Commended — SPR Awards 2014Family. Inescapable, universal, defining. Whether near or far, family can evoke feelings of love or resentment, trust or regret—but never indifference.In sixteen unforgettable stories, V.S. Kemanis lays bare the conflicts and joys of family life, exploring the depth and intractability of interpersonal relationships. A mysterious aunt is buried with a dark family secret, leaving a clue as her only legacy. A single mom struggles to care for a severely disabled child, asking herself, "What if?" A teenager's friend, invited along for a family vacation, slips away and disappears into the resort town. A child coping with the loss of her father clings to an imaginary friend who becomes all too real.These tales and more, from an "unarguably gifted" writer of "great talent" [SP Reviews], make 'Dust of the Universe' a reading experience brimming with exultant and devastating emotions that only family can bring.