Lorina Stephens
Author of From Mountains of Ice
About the Author
Works by Lorina Stephens
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Stephens, Lorina
- Gender
- female
- Organizations
- SF Canada
- Short biography
- Lorina Stephens has worked as editor, freelance journalist for national and regional print media, been a festival organizer, publicist, lectures on many historical topics from textiles to domestic technologies, teaches, and continues to work as a writer and artist.
Her short fiction has appeared in Polar Borealis, On Spec, Strangers Among Us, Postscripts to Darkness, Neo-Opsis, Stories of the Deluge, and Sword & Sorceress X.
Book credits include:
Tesseracts 22: Alchemy and Artifacts, co-editor with Susan MacGregor, Edge Publishing, 2019
The Rose Guardian, Five Rivers Publishing, 2019
Caliban, Five Rivers Publishing, 2018
Stonehouse Cooks, Five Rivers Publishing, 2011,
From Mountains of Ice, Five Rivers Publishing, 2009,
And the Angels Sang, Five Rivers Publishing, 2008,
Shadow Song, Five Rivers Publishing, 2008,
Recipes of a Dumb Housewife, Lulu Publishing 2007,
Credit River Valley, Boston Mills Press 1994
Touring the Giant’s Rib: A Guide to the Niagara Escarpment; Boston Mills Press 1993
You can follow her at:
lorinastephens.com
@LorinaStephens
https://www.facebook.com/LorinaStephen... - Nationality
- Canada
- Associated Place (for map)
- Canada
Members
Reviews
Lorina Stephens demonstrates mastery of distopian/strange fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy in this recent seventeen story anthology. Although many pieces are previously published, shorter unpublished works such as 'Protector', 'The Gift', and 'Zero Mile' are captivating looks at phenomena just on the edge of our current reality - while longer pieces such as the futuristic Jaguar (my favorite) really allow Stephens to shine by allowing room to more fully explore her characters.
Though the show more collection is split among three genres, all of the stories touch upon the common theme of the individual's struggle for self-determination against external oppressive influence. The theme plays out in the guise of yearning for motherhood in a eugenic society ('Have a Nice Day and Pass the Arsenic'), the abused ('Darkies'), an empath trapped in the service of society ('Protector'), mortality ('The Gift'), and thirteen other ways.
Despite being variations on a theme, all of the pieces are original, and the storytelling is far from repetitive. The author deftly shifts from the eerie to the mundane creating a satisfying reading experience, each story allowing the reader unique immersion in the psyche of a different character.
'And the Angels Sang' is highly recommended for anyone interested in speculative fiction, sci-fi, or fantasy, as Stephens' writing will carry the adherent of any one genre seamlessly into the others. Though the anthology was 25 years in the making, I certainly hope to see more from Stephens - and soon. show less
Though the show more collection is split among three genres, all of the stories touch upon the common theme of the individual's struggle for self-determination against external oppressive influence. The theme plays out in the guise of yearning for motherhood in a eugenic society ('Have a Nice Day and Pass the Arsenic'), the abused ('Darkies'), an empath trapped in the service of society ('Protector'), mortality ('The Gift'), and thirteen other ways.
Despite being variations on a theme, all of the pieces are original, and the storytelling is far from repetitive. The author deftly shifts from the eerie to the mundane creating a satisfying reading experience, each story allowing the reader unique immersion in the psyche of a different character.
'And the Angels Sang' is highly recommended for anyone interested in speculative fiction, sci-fi, or fantasy, as Stephens' writing will carry the adherent of any one genre seamlessly into the others. Though the anthology was 25 years in the making, I certainly hope to see more from Stephens - and soon. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Superior writing backed by meticulous research and authentic characterization elevates this cultural fantasy to candidate for Great Canadian Novel. Historical romance has ten year old girl thrust into life in 1830s Upper Canada (after sheltered aristocratic upbringing in England) and eventually into learning from First nation's shaman. Fantasy elements based on First Nation's culture as convincing and riveting as any based on usual Celtic/Anglo traditions; historical detail so finely show more rendered you can reach out to touch the settings; and authentic voice of 1830s heroine gives narration fine Jane Austin feel-- with maybe touch of Black Donnellys thrown in. Definitely in the best tradition of dark, slow Canadian fiction, book packs a powerful punch. Recommended. show less
Shadow Song is a well-written book but, for me, it didn't really work. I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction and for the very reason this book fell short for me. The book is based on an interesting, albeit somewhat sensational bit of Canadian history. That story, in itself, would have made for an absorbing read without all the melodrama of orphans, prophetic dreams and magical shamans. And there's where my problem with historical fiction rises. Real history is full of fascinating and, if show more you like, titillating, stories. Why the need to add the paranormal? But that's just me. If you like your historical fiction tinged with the supernatural, this one may be just what you're looking for. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The Rose Guardian -- Early reviewer for Library Thing
This is a journey of relationships and relativity as told though the eyes of an artist (and authored by an artist of both color and words). It touches on the relationship of the mother to her children and how her pain attacks them, leaving them marked for life also. It reflects upon the influence of childhood on the adults they become and it allows for a quiet escape—at least for one.
This story is layered and beautifully written. The show more author moves through the ribbons that tie mother to daughter both as a child and after she had grown. Their threads are unusually knotted and nearly strangle both. One breaks through (in part) because of developing a family business, the other breaks free through her art coupled with the courage to look at her mother’s truth.
The writing is absolutely beautiful. The author is especially adept at entering the child’s mind and explaining actions that adults would view as strange. The language, the erroneous definitions and the innocence all transport the reader back to the bewildering time before adulthood. The hurt of being punished because of misunderstandings comes back to the reader—the injustice people visit upon children in the name of “helping them grow-up”. The child’s realization of the end of her own childhood is spot on.
The author uses art to set the daughter on a course of independence. Clearly, the writer is also an artist herself. She understands the paints and the processes, but she also understands the difference between a pretty picture and self-expression. Her main character has reached a level of success by painting what others want to see (mirroring the way she has tried to live the life others expected of her). When she starts to paint “dreams”, she begins her journey to freedom.
It is a triumphant story about a lot of sad people. Triumph does not bring huge changes or any candy coating—it is a realistic and quiet “win”. show less
This is a journey of relationships and relativity as told though the eyes of an artist (and authored by an artist of both color and words). It touches on the relationship of the mother to her children and how her pain attacks them, leaving them marked for life also. It reflects upon the influence of childhood on the adults they become and it allows for a quiet escape—at least for one.
This story is layered and beautifully written. The show more author moves through the ribbons that tie mother to daughter both as a child and after she had grown. Their threads are unusually knotted and nearly strangle both. One breaks through (in part) because of developing a family business, the other breaks free through her art coupled with the courage to look at her mother’s truth.
The writing is absolutely beautiful. The author is especially adept at entering the child’s mind and explaining actions that adults would view as strange. The language, the erroneous definitions and the innocence all transport the reader back to the bewildering time before adulthood. The hurt of being punished because of misunderstandings comes back to the reader—the injustice people visit upon children in the name of “helping them grow-up”. The child’s realization of the end of her own childhood is spot on.
The author uses art to set the daughter on a course of independence. Clearly, the writer is also an artist herself. She understands the paints and the processes, but she also understands the difference between a pretty picture and self-expression. Her main character has reached a level of success by painting what others want to see (mirroring the way she has tried to live the life others expected of her). When she starts to paint “dreams”, she begins her journey to freedom.
It is a triumphant story about a lot of sad people. Triumph does not bring huge changes or any candy coating—it is a realistic and quiet “win”. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 10
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 94
- Popularity
- #199,201
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 40
- ISBNs
- 13
