Heaven's Touch and Other Science Fiction Dreams

by Jason Sanford

A monk praying over the cremation of a dead friend, who thanks to nano-technology might still live. A time angel created by humanity to preserve the memories of people from long ago. An astronaut betrayed by her best friend and stranded on a comet hurtling toward the sun. These are only three of the stories in Heaven’s Touch and Other Science Fiction Dreams, the second short story collection by Nebula Award nominated author Jason Sanford. The nine stories in this collection span space and time as they explore the wonders and terrors and delights of Sanford’s unique fictional vision of our universe.

Genres: Speculative Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2019

About the author

Jason Sanford is three-time finalist for the Nebula Award and an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Born and raised in the American South, he currently lives in the Midwestern U.S. His life's adventures include work as an archaeologist and as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Jason's first novel Plague Birds will be released by Apex Books in September 2021. He has published dozens of short stories in Asimov's Science Fiction, Interzone, Analog: Science Fiction and Fact, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Fireside Magazine, and other places. Books containing his stories include multiple "year's best" story collections and The New Voices of Science Fiction.

Jason’s awards and honors include being a finalist for the Nebula Awards for Best Novella, Best Novelette and Best Short Story. He has also won two Interzone Readers' Polls for best story of the year and been a co-winner of a third Poll. Jason's other honors include receiving a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, being nominated for the BSFA Award, and being longlisted for the British Fantasy Award. His stories have been named to multiple Locus Recommended Reading Lists along with being translated into a number of languages including Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Italian and Czech.

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are all science fiction but on the weird side which I loved. Favorite stories were Paprika, about time angel who saves people's souls, Toppers, about time travel and a strange mist in NYC, and Death Flowers, about a machine which honors dead people. Great read

[Tom Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories, repeatedly surprised by the unusual and unique worlds that Sanford builds for each story. The characters are interesting, the settings incredible, and the stories solid. Nanotechnology, gene tech, artificial intelligence (with issues) and strange cultures are all represented here, but the stories are about people and their choices. Worth picking up.

[Heather Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an amazing collection of short stories. There was not one story that I did not like. They were all great. Fantastical and unique and emotional and full of humanity….the worlds & characters that Jason Sanford created were creative and special. I would read a full novel of each of these stories! One story especially touched me-“Paprika”-this one made me cry & smile-so beautiful. Absolutely a top sci-fi/fantasy collection of short stories and a top read of the year!!!!!!!!!

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the stories in this collection seem pretty straightforward, as described in the summary blurb, Sanford has a knack for a disturbing viewpoint. This draws on the reader in a way that is often used as the definition of successful fiction, in engaging the mind in addition to providing entertainment.

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

extraordinary!!!!

[Shell S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

rtf