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A sophisticated collection of fierce, tender fiction marked by absurdist humor, these striking short stories skillfully explore themes of war, seduction, and censorship. An Eden emerges from the wreckage and destruction of burning books in "The Library." "Boys" sets a weary general and his sons against a village of determined mothers, and "I Live with You" brings a chaos from an uninvited guest. Filled with originality and lyricism, this collection is a must for science fiction and adventure fans.
About the author
Carol Emshwiller is a key figure in science fiction's new-wave movement and the author of
Carmen Dog,
The Mount,
Mr. Boots, and
The Secret City. She is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a Pushcart Prize as well as the Philip K. Dick and Gallun awards. In 2005, she received the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement and the Nebula Award for ?I Live With You," the title story of her short-story collection.
Summary
I Live With You is a sophisticated collection of fierce, compassionate fiction marked by an absurdist sense of humor. A contemporary of Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, and Fay Weldon, Carol Emshwiller has been lauded for her originality and lyricism. These striking short stories skillfully explore themes of war, seduction, and censorship: An Eden emerges from the wreckage of burning books in “The Library,” “Boys” sets a weary general and his sons against a village of determined mothers, and “I Live With You (and You Don’t Know It)” brings a necessary chaos from an uninvited guest.
Additional text
"Deceptively simple, yet so powerful, so subtle, so disruptive as to blow our imaginations wide open."
—Strange Horizons
“...Carol’s stories turn the corner into another dimension.”
Harlan Ellison
“The woman is a genius, period.... You must, must, must not miss this collection.”
Gwenda Bond
“Emshwiller consistently pokes holes through the fabrications of our lives and reminds me of the power literature has to change the way we think.”
Books to Watch Out For
“A collection that manages to remind us of great writers like George Saunders, Grace Paley, and Harlan Ellison all at once, although Emshwiller is a unique and wonderful writer in her own right.”
Time Out Chicago
“Compassion and a sly sense of humor shape the insight-filled fiction.... Lyrical and resonant....”
Publishers Weekly
“Her eye for detail and ear for poetry allow her to create compact fables that resonate beyond their immediate settings.”
San Francisco Chronicle
“Emshwiller’s strange, often sad, and beautiful stories linger, unfolding long after reading them.”
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