Tesseracts 11

Photo: Nicole Votta

The Bakka Phoenix bookstore in Toronto was packed with sci-fi fans eagerly awaiting the launch of Tesseracts 11 on Saturday. The anthology highlights a rich diversity of voices, with stories ranging from dystopian futures and transferred memories, to teenage sex and rock and roll.

Contributors from across Ontario and Quebec were on hand to give readings and sign copies of the books. Madeline Ashby described herself as a ‘closet American’ and started the readings off with a selection from her story ‘In Which Joe and Laurie Save Rock and Roll’. Claude Lalumière, David Nickle, Kim Goldberg, Kate Reidel rounded out the panel.

The authors chatted with the fans and answered questions during the signing.

Claude Lalumière, Montreal-based author of ‘The Object of Worship’ and book reviewer for the Montreal Gazette, said the launch party couldn’t have gone better.

“It was fun,” Lalumière said. “It had a good mood, and it felt like a celebration, which is always nice.”

During the readings, several of the authors remarked that stumbling across a copy of Tesseracts was a pivotal moment for them. Seeing a collection of purely Canadian work gave them the impetus to start writing.

“It serves a specific niche because it’s the only anthology release of Canadian short fiction,” Lalumière said. “In the speculative world it highlights the Canadian voice, which is very different from any other national voice.”

Lalumière thinks Tesseracts 11 brings a new perspective to the venerable series. New authors, varied themes and styles create a dynamic feel to the book.

“I’ve only read two or three, and so far this is my favorite,” he said. “It’s really all over the map. It does feel a bit fresher and younger maybe than some of the previous ones.”

Tessearacts 12 is already being edited. Lalumière has the editorial reins this time, and he says fans of speculative fiction can expect surprises from his edition. He plans to shake up the formula even more.

“I think it’s probably going to be very different from anything we’ve seen so far,” he said. “I have very quirky tastes, and I think that’s going to show up. I like to push the envelope.”