From The Bookshelves: Strange Dogs by James S.A. Corey

I love science fiction. And The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey is epic. I’ve read every book. Listened to every audio book version. Watched every episode of the TV series. I’m a fan.

So it’s with genuine excitement that I recommend to you one of the short stories from The Expanse series: Strange Dogs. You can find it in the collection of Expanse stories called Memory’s Legion.

The focus of the story is two siblings. Children. The elder traveled with her family across space to settle on a new planet. Her younger brother was born on this new world.

I won’t tell you what comes of these siblings. It’s a short story, after all. If I say much more, it will be nothing but spoilers.

I will tell you that author James S.A. Corey (actually a pseudonym for writing pair Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) has said that Strange Dogs is “an immigrant story”:

“They’ve come to a new place, and their parents are still living in the old country that exists in their minds. The children’s books are all about birds [the siblings] have never seen and rules they’ve never lived by. Their home–their real home–is the place they’re growing up.”

I can’t read you more of the author’s commentary because, well, spoilers. But, trust me, it’s super moving.

So, if you’re up for a little science fiction this Saturday night, try it out. Then read the author’s send up of the piece. A guaranteed good time that will have you looking at immigration in a new way.

-KitJ