EXISTENCE IS ELSEWHEN IBD

Sinopsis

The title, Existence is Elsewhen, paraphrases the last sentence of André BretonâÇÖs 1924 Manifesto of Surrealism, perfectly summing up the intent behind this anthology of stories from a wonderful collection of authors. Different worlds... different times. ItâÇÖs what Elsewhen Press has been about since we launched our first title in 2011. ááHere, we present twenty science fiction stories for you to enjoy. We are delighted that headlining this collection is the fantastic John Gribbin, with a worrying vision of medical research in the near future.áFuture global healthcare is the theme of J A ChristyâÇÖs story, while the ultimate in spare part surgery is where Dave Weaver takes us.áEdwin HaywardâÇÖs search for a renewable protein source turns out to be digital, and Tanya ReimerâÇÖs story with characters we think we know, gives us pause for thought about another food we take for granted.áEvolution is examined too, with Andy McKellâÇÖs chilling tale of what states could become if genetics are used to drive policy. Similarly, Robin MoranâÇÖs story explores the societal impact of an undesirable evolutionary trend, while Douglas Thompson provides a truly surreal warning of an impending disaster that will reverse evolution, with dire consequences.ááOn a lighter note, we have satire from Steve Harrison discovering who really owns the Earth (and why), and Ira Nayman, who uses the surreal alternative realities of his Transdimensional Authority series as the setting for a detective story mash-up of Agatha Christie and Dashiel Hammett.áPursuing the crime-solving theme, Peter Wolfe explores life, and death, on a space station, while Stefan Jackson follows a police investigation into some bizarre cold-blooded murders in a cyberpunk future. Going into the past, albeit an 1831 set in the alternate Britain of his Royal Sorceress series, Christopher G. Nuttall reports on an investigation into a girl with strange powers.ááStrange powers in the present-day is the theme for Tej Turner, who tells a poignant tale of how extra-sensory perception makes it easier for a husband to bear his dying wifeâÇÖs last few days. Difficult decisions are the theme of Chloe SkyeâÇÖs heart-rending story exploring personal sacrifice.áRelationships arenâÇÖt always so close, as Susan OkeâÇÖs tale demonstrates, when sibling rivalry is taken to the limit.áRelationships are the backdrop to Peter R. EllisâÇÖs story where a spectacular mid-winter event on a newly-colonised distant planet involves a Madonna and Child.áComing right back to Earth and in what feels like an almost imminent future, Siobhan McVeigh tells a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of using technology to deflect the blame for their actions.áBuilding on the remarkable setting of Pera from her LiGa series, and developing PeraâÇÖs legendary Book of Shadow, Sanem Ozdural spins the creation myth of the first light tree in a lyrical and poetic song. Also exploring language, the master of fantastika and absurdism, Rhys Hughes, extrapolates the way in which language changes over time, with an entertaining result.