Scan barcode
A review by zlibrarian
The Sum of Us: Tales of the Bonded and Bound by Juliet Marillier
4.0
SFF fans that enjoy character-driven narrative will find this a satisfying read. These stories were carefully selected. Yes, there’s sadness and deep emotional conflict here, but also empathy kindness, bravery, love, and humor – all of which are part of the caregiving experience. Ian Creasey‘s story the Dunschemin Retirement Home for Repentant Supervillans The science and fantasy elements of most of the stories are fascinating and compelling. These stories are honest about the emotional and physical cost of caregiving, and never deliver simply happy endings, but there’s acceptance and hope.
In the recognizable dystopian world of Colleen Anderson’s story “The Healer’s Touch”, a woman blends nanotech and mysticism to help refugees, war survivors, and survivors of torture at cost to herself. Women, queer people, people of color, people with varied forms of disability, and – thankfully -- people over age 35 are characters in these tales. As a Librarian, I recommend The Sum of Us to many different people: caregivers, students of the health professions; people working in the health professions; members of large families; only children; and people that may see themselves as future caregivers.
The Sum of Us includes a story by "Everfair" author Nisi Shawl, Sunshine of your Love. Shawl presents an original and surprising take on the theme of genetic manipulation. Polly, caregiver to her sister Myra, a brilliant researcher who now has dementia and is confined to a bed. Polly offers shelter to Lazzrus, a Black man with exceptional genes that give him, if not superpowers, an ability to be frozen in time, youthful, handsome, and strong. Lazzrus was also, at one time, Polly and and Myra’s research subject. Lazzrus is on the run because of his unusual genetic makeup. Authorities in the dystopian world of the story want him even more than the women who more him children; this is a world where fertility is increasingly difficult. It’s a complex story that challenges assumptions and the implicit bias and racism of our own time.
"Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors explore the depth and breadth of caring and of giving. They find insight, joy, devastation, and heroism in grand sweeps and in tiny niches. And, like wasps made of stinging words, there is pain in giving, and in working one's way through to the light. Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love. These are their stories. Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give. The costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own. Introduction by Dominik Parisien. In addition to dealing with caregiving and caregivers, the book also deals with mental health and mental illness. There is an appendix in the book for Mental Health Resources and another appendix for Caregiving and Caregivers Resources".
In the recognizable dystopian world of Colleen Anderson’s story “The Healer’s Touch”, a woman blends nanotech and mysticism to help refugees, war survivors, and survivors of torture at cost to herself. Women, queer people, people of color, people with varied forms of disability, and – thankfully -- people over age 35 are characters in these tales. As a Librarian, I recommend The Sum of Us to many different people: caregivers, students of the health professions; people working in the health professions; members of large families; only children; and people that may see themselves as future caregivers.
The Sum of Us includes a story by "Everfair" author Nisi Shawl, Sunshine of your Love. Shawl presents an original and surprising take on the theme of genetic manipulation. Polly, caregiver to her sister Myra, a brilliant researcher who now has dementia and is confined to a bed. Polly offers shelter to Lazzrus, a Black man with exceptional genes that give him, if not superpowers, an ability to be frozen in time, youthful, handsome, and strong. Lazzrus was also, at one time, Polly and and Myra’s research subject. Lazzrus is on the run because of his unusual genetic makeup. Authorities in the dystopian world of the story want him even more than the women who more him children; this is a world where fertility is increasingly difficult. It’s a complex story that challenges assumptions and the implicit bias and racism of our own time.
"Twenty-three science fiction and fantasy authors explore the depth and breadth of caring and of giving. They find insight, joy, devastation, and heroism in grand sweeps and in tiny niches. And, like wasps made of stinging words, there is pain in giving, and in working one's way through to the light. Our lives and relationships are complex. But in the end, there is hope, and there is love. These are their stories. Children giving care. Dogs and cats giving care. Sidekicks, military, monks, ghosts, robots. Even aliens. Care given by lovers, family, professionals. Caregivers who can no longer give. Caregivers who make the decision not to give. The costs and the consequences that follow. Bound to us by invisible bonds, but with lives, dreams, and passions of their own. Introduction by Dominik Parisien. In addition to dealing with caregiving and caregivers, the book also deals with mental health and mental illness. There is an appendix in the book for Mental Health Resources and another appendix for Caregiving and Caregivers Resources".