The Shape of the Fire is a bold, expansive collection of twenty-three stories that span centuries, star systems, and genres across the Cassidyverse. From high-stakes heists to quiet rebellions, from cosmic comedy to intimate explorations of love and loss, this anthology burns with imagination, wit, and heart.
Readers familiar with Into the Black, The Heart of Space, and the Cassidy Chronicles will find familiar faces-Kendra Cassidy in all her incarnations, Kalili and Faith stirring up immortal mischief, Dakota Chase trying to keep her heists from falling apart-but every story is crafted to stand on its own. Newcomers can enter here and discover the shape of a universe that refuses to be contained by a single genre.
Inside, you'll find:
- Science fiction with teeth: explorations of AI identity, surveillance states, war, and resilience in the face of authoritarian power.
- Fantasy with bite: dragon shifters, djinn, angels, demons, and the metaphysical chaos they leave in their wake.
- Hopepunk and heart: stories where kindness is rebellion, found family matters, and survival is as radical as revolution.
- Romance and misadventure: queer identity, messy love, cosmic seductions, and zero-gravity date nights gone hilariously wrong.
The tones range from sharp satire to lyrical myth, from spicy and playful to politically devastating. Each story carries content notes for readers who want them, and every tale exists to deepen characters, challenge assumptions, and stretch the boundaries of the Cassidyverse without breaking them.
Whether it's Sherlock Holmes grappling with supernatural resurrection, a demon and a Thirteen negotiating the rules of existence, or Kendra Cassidy herself juggling politics, pranks, and passion, these stories ignite sparks that linger long after the last page.
For fans of Ursula K. Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, and Terry Pratchett, The Shape of the Fire offers a kaleidoscopic tour through science fiction, fantasy, and everything between-a collection that proves once again that the Cassidyverse is more than a universe. It's a promise: come for the starships, stay for the soul.
