We here at the Butterflies & Aliens Library love a good anthology, and some of my absolute favourites in recent years have come from Laksa Media, based out of Calgary, Alberta. Not only have the stories been remarkable, and wrapped in gorgeous covers, but this young small press lives its mission of changing the world through its publishing program, not only by donating a portion of its revenue to social causes, but raising awareness through the themes and content of their anthologies.

I first discovered Laksa Media at the When Words Collide festival in Calgary in 2016, at the launch of their first book, Strangers Among Us: Tales of the Underdogs and Outcasts, edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law.

This beautiful book includes 19 original science fiction and fantasy stories on the theme of mental health and mental illness, and how “our minds’ quirks and the diverse societies and cultures we live in can set us apart…” (from the back cover blurb of the book). But not only do the stories explore this theme, the book also includes an appendix of mental health resources and information, and a portion of the net revenue from the book was donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

I have been a fan ever since.

Laksa Media followed up this first volume with The Sum of Us: Tales of the Bonded and Bound in 2017, again edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law. I was especially struck by this volume’s theme of celebrating caregivers, the often unnoticed unsung heroes and quiet ‘supporting characters’ in our lives.

In this volume we find 23 science fiction and fantasy tales that explore relationships of caring and giving, and their complexities. As soon as I started reading the first story – “The Dunschemin Retirement Home for Repentant Supervillains” by Ian Creasey – I was hooked.

And like Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us includes an appendix of mental health and caregiver resources and resulted in another donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

2017 also saw the release of Where the Stars Rise, an anthology of Asian science fiction and fantasy, edited by Lucas K. Law and Derwin Mak. But in keeping with the larger social consciousness of Laksa Media, the 23 stories in this collection delve deeper than simply being “Asian-themed” and rather use the theme as a doorway to explore questions of identity and finding oneself.

As a Canadian of Chinese heritage, and identifying as a caregiver as a fairly core piece of my identity, I was particularly captivated by these two volumes, but there is so much here for all readers.

And as its extension of theme, Where the Stars Rise includes resources on mental health and anti-discrimination, as well as a donation to the Kids Help Phone.

Laksa Media’s fourth book is Shades Within Us: Tales of Migrations and Fractured Borders, edited by Susan Forest and Lucas K. Law and published in 2018.

The back cover for this book reads “Who are the shades within us? We are called drifters, nomads. We are expatriates, evacuees, and pilgrims. We are colonists, aliens, explorers; strangers, visitors—intruders, conquerors—exiles, asylum seekers, and… outsiders.” As topical now as when it was released, Shades Within Us again uses its selection of science fiction and fantasy to explore important social and political ideas. And it again includes resources on mental health and anti-discrimination, with its donated share of net revenue going to the Mood Disorders Association and the Alex Community Food Centre.

So what’s next for Laksa Media?

We here at the Butterflies & Aliens Library are very excited that, after a couple years hiatus, Laksa Media will be releasing their next anthology, Seasons Between Us: Tales of Identities and Memories, this summer, August 8, 2021.

We’re also super excited that just last week Laksa Media successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign, in partnership with the European Astrobiology Institute, for Life Beyond Us, an anthology of science fiction stories paired with science essays from (at least) 52 science fiction authors and scientists, with a scheduled release date of September 2022.

Can’t wait!

Happy Reading and Happy Exploring!

– Winston