This collection celebrates the most vital of elemental forces—water—by gathering stories and poems by writers from Lagos to New Orleans, Memphis to Copenhagen and beyond.
Any anthology taking on a subject so vast and varied would require a nimble, thoughtful approach, clear about what mythologies and histories it evokes. This book communicates that rich, assured perspective from the start ... Hybridity, multivalence and shapeshifting of all kinds permeate Trouble the Waters from start to finish. This emphasis not only helps bring cohesion to this wide-ranging collection, but also underscores a powerful argument for our fundamental interconnectivity—with one another, with our nonhuman neighbors and with the environments that surround us. But Trouble the Waters also recognizes that currents of peril run through this storytelling lineage. The myths of changeable creatures that recur around our stories about our waterways can upend our sense of knowing who and where we are ... Thomas and her co-editors have imbued Trouble the Waters with an abundant, generous vision. That spirit yields a wealth of imaginative, entertaining storytelling that will please a wide variety of speculative-fiction readers. It may also provide a pleasing invitation to readers who are uninitiated in the genre but ready to get their feet wet.
Trouble the Waters features a few notable reprints ... But it’s mostly filled with lots of high-quality original work. All told it’s a stunning gathering ... Jamey Hatley’s 'Spirits Don’t Cross Over ’Til They Do' opens on a scene reminiscent of some of the best shows and movies about warfare, but the story itself is far more thoughtful and interesting than those productions tend to be ... 'Call the Water' by adrienne maree brown grabs you from the outset with captivating storytelling, both in delivery of lines and its intriguing characters ... One of my favorites of the book is definitely Jasmine Wade’s 'All of Us Are She' ... Wade’s story is a metaphor for rejecting the pain and frustration of a society which really doesn’t care for you. Finding peace and power of place in your imperfect, flawed, amazing family; and becoming who you really are. It’s absolutely brilliant. If you want some wonderful tales, gathered together by a team of editors who clearly know what they’re doing, go get this book. Spend some time with these pieces, sit with them. The work on offer deserves your thoughtful attention.
Thirty-three stories fill this collection’s vibrant pages ... The tales are creative and vary widely across genre and tone ... The collection is compelling and full of inventive stories.
