Symbol of a Nation, edited by Fred Patten, to launch at Anthrocon 2017.
by Patch O'Furr
Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer. 
Here’s the first original short story anthology from Goal Publications, Symbol of a Nation, edited by Fred Patten. It will be released at Anthrocon 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania over the June 29-July 3 five-day weekend. Find Goal Publications there at F19 in the dealer’s room!
Symbol of a Nation is an all-original anthology of 11 short stories and novelettes featuring the anthropomorphized official animal (or bird) symbols of nations. (The call for submissions said what counts.) This is designed to appeal to both s-f & fantasy fans, and fans of political science.
Some of them include: Belgium – lion. Namibia – oryx. Chile – Andean condor. Romania – lynx. Denmark – mute swan. Singapore – lion. Italy – wolf. Spain – bull. Malaysia – tiger. U.S.A. – bald eagle. Mauritius – dodo (extinct). Vietnam – water buffalo.
From a famous extinct animal bioengineered to new life, to animal/bird astronauts, to animals adapted to their nation’s environments, to a 19-century heraldic animal struggling to remain relevant in today’s world, these are stories that will make you think about the national animal symbols that we and some of our neighbors have adopted.
Contents
- Didus ineptus Linnaeus, by Roz Gibson
- A Poor Uncle’s Apprentice, by BanWynn Oakshadow
- Remembering the Forgotten, by H. J. Pang
- The Moon Like an Unhatched Egg, by Mary E. Lowd
- Crossroads the Namib, by Jako Malan
- Sdani White Wings, by Jennifer Sowle
- The Scent of Lantana, by Frances Pauli
- Huitaca, by Televassi
- To the Kingdom They Come, by H. J. Pang
- Bread and Butter, by Allison Thai
- The Lion of the Low Countries, by Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden
The book can be pre-ordered now from Goal Publications. It will be for sale at the Goal booth at Anthrocon, and on the Goal online catalogue after the convention. Price: $17.50. vii + 241 pages. Print ISBN 978-0-99791-253-1, Digital ISBN 978-0-99791-254-8. Wraparound cover by Jenn ‘Pac’ Rodriguez.
The digital copy will be available sometime after the convention.