Book Review: A Stitch Between Worlds by Frasier Armitage

Genre(s): Science Fiction / Short Story Collection

Book Synopsis:

“The differences between worlds — they’re like two tapestries, one made of silk and the other of wool. But this door is a needle that sends me between them, and I’m what stitches them together.”

A future where memory is currency; a land of dinosaurs seeking the refuge of outer space; a city where events in the present can change the past; a family of colonists escaping grief on a distant planet; a dragon breathing fire on the bourgeoisie; an astronaut craving the power of flight.

Across the many Earths, change is the only constant. Every new tomorrow is a new beginning, whether you’re a superhero trying to hide your power from your boss, or an alien invasion has made you the richest person in the universe. Collected in this short story omnibus from Frasier Armitage are a catalogue of beginnings that stretch beyond the seams of our world. Step through a door to this unique multiverse of science fiction and fantasy in the first volume of short stories from the acclaimed author of New Yesterday and Time’s Ellipse, and travel to places that are only bound together by A Stitch Between Worlds.

Review:

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The stories featured in this collection range from near-future sci-fi to cyberpunk to those firmly rooted in the distant past. Each features a unique twist on a classic science fiction theme, making them both familiar and new at the same time.

There were a few really stand-out stories for me. The first was Rememory, a cyberpunk-themed story where a person’s memories are currency. It was an interesting idea, if a little disturbing to think about. How much of your life are you willing to spend on buying a home? Groceries? Luxury items? And what happens when you run out of memories to spend?

Another I really enjoyed was Skybound, for the simple reason that it’s a prequel to the author’s novel Time’s Ellipse, which I read earlier this year and loved.

But I think the story that will stick with me the longest is The Caretaker. Out of all the stories in this collection, that one held the most emotional impact for me. It’s hard to summarize that one without giving anything away, so I’ll just say this: You should read it.

The final story in the collection tied the rest together in a surprising way. Until that point, every story felt separate and completely distinct from everything else. That the author pulled them all together during the last few pages was very satisfying.

A Stitch Between Worlds was a fantastic read.

A Stitch Between Worlds will release November 15, 2024.

Author website: frasierarmitage.com