ORB October 2025 Issue

Welcome to the Canadian Thanksgiving issue of the Ottawa Review of Books. As autumn’s colours blaze around us and the unseasonably warm days linger, there is much to be grateful for. The ceasefire in Gaza appears to be holding, allowing Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to reunite with their families. Children can play outside now without the deadly sound of drones or sirens announcing incoming missiles. The guns have fallen silent and the leaders of the world are once again speaking of a future of reconciliation and co-existence. Let us also hope that peace will soon find its way to the skies of Ukraine and deserts of Sudan where too much blood has been shed. In that spirit of optimism, we’re delighted to share our reviewers’ thoughtful reflections on new Canadian fiction — including works by Russell Smith, Hollay Ghadery, Mélikah Abdelmoumen, and JP McLean — as well as an intriguing new science fiction anthology edited by Shannon Allen and JR Campbell. We hope you enjoy the issue!