Stepping Sideways (ed by Emily Larkin & Lynne Stringer, Rhiza Edge)

An Irish water sprite takes on human form with dire consequences, young people without professional prospects are farmed out to sadistic circuses, and a clockwork pneumatic contraption becomes sentient. These are some of the scenarios featured in Stepping Sideways: Worlds of steampunk and dystopia, a new YA short story anthology edited by Emily Larkin and Lynne Stringer. Including emerging and established authors, the collection features alternate realities of hardship and despair under corrupt authority. Though short, the stories are immersive and catapult the reader into strange, albeit familiar, worlds. However, the stories are far from bleak, as whimsical clockwork devices, mechanical iron horses, steam-powered airships, gear-powered metallic fairies and spring-loaded trams spark the imagination. Woven throughout as a connective tissue in the anthology are overarching themes of ecological or apocalyptic disaster, with pollution featuring widely. Similarities between stories end here, however, with assorted tales of varying styles, genres, eras and fantasy worlds leaving a disjointed feeling. While atmospheric, some stories read like the first chapters of longer novels, ending abruptly and feeling incomplete. A stellar standout is ‘The Spark’ by Rachel Denham-White, which, with a clear voice and intriguing premise, gives the collection a strong finish. Overall, Stepping Sideways is a fun and original anthology, reimagining steampunk dystopia in new ways that will appeal to a younger YA readership aged 12+ or fans of Cassandra Clare and Scott Westerfeld.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Marissa Kyriakopoulos is a bookseller and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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