National Network for Equitable Library Service

Past, present or future--or somewhere beyond the reach of time... We grow older each day from the moment of birth to the moment of death. Though some elements of our identities may persist, they are not static. None of us is the same person today that we were yesterday or will be tomorrow. Some of us leap into a hopeful future, some cling to our former selves, some wander obliviously through the minefields and poppies of change. For all that is gained, something is lost. Moments, mementos, relationships are discovered or rediscovered, left behind or let go. Things remembered, things forgotten. Events. Milestones. Identities. Journey with twenty-three speculative fiction authors through the seasons of life to capture the memories and examine the power of self-identity as they encounter the undiscovered country of their own journeys. These are hopeful stories. A young girl learning her first lesson of time and space from an alien. A young man offering his life to correct a mistake with a healer. A young woman trying to escape the grip of her dead mother. A middle-aged father dealing with parenthood challenges in a post-apocalyptic world. An aged doctor looking to be useful again after an AI invasion. And many more. In addition to dealing with identities, memories, growing older/aging, and personal relationships, the book also deals with mental health and mental illness. Appendixes include Mental Health Resources, Anti-Discrimination Resources, and Caregiving and Caregivers Resources.