Don’t Go Without Me
by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
published by Shortbox (link to their X page, their website is broken)
2019
This is an enjoyable and visually pleasing collection of three illustrated stories: of a couple becoming unintentionally separated during an inter-dimensional trip, a spacecraft that runs on human memories malfunctioning explosively, and people preparing for a giant to wake.
Valero-O’Connell’s illustrations are extremely charming – I love the shapes of their inter-dimensional animals, the softness of their characters’ noses (some so similar to my bi-racial nose), and the detailed illustrations created with such nicely chosen limited color palettes.
Whatever you want to do, do it now.
Wherever you want to be, be there tonight.
Concise, well-told stories; skilled and pleasing illustrations; and somehow also lessons about valuing life and what you have. This is a great collection!
This selection was highly praised by the staff at Silver Sprocket, but there are so many good choices to be made there, that I can’t take too much credit.