Cécile Cristofari's debut collection, Elephants in Bloom, contains delightful and thought-provoking speculative short stories that range from ethereal to whimsical, tinged with a slight melancholy regarding the future of climate change and authoritarian politics. The stories, while originally written in English, center Francophone characters and settings. The title story reflects a powerful and lyrical disgust with authority reminiscent of Philip Pullman. Cristofari's work echoes and also stands out among some of the strongest speculative writers I've read, including Catherynne Valente, Rachel Swirsky, and N.K. Jemisin. I look forward to reading more of her stories and books and highly recommend her for fans of the aforementioned writers or speculative fiction in general. ( )

An author I've not previously encountered; her background has similarities with my own. Cristofari is from a mixed Moroccan/French family, and has lived in France and Morocco before moving to Canada. Very beautiful writing on themes of ecology, loss and the immigrant experience; it reminded me of some of Ardath Mayhar's writing. Recommended.

This collection aptly begins with a story where a window in a busy Quebec city apartment has been transformed into a portal. Each time it's opened, it offers the way into a completely different landscape. What are the responsibilities of being a steward for this gateway people, desperate for a change, want to use even when there's no ready way to get back?
Like the window, the stories that follow move the reader through experiences of changing landscapes and lifestyles, most affected by some form of global warming, catastrophic war, world pandemic, or ecological disaster . . . descriptions of radical changes that foster a way of life and a world that offer no seeming means for recovery, no return to the ways of being and living again in a world whose natural splendor and beauty can be taken for granted. Allow yourself time to read each work carefully, following each world as it's presented, reasons that played into its creation, and then how those now trying to build a life in it struggle to come through to something new. At the end of each piece, Cristofari offers a brief summary or what 'seeded' her work on the story. ( )

Collection of short stories with fantastical elements. They varied quite a bit in terms of plot & setting (both time & place). However, I would say that they tended to have a haunting feeling & focused on exploring humanity. Each tale had a note from the author at the end, & I appreciated seeing how her identity & experiences shaped each story.

I think that "The Third Time I Saw a Fox" was my favorite - the writing did an excellent job revealing the protagonist's character as the work progressed. The other stories were enjoyable as well, though some stronger than others. But overall an enjoyable collection to read. ( )