The House of Surrender

Rape Culture In a remote future violent criminals go to a sanctuary by free choice. But a new arriving stranger brings trouble. A science fiction story by Laurie Penny
Exklusiv für Abonnent:innen

Not far from here and many lifetimes' journey away, there is a place called Sanctuary where they grow almonds and avocados and the weather is a perpetual late Spring. The town and its hundred thousand happy folk are watered by a wide, grey, treacherous river, and in that river is an island where no trees grow, and on that island is a house unlike any other.

It has had many names, but the people of Sanctuary have forgotten them. They call it the House of Surrender.

To get to the House of Surrender, you must cross the grey river, although there are few boat captains brave enough to make the crossing, not for all the gold and silver in your purse. The river is full of hidden currents and sudden whirlpools that appear to suck down unseasoned swimmers and sailors to an icy grave in the grimy wat