This book of short stories is a dive into the twisted depths of the disturbed human psyche. Each tale peels back the layers of the mind of one individual who is twisted further, either by self, circumstances or the manipulation of other warped characters, towards an act that would be considered insane except that we…
Tag: short stories
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“What Now?” by Joyce V. Harrison
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This is a book of short stories about change. Change inside, change in fortune, change in life. In each case we are treated to the inner thoughts and feelings of a character who has reached a turning point in an existence that was already on the edge, and for most of them the only path…
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“Of Pigs and Meteorites” by G. Dorchak
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This is billed as a book of “mildly interesting tales,” but it plays more like series of evenings on the back porch with a sack of suds, shooting the breeze with the old geezer from down the street. The plotlines of the stories are best summed up in his own coined word, “unnoteworthy.” He doesn’t…
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“The Forest of Stone” Flash Fiction by Lance Manion
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Flash fiction is the standup comedy of literature. It has to be short, sharp, snappy, and hopefully funny and/or meaningful. Of course, nobody actually follows any rules, and Lance Manion is a repeat offender. He writes what he feels like writing, and we take it or leave it. His humour is based on his ability…
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“Nine Stray Shots” by Jesus Miguel Soto
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Let me start by stating that I am not a big fan of modern short literature. Often the creativity of the writer comes first; communication and connection to the readers come a poor second. This book of short stories blows that all out of the water. The standout quality of this volume is a deeply…
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“Dragon Springs and Other Things” by Raven Oak
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This is a book containing a small number of longer stories which are not quite novellas. The subject matter is always some alternate reality, whether Sci-Fi or Fantasy, and the ideas are always worth thinking about. What the reader notices immediately is the author’s skill at jumping into the story right away, while bringing us…
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“Path of Most Resistance” by Yoav Ilan
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A standard device in surrealistic writing is to start out with a completely normal situation, which rolls along merrily until the readers are starting to think, “Okay, so what?” And then we begin to realize that the situation is not normal. In fact, hidden behind the daily façade is something horribly abnormal. And this leads…
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“Junk Sale” by Patrick Lombardi
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This collection of short stories is held together by a common attitude towards life, shared by the author and all the characters. It could best be described as, “You’re only a loser if it bothers you.” A change from the constant barrage of short stories written about losers because their troubles make us feel good…
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“Ned Wakes Up” Short Stories by John Wells
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This is a book that gives gentle pleasure, like sitting on a porch on a warm spring evening, listening to a favourite uncle ramble on. The tone of each tale is much the same: intimate, placid and entertaining. These stories are distinguished by incredible attention to detail. The settings are described lovingly, and the minutest…
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“Lillian on Sunday: Stories of the Human Heart” by Lionel Walfish
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There are some short stories that do exactly what they are meant to. They present us with a character with all his or her internal thoughts and feelings. Through the story, whether there is a great deal of action or not, we discover who this person is and why they are like that. So, when…