Fire Ready

In the Australian outback, a lone farmer prepares her homestead for the latest in a growing wave of bushfires. In Oxfordshire, an elderly man protests the cutting down of an ancient beech tree by chaining himself to its trunk. In the depths of space, two evacuees from a scorched and barren Earth consider whether to tell the rest of the crew that their old home may be starting to heal… The stories in Jane Rogers' much-awaited second collection shine an unflinching light on the future health of the planet, and the prospects for its greediest tenants: us. With stories spanning hundreds of years – from the far side of the 22nd century all the way back to the darkest days of lockdown – they pose questions about personal responsibility that cannot be easily answered. 'A wise, compassionate and surprising collection which moves seamlessly through time and space, illuminating all the joys and tragedies of the current moment. Rogers reminds us of the extra-ordinary flexibility and vigour of the short story.' – Alice Jolly ‘Jane Rogers’ stories are delicate studies in what makes us human. Each story creates a pellucid space in a chaotic world; her characters grapple with life and engage in the age-old struggle to be decent human beings. Economical, bold and nuanced, this is a beautifully humane collection, and one to be savoured.’ – Lesley Glaister