The September 7 publication date is six months away, but news like this will not wait.
First, the title. When Linda and I teamed up for the anthology, our recent experiences with Colorado wildfires made the theme a no-brainer: Colorado’s Changing Climate—a deceptively flexible theme. Some members submitted climate change stories, while others interpreted “climate” in a more creative way. Drought served as a backdrop for a life-long love story, nature lashed out when humans tried to harness its forces, and children taught their elders that collaboration serves the greater good when cataclysmic climate events loom.
Each imaginative submission featured characters overwhelmed by their circumstances. Without the skills to cope, they drew on inner strengths and relied on friends and family for support. They made mistakes—and sometimes learned from them. Within the chaos of Colorado’s changing climate, these troubled and flawed characters found ways to survive. They adapted, faced the future head-on, and traveled into the unknowable without brakes—fingers crossed.
Second—Behold the cover! That eye-catching design was the winner of our contest at 99designs.com. Over 70 artists from across the globe submitted proposals. The winning design was the creation of Pulp from Pulp Art Studio.
Without brakes or a safety knot at the end of the rope, humanity descends into an unknown future—hoping for the best. There is only one certainty. The Rocky Mountains will remain long after we’re gone. It’s a simple but striking design for both print and eBook formats.
You’ve heard the title. You’ve seen the cover. Here, then, are the stories we’re excited to include:
- “Where the River Ends” by J. Warren Weaver
- “Beyond Carbon” by Rachel Delaney Craft
- “The Tamarisk Hunter” by Paolo Bacigalupi
- “Our Sprinkler System” by Lesley L. Smith
- “Rightsizing” by Jeff Jaskot
- “Attack of the Third Planet” by Collin Irish
- “Iphus” by Laurel McHargue
- “Visited by a Crane” by Rick Ginsberg
- “Sticka” by Natasha Watts
- “The Cistern” by Mark Stevens
- “Stokes the Happy” by Cepa Onion
- “We’ll Always Have Peaches” by Ryanne Glenn
- “A Blip in Time” by Pat Stoltey
We’ve read them all multiple times, and with each read we find something new to love. It’s a great mix of Sci-Fi, romance, suspense, horror, humor, and mainstream, from both new and experienced RMFW members.
If one of those names stands out, it’s because we took a new approach with this anthology. We reached out to local authors who incorporate climate change into their work. The result? We’re honored to reprint “The Tamarisk Hunter” by western slope resident Paolo Bacigalupi.
Paolo Bacigalupi is an internationally bestselling author of speculative fiction. He has won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, John W. Campbell, and Locus Awards, and he has been a finalist for the National Book Award and a winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.
Without Brakes—Fingers Crossed will be available in print and eBook starting September 7. We’re excited to get this wonderful collection into your hands!
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Paul Martz is an award-winning science fiction author and technology blogger. His edgy, techno-smart stories were influenced by his career as a virtual reality software developer and the time he spent drumming for punk and alternative bar bands. Originally from Flint, Michigan, Paul resides in Erie, Colorado, where he sips lattes while the snow sublimates. He is still trying to teach his cat to play drums. Visit him at www.PaulMartz.com.
Looking forward to reading this anthology!