A Shrine For Lost Children

About this book

A young American woman arrives in Kamakura, Japan, carrying a grief she cannot put down. In the shadow of the Great Buddha she feels, for a moment, a peace that outweighs everything else, but it slips away as quickly as it came. Back home in Berkeley she lost her job, left an unfulfilling relationship and walked away from a life that no longer fit, all while listening to a quiet inner voice she calls Jenny. Poul Anderson's short fiction follows her journey through temples, festivals and memorial shrines, from the Golden Pavilion to Tokyo's Sengakuji, as she tries to make a truce with herself. Written in the clear, humane prose that made Anderson one of the most respected names in speculative fiction, this story blends travel, loss and the uncanny. It leads toward Hase-dera, a place of remembrance for children who have died. A haunting, compact read of about 6,000 words, ideal for fans of ghostly and emotionally resonant fantasy, literary short stories and Japan-set fiction. Perfect for a single sitting. Buy now and start reading online instantly in your browser, with an optional printed copy available.

Author

Poul Anderson

Length

~22 pages

Reading time

26 min

Chapters

1

Released

November 11, 2026

Languages

🇬🇧 EN · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇧🇷 PT-BR · 🇲🇽 ES-MX · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇺🇦 UK · 🇨🇿 CS · 🇸🇰 SK · 🇬🇷 EL · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇧🇬 BG · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇸 SR · 🇸🇮 SL · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇪🇪 ET · 🇸🇪 SV · 🇩🇰 DA · 🇳🇴 NB · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇯🇵 JA · 🇰🇷 KO · 🇨🇳 ZH · 🇹🇼 ZH-TW · 🇮🇩 ID · 🇻🇳 VI · 🇹🇭 TH · 🇮🇳 HI · 🇸🇦 AR · 🇮🇱 HE

Formats

eBook

Print format

Paperback, 13.5 × 21 cm, 24 pages

Age rating

Teen 13+