Soul Jar

Soul Jar

Thirty-One Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors


Foreword by Nicola Griffith, author of Hild and Spear.

Too often, science fiction and fantasy stories erase—or cure—characters with disabilities. Soul Jar, edited by author and bookstore owner Annie Carl, features thirty-one stories by disabled authors, imagining such wonders as a shapeshifter on a first date, skin that sprouts orchid buds, and a cereal-box demon. An insulin pump diverts an undead mob. An autistic teen sets out to discover the local cranberry bog’s sinister secret. A pizza delivery on Mars goes wrong. This thrillingly peculiar collection sparkles with humor, heart, and insight, all within the context of disability representation.

Release Date: 10/17/23

Recognitions:  Long-listed for the 2023 Bram Stoker’s Award; 2024 Top 10 Reads from Booklist


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Praise

“Raven Oak’s grounded sci-fi tale, “Weightless,” in which a large woman with a knee replacement takes charge after a routine space flight goes awry, explores generosity and community in the wake of disaster…Fans of space opera, fairy tales, and postapocalyptic stories will revel in the reinvention of beloved tropes and the wealth of eye-opening creativity—and disabled readers will be especially moved.”
-- Publishers Weekly
“A top 10 2024 read...These stories center queer people, people of color, and disabled people, presenting unique speculative situations like a zombie-infested world, a changeling girl, and alien species in the workplace.”
-- Booklist

Publisher: Forest Avenue Press

Editor: Annie Carl

My story, “Weightless,” which was originally published in The Great Beyond anthology, was reprinted for Soul Jar.