The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The title “Nothing Without Us” is written in large black capitals in the top half of the cover, designed to look as if it has been spray painted on. Below it, in smaller white caps, the names of the editors “Cait Gordon” and “Talia C. Johnson”. Below this, in smaller white caps, a list of names of every writer who contributed to the book. The background shows a brick wall with two faint splashes of yellow and blue paint to the right of the title. /end]

---

Content Warning:

• Hallucinations
• Ableism
• Pregnancy
• Hospitals
• Medical Content
• Death
• Murder
• Death of A Parent
• Medical Negligence 
• Homelessness
• Blood
• TBD

---

Summary:

We are the heroes, not the sidekicks.

“Can you recommend fiction that has main characters who are like us?” This is a question we who are disabled, Deaf, neurodiverse, Spoonie, and/or who manage mental illness ask way too often. Typically, we’re faced with stories about us crafted by people who really don’t get us. We’re turned into pathetic, tragic souls; we merely exist to inspire the abled main characters to thrive; or even worse, we’re to overcome “what’s wrong with us” and be cured.

Nothing Without Us combines both realistic and speculative fiction, starring protagonists who are written “by us and for us.” From hospital halls to jungle villages, from within the fantastical plane to deep into outer space, our heroes take us on a journey, make us think, and prompt us to cheer them on.

These are bold tales, told in our voices, which are important for everyone to experience.

---

Notes:

A list of people who have contributed to this book:

• Myriad Augustine
• Carolyn Charron
• Joanna Marsh
• Elliott Dunstan
• Jennifer Lee Rossman
• Raymond Luczak
• Nicole Zelniker
• Dorothy Ellen Palmer
• Jamieson Wolf
• J. Ivanel Johnson
• Tom Johnson
• Tonya Liburd
• Shannon Barnsley
• Madonna Skaff
• Maverick Smith
• George Zancola
• Diane Koerner
• Laurie Stewart
• Tasha Fierce
• Nathan Caro Frechette
• Emily Gillespie
• Derek Newman-Stille

An incomplete list of disabilities and chronic illnesses that may be found in this book:

• Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Deaf
• Sign Language
• Genetic Disease
• Cane User
• Mental Illness
• Seizures
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurological Impairment
• Bipolar
• Spinal Injury
• Chronic Pain
• Walking/Mobility Impairment
• Chemical Sensitivity
• Neurodivergence
• Physical Disability
• Multiple Personality Disorder
• Amputee

There is an audiobook.

There is an ebook. There is a kindle edition.

---

Archivist Comments:

I have a love hate relationship with anthologies. I love that they exist and that I can put them on here. I hate having to research them- mainly because it’s difficult to get a full list of everything they include. I did manage to find a website for this book buried deep in a review, so I’ll link that. I also found Cait Gordon’s website, which has information on this book and it’s successor Nothing Without Us Too. I believe Johnson may have a website as well but I unfortunately could not get it to work.

Nothing Without Us Anthology

Cait Gordon

---