The Stars Must Wait

Carmelo Rafalà writes stories that are profound, surprising, and beautifully realised. He imagines fantastic worlds and protagonists of immense complexity, subtlety and depth. His stories do not give easy answers, but stimulate and absorb the reader. In this collection of science fiction and fantasy stories you will find: ¿A zealous convert, a woman of rumour and myth, and a dangerous pilgrimage across pirate filled seas. ¿A warrior travels to a far land to mourn and put his violent past behind him, but strange gods of an even stranger people intrude. ¿Abandoned in the Ozarks, sisters face a malevolent presence reaching out from the darkness. ¿Two friends struggle with their strained relationship, but reconciliation may literally require other realities. These are stories of identity and belonging, and our deep-seated desire to control our own narratives. Discover unique and talented author. Includes the Science Fiction and Fantasy South Africa's 2024 Nova award winning title story, a tribute to Yevgeny Zamyatin. "Full of troubled characters and deftly layered worlds, Rafala's stories will always leave you wanting more." -Shona Kinsella, author of The Flame and the Flood