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Chloe N Clark's Patterns of Orbit spans genres, perspectives, and styles to articulate contemporary uncertainties in a rapidly changing world. Steadily gazing into and across the uncanny valley, Clark examines those jarring or subtle shifts in familiar stories, writing light into dark, and offering slivers of hope despite the longest of odds. Successfully navigating a potent concoction of science fiction, folktale, and horror this collection of literary, character driven stories combines the accumulated forces and darker natures of those genre elements, unleashing the terrors of alien fungi, forest demons, and interplanetary specters upon her characters. However, while these characters, capable and intelligent, face off against their prescribed monsters, it is their existential misgivings on the state of their worlds or conditions that will leave an indelible mark on the reader. An impressive entry in the literary/genre hybrid canon, this collection offers a satisfying read to the connoisseurs of both genre and literary fiction. So, be bold. Take a swim through the anti-gravity. You are sure to be captured by Patterns of Orbit.
"Chloe Clark's stories are compact marvels of miniaturized mystery, something like what I imagine you might get if you stranded Steven Millhauser in interstellar space. Patterns of Orbit is a smart, moving collection, one that might permanently expand what you imagine possible, leaving you searching out fresh wonder everywhere you go." —Matt Bell, author of Appleseed
"Chloe Clark is one of my favorite writers. Somehow she manages, in story after story, to capture—with perfect clarity and precision—the mystery and wonder and heartbreak of existence. And really, that's all I ever want." —Ben Loory, author of Tales of Falling and Flying
"From interstellar travel to cities of the dead, Clark masterfully constructs constellations of memory, hope, and wonder. These genredefying stories will make you look up at the sky and deep into your soul." —Sequoia Nagamatsu, National Bestselling author of How High We Go in the Dark
“This is a landmark collection. I would recommend it to anyone who likes short fiction, regardless of genre.” —Supernatural Tales, (Jan. 18, 2023)
“In Patterns of Orbit: Stories Chloe N Clark “accomplishes in a few pages what others can’t pull off in a hundred.” —TNBBC’s The Next Best Book Blog (Feb. 5, 2023)
“Simply transcendent across all galaxies, Patterns of Orbit is a must-read for fans of Ted Chiang.” —Allison Cho, Booklist (March/April 2023)
“Patterns of Orbit gathers well-crafted stories that move through the darkness of space,
delivering interstellar insights about searching for lost loved ones. They are
about what’s uncanny in the universe and about humanity’s unknowability, isolation,
and existence.” —Elaine
Chiew, Foreword Reviews (March/April 2023)
Contents
There is the World Within this Window 1
A Sense of Taste 5
Even the Night Sky Can Learn to be a Fist 13
The Waves Hear Every Promise You Make 15
The Day Lasts Longer the Further Away You Are 25
A Place You Know 27
This Skin You Call Your Own 31
Swingman 35
Buoyancy 39
Who Walks Beside You 41
Out in the Dark 51
Simultaneity 63
Wearing the Body 65
Long in the Tooth 79
Even the Veins of Leaves 81
Run the Line 93
Accidental Girls 97
Underwater Even Bells Sound Like Bodies 111
Static 113
Red as the Night Sky Burning 135
Supernova 137
Jumpers 139
Shapeless 149
The Ocean is Not Empty 157
We Are Still 165
So Far The Distance 167