Reaching Out
A review of Shapers of Worlds, edited by Edward Willett
Science fiction and fantasy are the genres of exploration. While most narrative fictions asks the reader to learn more about the setting and characters that populate it, sci-fi and fantasy are the ones that require the reader to be willing to be taken to the far reaches of the universe and to the deepest parts of worlds that can’t even be imagined. These journeys can reveal a lot about the human experience and psyche, and the challenge that comes to authors of sci-fi and fantasy is to see how they can play with these worlds and themes in a way that makes it easy for the reader to see the parallels and assimilate into these new spaces.
Shapers of Worlds is a new sci-fi/fantasy anthology from Canada edited by Edward Willett. Willett is an author of over 60 books and is the host of the podcast The Worldshapers, which interviews sci-fi and fantasy authors to “[delve] into the creative process with science fiction and fantasy writers of every kind, seeking to better understand this magical, mystical skill…the skill of worldshaping.” Earlier this year, Willett and the Worldshapers team were able to successfully fund the anthology through Kickstarter, creating a collection of reprints and new material from sci-fi and fantasy authors who were featured on the first year of the podcast. The international assembly of authors come from countries including Canada, the U.S., Australia, and more, and the settings of their pieces can be from places as familiar as the Canadian countryside to as fantastic as the far future. While the majority of pieces are copyrighted to 2020, some were published in the last century, with the oldest being Joe Haldeman’s 1977 story “Tricentennial.”
In his introduction to the anthology, Willett says the collection is not a “themed” anthology, but has a “theme.” While the pieces may be influenced by the authors’ personal histories and experiences, there are a few common themes that can be found throughout the anthology that, when realized, can enrich the choices and the overall strength of the collection.
The first notable theme one may observe is the perpetual conflict with the Other. In many of these tales, characters come across new environments, beings, and ideas, and often find some form of conflict with them that can lead to violence or tragedy. In her 2014 story “One Million Lira,” Australian author Thoraiya Dyer depicts a futuristic war that’s centered around a battle between two female snipers who were previously teacher and student, now on opposite ends of a conflict. John Scalzi’s 2009 story “The Tale of the Wicked” is initially centered around a space dogfight between a human ship and an alien ship, long past the point where the two ships need to be engaged in battle. Even the 1988 story “Shhhh…” by David Brin depicts an internal conflict humanity faces as they’re about to enter an alliance with an alien race, one where the challenge is an aspect of human nature.
While many of the pieces do lean for the more optimistic, there are some that veer into a darker tones, and in these stories, the conflicts turn deadly. Some of these pieces also show the arrogance that can come from those who cause or react to conflict. In some of these stories, the arrogance comes from those who don’t understand the new space or the new beings, or who try to impose their logic and reasoning on them. “Good Intentions” by Chris Ruocchio follows a scientist on a new world who tries to apply earthly logic and reasoning to a native creature, which only leads to chaos and death. Similarly, Seanan McGuire’s “In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone,” examines the people who were too foolish to understand science and how that could lead to devastating global consequences. Her story, one of the newest pieces in the collection, rings very close-to-home with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when the situation plays out with only slightly different details.
However, while many of these piece show the folly of mankind upon meeting new species and worlds, the main theme that runs throughout Shapers of the World the value of communication. Many of the more optimistic stories call for reason and empathy in these situations, like how “Shhhh…” is motivated to change humanity for the benefit of a new alien species, even if there’s some darker elements to it. “The Tale of the Wicked” asks if it’s possible for wartime conflict to end if the machines we created sought to avoid death by defying their programming or working within their programming in a way humans couldn’t imagine. Willett’s own contribution, “Vision Quest,” shows how a young girl having her horizons broadened by an interplanetary being could allow her to mature as an individual and go off better than she was at the start. D.J. Butler’s “The Greatest of These is Hope” similarly positions itself as a coming-of-age story, where a young girl’s first experience with death and the finite nature of life can make her grow up and face challenges greater than the ones in the Minecraft-esque video game she and her friends play. In these stories, Shapers of the World demonstrates that anyone can change and that anyone can grow if they’re willing to be opened to new ideas and to convey these with others.
Shapers of the World is a fantastic mission statement for The Worldshapers as a literary community. The stories in the collection show a wide breadth of ideas and perspectives, and even the commonalities speak to a greater need to share and listen. It asks the reader to imagine world where, even if things seem dire, that there can be progress and hope if people are willing to work at it, and if they’re willing to shape their world into something better.
