Growing Pains
Cover art by Tomislav Tikulin.
A collection of nine stories from one of the rising stars of British genre fiction; stories that slip effortlessly between science fiction and dark, humanesque fantasy, examining the gaps between reality and the spaces that hide within us all. Includes the BSFA Award-shortlisted “The Assistant”, and two stories wholly original to this volume.
“The stories of Ian Whates manifest a vivid particularity of place and a clarity of suspenseful plotting, along with an endearing ability to conjure up vivid characters both noble and nasty. His beautifully malleable tone ranges from arch and witty to dead serious. Put all these fine talents together, and you end up with state-of-the art fantastical fiction, guaranteed to entertain and enlighten, shock and surprise!” – Paul Di Filippo, author of A Princess of the Linear Jungle
“These stories, unexpected yet unnervingly apt, come as a masterfully easy read that can lull or shock, please and dismay, and – at least once – may quietly break your heart.” – Tanith Lee
“Intelligent, ingenious, often funny, and told with an easy and down to earth style.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky
““The Assistant” is a brilliantly inventive saga of techno-enhanced cleaners...” – SFX, April 2009
“Standouts include Ian Whates’ “Shop Talk”, in which a young woman deals with xenophobia...” – Publishers Weekly, May 2009
“And perhaps the cleverest story in the book, “Shop Talk” by Ian Whates... van Vogt’s “The Weapon Shops of Isher” for the sensibilities of the modern day.” – Analog, October 2009
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Ian Whates
Ian Whates is a British speculative fiction author and editor. In 2006 he launched the independent publishing house NewCon press. He lives with his partner Helen in Cambridgeshire.
As of 2009 Whates is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA). He has had short fiction published in Nature, Hub and TQR. In 2007 his short story The Gift of Joy was nominated for the British Science Fiction Award.
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