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A review by luketolvaj
Not So Stories by Nikesh Shukla, Achala Upendran, Woodrow Phoenix, David Thomas Moore, Zedeck Siew, Wayne Santos, Paul Krueger, Joseph Elliott-Coleman, Tauriq Moosa, Zina Hutton, Cassandra Khaw, Ali Nouraei, Adiwijaya Iskandar, Raymond Gates, Stewart Hotston, Jeannette Ng, Joseph Watson, Georgina Kamsika
5.0
This incredible anthology is an answer to Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories. Each story is its own vibrant take on the allegories, some more directly than others. They reclaim these narratives and challenge the racism in Kipling’s work.
All of these stories were wonderful and brought something unique to the table, but there were a few that really stood out for me.
Saṃsāra by Georgina Kamsika tells a rich, melancholy story of a biracial child who has been disconnected from part of her culture due to the influence of racism and her white father. It explores this theme through the lens of grief and familial love. The prose was profoundly gorgeous.
Best Beloved by Wayne Santos was a stunning and chilling story highlighting the evil, racist actions of the British Empire both on a large scale and individually, and their undoing via cultural customs they so often sneered at. I fell in love with it.
Queen by Joseph E. Cole and The Cat Who Walked by Herself by Achala Upendran delved into the realm of anthropomorphic animals. Both were incredibly beautiful, telling two very different stories about slavery and the path to freedom and revolution.
I love this book and I highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s very important and more than worth it!
All of these stories were wonderful and brought something unique to the table, but there were a few that really stood out for me.
Saṃsāra by Georgina Kamsika tells a rich, melancholy story of a biracial child who has been disconnected from part of her culture due to the influence of racism and her white father. It explores this theme through the lens of grief and familial love. The prose was profoundly gorgeous.
Best Beloved by Wayne Santos was a stunning and chilling story highlighting the evil, racist actions of the British Empire both on a large scale and individually, and their undoing via cultural customs they so often sneered at. I fell in love with it.
Queen by Joseph E. Cole and The Cat Who Walked by Herself by Achala Upendran delved into the realm of anthropomorphic animals. Both were incredibly beautiful, telling two very different stories about slavery and the path to freedom and revolution.
I love this book and I highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s very important and more than worth it!