Story Details
Categories Science Fiction Aliens Diverse
Overworked and longing for the comforts of home and her partner, Debby faces an unexpected challenge on planet Raindos. Here, she must confront her past and navigate complex interactions with the local inhabitants, including a former lover now making his living among members of a violent criminal gang. It’s all in a day’s work for a librarian from Central Stacks.
Author Details
R.J.K. LEE has lived in Japan since 2005, though originally from Oregon, USA. Based in Tochigi, he plays games with his daughters, bicycles through sunshine and typhoon, and feasts on adobo with his long-term partner. He writes stories and poems on interminable train rides, while juggling jobs as teacher, proofreader, and voice narrator. His work has appeared in DreamForge, Triangulation, the Aurealis-nominated Clamour and Mischief anthology, and more. Find him at www.rjklee.com or https://linktr.ee/rjklee. Story Notes for "The Healing Moment Assigned by HR Central Stacks" This story envisions a future in which librarian services are provided to everyone throughout the universe. It also values resolving problems through communication, rather than violence, as seen through the character's reaction to the group she meets and who impedes her primary goals. However, the story also places value on the individual life needs of the protagonist, despite the HR admin who believes their own vision of "healing" (making up with a male ex) is more important than the protagonist's own life values. As for how the author came up with the tale…? Lee says, "Mashed up a bunch of elements as usual. Observations of bad managers (mostly in Japan). Societal obsessions with healing and wellness which often becomes this pushy, unhealthy creature. Long-distance relationships. Others who naively lectured me about relationships. Experience with LGBQT+ relationships. And, of course a healthy dose of roleplaying (D&D and others), far future post-scarcity society (ala Banks’ The Culture), and my work as an assistant librarian at the OSU stacks and at the Eugene Public Library (which was all pretty positive). Oh, and I love shape changers, and have used them in several of my stories, so a no-brainer to depict that aspect of Debby’s job."
The Healing Moment Assigned by HR Central Stacks, by R.J.K. Lee
Author Details
R.J.K. LEE has lived in Japan since 2005, though originally from Oregon, USA. Based in Tochigi, he plays games with his daughters, bicycles through sunshine and typhoon, and feasts on adobo with his long-term partner. He writes stories and poems on interminable train rides, while juggling jobs as teacher, proofreader, and voice narrator. His work has appeared in DreamForge, Triangulation, the Aurealis-nominated Clamour and Mischief anthology, and more. Find him at www.rjklee.com or https://linktr.ee/rjklee. Story Notes for "The Healing Moment Assigned by HR Central Stacks" This story envisions a future in which librarian services are provided to everyone throughout the universe. It also values resolving problems through communication, rather than violence, as seen through the character's reaction to the group she meets and who impedes her primary goals. However, the story also places value on the individual life needs of the protagonist, despite the HR admin who believes their own vision of "healing" (making up with a male ex) is more important than the protagonist's own life values. As for how the author came up with the tale…? Lee says, "Mashed up a bunch of elements as usual. Observations of bad managers (mostly in Japan). Societal obsessions with healing and wellness which often becomes this pushy, unhealthy creature. Long-distance relationships. Others who naively lectured me about relationships. Experience with LGBQT+ relationships. And, of course a healthy dose of roleplaying (D&D and others), far future post-scarcity society (ala Banks’ The Culture), and my work as an assistant librarian at the OSU stacks and at the Eugene Public Library (which was all pretty positive). Oh, and I love shape changers, and have used them in several of my stories, so a no-brainer to depict that aspect of Debby’s job."
