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The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015

Joe Hill, Theodora Goss, Neil Gaiman, Susan Palwick, Adam-Troy Castro, Sam J. Miller, Daniel H. Wilson, Nathan Ballingrud, Kelly Link, Jess Row, Kelly Sandoval, T. Coraghessan Boyle, A. Merc Rustad, Sofia Samatar, Carmen Maria Machado, Cat Rambo, Karen Russell, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Seanan McGuire, Jo Walton

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Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: emotionally complex characters, sympathetic protagonists, female protagonists, mother figures, sisters, fathers, children, students

Relationships labels used: sibling relationship, parent-child relationship, mother-daughter relationship, father-daughter relationship, marriage, marital collapse, romance, friendship, community bonds, power imbalance, military hierarchy, collective identity

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization + relationships embeddings are close.

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The Mother Fault

Kate Mildenhall · 2020

In a near-future Australia, a mother defies a surveillance state to find her missing husband and save her children.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: mother protagonist · flawed heroine · protective parent · ordinary woman · strong female protagonist · young children · missing husband · working mother · maternal guilt · resilient heroine

Relationships labels: mother-child bond · marriage · family separation · parent-child conflict · sibling relationship · former lovers · romantic subplot · state vs citizen · family threat · dependence on friends

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1232

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Ansibles, perfiladores y otras máquinas de ingenio

Andrea Chapela · 2020

Ten near-future stories trace how speculative technologies reshape love, memory, grief, and everyday life in Mexico City.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female protagonists · women-centered · scientists · young women · mothers · daughters · romantic leads · ordinary people · middle-class characters

Relationships labels: romantic relationships · family bonds · mother-daughter · sibling relationships · friendship · long-distance love · couples · love and loss · caregiving · dependency

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1285

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Ghost Summer: Stories

Tananarive Due · 2015

A linked collection of haunting stories blends ghosts, pandemics, and social dread with family-centered speculative horror.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young protagonists · mothers · children · grandparents · schoolteacher · psychic · parents · family-centered characters · sympathetic characters · fully fleshed characters

Relationships labels: parent-child · mother-child · grandparent-grandchild · family bonds · community ties · marriage · parenting · family history · power imbalance · racial oppression

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1356

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Exit Zero

Marie-Helene Bertino · 2025

A collection of strange, lyrical stories where grief, family, and ordinary life are interrupted by uncanny intrusions.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: Ordinary people · Women protagonists · Estranged daughters · Fathers · Mothers · Couples · Sisters · Lonely characters · Aging characters · Oddball characters · Emotionally guarded

Relationships labels: Parent-child estrangement · Father-daughter relationship · Mother-daughter relationship · Marriage strain · Divorce · Ex-partners · Sibling connection · Failed connection · Romantic mismatch · Caregiving · Bereavement

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1387

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The Rock Eaters: Stories

Brenda Peynado · 2021

A debut collection of strange, allegorical stories where speculative twists expose immigration, class, grief, and otherness.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young women · teen protagonists · collective communities · outsiders · immigrant characters · Latina protagonists · marginalized women · strong-willed characters

Relationships labels: family · parent-child · siblings · friendship · romance · same-sex relationship · community tension · cross-cultural relations · class rivalry · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1417

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She Wouldn't Change a Thing

Sarah Adlakha · 2021

A psychiatrist wakes up in her 17-year-old body and must choose between restoring her life and changing a devastating fate.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: psychiatrist protagonist · working mother · wife · mother · pregnant protagonist · medical professional · career woman · frazzled parent · relatable heroine · active protagonist · resilient heroine · morally burdened · confused protagonist · secondary character web · well-developed characters

Relationships labels: marriage · motherhood · parent-child · sibling relationship · family loyalty · romance · husband-wife · love versus duty · interconnected lives · community ties

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1439

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Master Class

Christina Dalcher · 2020

In a near-future America, a mother must defy a ruthless test-based school system when it targets her own daughter.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teacher protagonist · mother protagonist · wife · government insider · complicit protagonist · anxious child · high-achieving child · villain husband · authoritarian administrator · activist mother · complex heroine

Relationships labels: mother daughter · marriage conflict · parent child · family split · power imbalance · betrayal · complicity · favoritism · domestic tension · love vs loyalty

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1441

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Knife Edge

Malorie Blackman · 2005 · Noughts and Crosses

In a racist near-future society, a grieving young mother and a vengeful brother move toward a devastating reckoning.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: flawed protagonists · antihero · vengeful character · grieving mother · young mother · complex characters · emotionally damaged characters · politically aware characters

Relationships labels: mother-daughter · family conflict · parent-child · romantic relationship · rivalry · betrayal · revenge · power imbalance · community prejudice

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1445

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The Space Between Here & Now

Sarah Suk · 2023

A Korean-Canadian teen with scent-triggered time slips goes to Korea to uncover her mother’s disappearance and her own past.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · reserved protagonist · brave protagonist · emotionally mature teen · emotionally unavailable father · single father · absent mother · supportive best friend · sweet love interest · supportive aunt · complex side characters

Relationships labels: father-daughter relationship · absent parent · estranged mother · best friendship · budding romance · family dynamics · found family · parent-child miscommunication · supportive friendship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1452

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The Clay Lion

Amalie Jahn · 2013 · The Clay Lion

A grieving teen uses a once-only time trip to try to save her brother, risking the past, present, and her future.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: grieving teen · determined heroine · relatable protagonist · sibling-focused · love interest · supportive parents · likable characters · flat characters (mixed) · emotionally driven · depressed protagonist · brave heroine · self-sacrificing · character growth

Relationships labels: sibling bond · sister-brother relationship · family love · romance · love interest · parent-child relationship · community ties · friendship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1455

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Dragonsong

Anne McCaffrey · 2003 · Harper Hall of Pern

A gifted teen girl in a rigid hold flees abuse, then discovers fire lizards and a path to belonging.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted heroine · resourceful heroine · sensitive protagonist · misunderstood youth · abused child · strong female lead · artistic protagonist · independent heroine

Relationships labels: parent-child conflict · abusive family · mentor relationship · chosen family · community acceptance · authority conflict · girlhood social restriction · bonded companions

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1460

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Deviants

Maureen McGowan · 2012 · Dust Chronicles

In a dust-ravaged domed city, a teen girl with dangerous hidden powers must protect her brother and outrun a system built to destroy them.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: orphan protagonist · protective sibling · emotionally volatile heroine · resourceful heroine · morally conflicted protagonist · male love interests · secretive authorities · disabled sibling

Relationships labels: sibling bond · romantic triangle · forbidden romance · parent-child betrayal · protective dependency · friendship · authority conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1466

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