Maybe the Birds

14 powerful stories spanning post-apocalyptic futures to the paleolithic past, exploring female resilience across speculative and realist landscapes In “Maybe the Birds,” A.J. Ashworth weaves together narratives that are both deeply human and imaginatively bold, each story examining what it means to be alive when the world is no longer as it used to be. The collection showcases Ashworth’s range, featuring a young female vampire who uses her knowledge of mirrors to save her village from her creator, and a woman grappling with the unsettling feeling that the robins she has always cherished are no longer her allies. These narratives, largely speculative in nature, are grounded in universal themes of love and loss, family bonds and betrayals, and the profound moments of disconnection and connection that define our closest relationships. Featuring “Leather” from Best British Short Stories, this is Ashworth’s second short story collection. Her work has garnered critical acclaim for its unique blend of speculative elements with deeply realistic emotional landscapes, creating stories that feel both otherworldly and intimately familiar.