The Burning Day and Other Strange Stories
by Charles Payseur
The secrets of lives not shared, not taken, not known, all can be found in the eclectic fiction of author Charles Payseur.
A sentient star deals with the trauma of their binary partner having collapsed into a black hole, and gets a little inspiration from the intrepid humans that happen by; a lumberjack must weigh his own safety and comfort against the lives of the dryads whose bodies and blood could buy him the life he desires; a young man deals with the loss of his fathers in a future where cold has claimed much of the globe; on a special holiday, people gather to burn their burdens from the previous year, unknowing if they’ll return again with the next day; and on a ship maintained by cats and powered by ectoplasmic energies, the Emperor of All Things has died, and a young man is given a very unique opportunity.
Paperback, 204 pages
Cover design by Inskspiral
"This is a sure thing for fans of progressive science fiction and fantasy." - Publishers Weekly
"These are fascinating stories united by the urgency of quests--for the perfect reality, for love and connection, for thrills that give life meaning, and for second chances. Elusive goals all, but one thing's for sure: don't let this collection elude you." - Sean Eads, author of Lord Byron's Prophecy and The Survivors
"Tucked inside each otherwordly landscape, or fantastical character in Payseur's collection, there is a deeply human and relatable heart. These gorgeous stories of loss, longing, desire, and hope reflect the world as it is, and as it could be, through a speculative lens." - A.C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling and The Kissing Girl Booth and Other Stories