A Handful of Sparks (2015)

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In these five short stories, ordinary and extraordinary humans (and one alien) must find the spark to move forward—out of bad situations, or in the face of catastrophic change. In "Ilene's Box," an otherworldly visitor goes on a deeply personal, high-stakes mission...to a local pet store. In "Lifeblood," a hospitalized woman with an unusual gift faces hard decisions about love and sacrifice. In "That Which Kills You," superhero tropes meet their match in Cherie, a woman too stubborn to lay down and die. In "Clear as Light," Mac and Evan's blissful space station retirement takes a frightening, inexplicable turn. In "Ellen Double Prime," wealthy teenager Ellen Wright finds herself trapped in a nightmarish alternate reality. Some contemporary or near-future science fiction, some super-powered...all deeply, intimately human. (Yes, even the parts with aliens.)