Equanimity: a heath by the shore. Grasses wave in gentle winds. Terns fly over. Echinaeca cone flowers grow among heather and lavender. Worn smooth seashells ground into fine sand line the shores. What comes ashore now are beautiful whole shells of giant snails. Beyond the reef, seas crash hard against the rocks. Rainbow fish weave in and out of bright coral.
Visitors come beach-combing and return home with shells and polished stones. Equanimity admits gentle and placid souls. The Guardians of Equanimity hold a Sounding Seashell to the forehead of each guest. Only those with relaxed minds may enter, observe, and join the works of these gentle artists, walkers, and beachcombers. They create works upon the shore unconcerned with permanence or preservation.
Why it springs to mind: You'll never look at an ice cube the same way again. Where read: In the 2014 Hugo award-winning Lightspeed Magazine , August. Length: 5,194 words Summary: A woman has an ice cube for a soul. Memorable: How the story invites us to think about the shape of our soul, how it (or our perception of it) influences us and how it changes. What ordinary every day object would your soul be? A silver spoon, a beech stick? A great party conversation starter, this. Quote: “All life is an experiment." Notable: The protagonist Rina is an avid reader (always a good choice). Pairs well with: T.S. Elliot, Edna St. Vincent Millay Origin: The story was written in 24 hours based on a writing prompt. (See Author Spotlight: Ken Liu ) About the author: Ken Liu’s debut novel, The Grace of Kings , the first in a fantasy series The Dandelion Dynasty, is due out from Saga Press ( a new Simon & Schuster imprint ) in 2015.
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