Off/Kilter: 5 Weird-Lit Books to Read this Winter

The Future by Catherine Leroux,

translated by Susan Ouriou (Biblioasis)

Shortlisted for Canada Reads, Catherine Leroux’s The Future is a dystopian literary novel about a complex, community-based future society that’s both feral and progressive. An alternate history of Detroit, in which the city never surrendered to the US, where everyone speaks French, where strange and magical things occur. Amid crumbling neighbourhoods and a deteriorating economy, there is optimism for the future in which community is celebrated and cooperation reigns. The Future speaks to our uncertain times—it’s a profound and entertaining story brimming with hope. 

Find a copy of The Future here on All Lit Up.

There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and

There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow

(Playwrights Canada Press)

For something a bit shorter and dialogue-driven, try Caleigh Crow’s chamber drama There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow is a riveting supernatural commentary on the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which our society gaslights Indigenous women and marginalized people. In it, grocery-store clerk Beth reaches her limit of soul-squashing encounters that drive her to some bold workplace antics, and subsequently her unemployment. Just as she starts to think she’s to blame for systemic limits, a talking Crow swoops in to help reconnect Beth with her true power. Righteous vengeance against capitalism but uplifting!

Find a copy of There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow here on All Lit Up.

Grandview Drive by Tim Blackett (Nightwood Editions)

Tim Blackett’s debut story collection made our list for its wonderfully weird construction: each story stands alone, but their collective impact is heightened by the subtle, sometimes secret, connections they share with one another. The result is a rich, layered collection of engaging narratives, 16 to be exact, about the strange and unexpected intersections of loneliness and connection. From a reclusive old writer who starts to believe he’s becoming his own characters, to a college student who looks to his girlfriend’s diary for pointers on how he should act, Blackett’s fully-realized characters long for meaningful connections as they struggle to find them. This collection is a gem from a talent to watch.

Find a copy of Grandview Drive here on All Lit Up.

A Dream Wants Waking by Lydia Kwa (Wolsak & Wynn)

For fans of silkpunk, Lydia Kwa’s latest novel is an existential adventure set in a future dystopia. In the year 2219, in one of the oldest cities in China, a half-human, half-fox spirit named Yinhe navigates a city overseen by an erratic AI. When Yinhe is summoned to do dangerous work in the Dream Zone, she discovers something that might bring about great change in the city, stave off an ancient enemy, and reunite her with a long-lost soulmate. Chinese myth and speculative storytelling combine in Lydia Kwa’s novel that asks important questions of sentience, personhood, and the pursuit of freedom and love.

Find a copy of A Dream Wants Waking here on All Lit Up.

The Red Hairband by Catherine Greene (Guernica Editions)

A skillful blend of literary sci-fi and socio-political commentary, this debut novel is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of post-apocalyptic reality and blind faith. Evie, committed to prioritizing her community over all else, faces a dilemma when sent as a spy to a less restrictive society. Her choice between loyalty and freedom sets off a chain of events leading to her becoming a symbol of revolution. Bertram discovers a game-changing secret, forcing him to decide between revealing the truth and preserving his society’s delicate peace. Meanwhile, time-traveling historians try to prevent an apocalypse by connecting with Laura, a woman who’s convinced her newborn baby speaks to her. A philosophical, engaging story for literary sci-fi readers.

Find a copy of The Red Hairband here on All Lit Up.