This collection of Nordic speculative fiction, like a lot of short story collections for me, has more misses than hits. Unfortunately, only one story in particular stuck out to me, but I do think that it’s worth picking up if you want to dip your toes into seeing what Nordic speculative fiction can look like. I didn’t know anything going in and I was surprised at the variety of ideas in the book, from hauntings and historical traumas to possessions and alien life.

The standout story for me was Tone Almhjell’s tale about birds, transformation, and a mother-daughter relationship. It was sweet and poignant in turn and the ending felt like the story had come full circle.

Overall, Nordic Visions is for people who like their fiction weirder and more ambitious than me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review has been scheduled to be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog on September 10, 2023.

Northward to the future...

A mixed bag, as are all anthologies, of speculative and imaginative fiction from the Nordic countries. No reflection on any of the stories, just that each reader will engage differently with each story.
Some revolve around tried-and-tested tropes, while others opt for a more left-field approach. Interestingly, the Finns seem to have the edge imagination-wise, including a neat reversed perspective on the 'Kalevala'.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.