Lisa's Reviews > Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers

A nice collection of solarpunk fiction in a generous, easy-to-read format. Some stories fixate on technology more than plot, which I gather genre enthusiasts would insist is a feature not a bug. Those same stories have self-righteous characters I prefer to avoid as much as real-life insufferable vegans. A (different) couple of stories include Christian elements that I found off-putting, perhaps because I don't recall any other religious representation in the anthology.

Stand-out stories include "The Call of the Wold" by Holly Schofield, which features an older protagonist much in demand for her negotiating skills, "A Field of Sapphires and Sunshine" by Jaymee Goh, in which the protagonist seeks a partner who appreciates her family business, "Grow, Give, Repeat" by Gregory Scheckler, about an 11-year-old genius spurred by a fierce love of chickens to solve community problems, "Cable Town Delivery" by M. Lopes da Silva, about a youngster who meets a travelling librarian, and "Women of White Water" by Helen Kenwright, with a great ensemble cast of diverse women who help community young'uns cope with relationship angst.

I look forward to the next installment of Glass and Gardens, to be themed Solarpunk Winters.