When We Hold Each Other Up

The debut novella by Phoebe Wagner, editor of the first English language solarpunk anthology.

"A nuanced exploration of the concept of ecological balance, and the stories we tell each other about it."
~Sarena Ulibarri, editor of Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers & author of Another Life

"A truly lovely novella about storytelling, hope, love, and standing up as a community. Wagner has matched the contemplative vibes of Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot duology." ~Phoenix Arden, The Firebird's Bookshelf
----
One rule oversees the post-apocalypse: never refuse a Harmonizer.

Storytellers claim there are two original stories. When a stranger named Eduardo, a Harmonizer with extraordinary powers, arrives with a warning, Rowan senses life is about to change. Eduardo warns that Haven City is growing and all those living in the expansion zone are in danger.

As the living world recovers from ecocide, the Harmonizers control cities to keep the human population in balance. But while the Harmonizers claim their actions are peaceful, Eduardo says they’re taking too much and returning to the patterns that caused the world to warm.

Rowan decides to head out with Eduardo on a quest to warn others living in solarpunk communities that have fallen within the newly expanded city limits. Along the way, Rowan collects stories of survival and realizes fleeing the city will only encourage its expansion. Rowan and Eduardo must face the harm buried deep in their pasts if they’re to have any hope of bringing the city to a halt.

Phoebe Wagner's debut novel A Shot of Gin is forthcoming from Parliament House Press (2023). She is the editor of three solarpunk anthologies, including Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk & Eco-Speculation. She blogs about speculative literature at the Hugo-winning Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together. Wagner currently pursues a PhD, studying ecocriticism and speculative fiction at University of Nevada, Reno. She is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania. Follow her at phoebe-wagner.com or on Twitter: @pheebs_w.