The Shadow Galaxy

The Shadow Galaxy: a Collection of Short Stories and Poetry

By Jendia Gammon, writing as J. Dianne Dotson

A mesmerizing first collection from the Nebula and BSFA Award finalist author Jendia Gammon, writing as J. Dianne Dotson, The Shadow Galaxy features short stories and poetry spanning magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and Appalachian tales. With stories and poetry spanning three decades of work, the author taps into journeys both fantastical and deeply personal. Categories include Shadow Shores: Tales from the Sea; Other Futures: Tales of the Galaxy and a Place Called Earth; Into the Darkest Hollow: Tales of Horror; Love and Other Moments: Traces of the Heart; Far Appalachia: Tales from the Ancient Mountains; and Resonant Thoughts: Some Poetry.

Among these pages, Dotson captures the longing, regrets, and dreams of those living by the sea, such as in “One Evening in Fogvale.” In “RODER,” a young woman risks her life to help find a robot who captured her heart. “Topaz Sundered” explores an exoplanet mining expedition gone horribly wrong. In “The Queen and the Mountain Laurel,” a young Appalachian girl teaches her father an important lesson with the help of mountain spirits. The poem “Obsidian” eviscerates with raw pain from betrayal. Dotson weaves these and many other tales and poems of mysticism, exploration, horror, pain, nostalgia, and wonder, for no shadow can exist without light.

The Shadow Galaxy was longlisted for both the BSFA Award and the British Fantasy Award. JournalStone is also publishing a second collection by Jendia Gammon called To Wonder and Starshine (July 25, 2025).

Praise for The Shadow Galaxy

“A sharply entertaining collection spanning all corners of the genre, filled with horrors and wonders and acutely human moments.”

– Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time

“The Shadow Galaxy is a mind-blowing collection of weird, fun, dark, wild, character-driven tales by a powerful new voice! J. Dianne Dotson’s star is rising! Highly recommended!”

– Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of NekroTek and the Joe Ledger novels

“A deeply satisfying collection of fantasies that ranges from Americana to outer space, charming and precise in equal measure.”

– Paul Cornell, writer of Doctor Who and author of Witches of Lychford

Specifications

Publisher: Trepdiatio Publishing, an imprint of JournalStone
ISBN: 978-168510-068-1 (trade paper) – $15.95
ISBN: 978-1-68510-159-6 (ebook) – $5.95

Cover art by Mikio Murakami.

Rights

For translation rights, contact editor-in-chief Christopher Payne of JournalStone HERE.