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An odd and entertaining novella set in a near future Detroit. A story of community. Along with Arboreality, this is the second good read from Stelliform Press I’ve come across recently.

I picked this one up after reading a brief, and it turns out somewhat misleading, review. I expected a book in which the author weaves together the story of her family’s migration from Greece a century in the past and the story of the migrant camp Moria. It is, in part, both of those things. But it is in large part also the author’s musings on global migration and immigration, borders, story telling, home and more. Many of Markham’s ideas and anecdotes are worthwhile, a few self-indulgent. Unfortunately, by inserting herself so fully into the book, Markham gives the story of Moria and those who lived there less attention than they deserve. Still, she tells stories worth telling and this is a book worth reading.

I picked this one up because it was written by my high school English teacher. The best teacher I had at any level. Copper Sun is the story of two 15 year old girls, one a slave and one an indentured servant, in the colony of South Carolina. Written for early teens, it uses fairly simple language but the author addresses the horrors of slavery head on. An important tale well told.

Another enjoyable episode in the series. A bit better than the first.

Arboreality is a collection of loosely connected stories set on an ecologically devastated near future Vancouver Island. Campbell offers up the full effects of human greed and short-sightedness but also human and natural resilience. A quick read. Recommended.