs away, taking her younger brother, Fay, with her. A traumatic attack while on the trail brings certain benefits: Lotti begins to put the facts of her life together and comes to realize that she was the result of a rape. Lotti returns to her home and, bolstered by a new understanding of her mother and an uneasy truce with Ledoyt, finds comfort in her drawings and newfound identity. The narrative shifts between Lotti's first-person accounts and those of her family, a technique that, if sometimes distracting, does create an intimate acquaintance with each character and with family relationships. More important is Emshwiller's verbal portrait of Lotti (cleverly augmented by Lotti's journal drawings of horses and people--many engulfed in flames) and of adolescent resentment and angst. .
