If speculative fiction is an all-you-can-eat buffet, then this anthology is the appetizer tray, featuring tempting little tastes of multiple flavors…
But First, the Blurb: “The anthology is an exciting mixture of quality emerging writers as well as some great established names.” – Alex Davis.
An exciting mix of the fantastic, the wonderful, and the frightening by the talented members of the Derby Scribes writing group. Overall it’s a versatile and multi-faceted anthology, blending the corners of reality with aspects of the fantastical in a refreshing way.
Contains eleven short stories from guest authors Simon Clark, Conrad Williams and Neal James, plus Derby Scribes members Alison J. Hill, Christopher Barker, David Ball, Jennifer Brown, Peter Borg, Richard Farren Barber, Stuart Hughes and Victoria Charvill. Including an introduction by Alex Davis and art work by Samantha Enyon. (from Goodreads)
As a character-driven reader, I rarely read short stories…but when was given the opportunity to read an anthology that showcases several of my favorite genres, I decided to break with my normal routine and give it a try. Overall, I’m glad I did.
In the Spirit of Darwin by Simon Clark, is a ghosts-of-times-past encounter with a clever twist which has reminded me that just because a story is short, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the themes are unimportant. (Given the choice, I’d rather like to exit this life in a similar fashion…)
Brylcreem and Pipe Tobacco by Stuart Hughes was, in a word, creepy, and left me in the odd position of feeling sympathetic for the character I liked the least.
Stump by Victoria Charvill made me laugh out loud, given my own rather tragic childhood history with pets, and was a welcome bit of levity.
Leaving Jessica by Jennifer Brown was incredibly frustrating – but only because I was absolutely intrigued by the heroine, a young woman on the run, struggling to hold onto her own identity as she lives her life under cover. I’d love to read an entire novel about Hannah and her multiple lives…
Last Respects by Richard Farren Barber felt like an almost stereotypical war story, but then took some sharp twists that led to a completely unexpected ending.
The Wake Up Call by Alison J. Hill was my least favorite story of the anthology. It started well, but the tension deflated into more of a moral tale than a frightening one, and the pacing was a little off, resulting in an ending that left me flat.
The Gallery by Conrad Williams packed more dystopian action into a short story than I previously believed possible, along with some graphic imagery that was borderline nauseating – which, if you think about it, is actually a compliment – and offered up some fascinating characters.
We were both – thanks to different phantoms – deeply unstable people, picking our way through the ruins of the city, trying to absorb something real and solid to act as a foundation upon which we might rebuild our shattered lives.
Dave’s Dinosaur by Peter Borg was completely unexpected, and provided a welcome little dose of humor. (It also confirmed my plans to never, EVER, go camping.)
An Interstellar Taxi Ride by David Ball is a futuristic bit of sci-fi, but I had difficulty getting past the sticky seat to appreciate it. I suspect the sci-fi diehards would find more to enjoy…I had the impression while reading that I was missing out on some inside jokes.
Obsolete by Christopher Barker was compelling, and I fell into the story quickly and completely. I’ve always had a fascination with old houses, and this one contained a fascinating old man with sad, dark secrets, who went straight to my heart.
The Smell of Fear by Neal James struck me as flat-out weird…and then, after I finished reading it, I decided it was brilliant, rather than weird. Really, it’s all a matter of perspective…once you realize exactly who is telling the story, everything changes.
I’m still more of a series reader than a short-story one, but this anthology reminded me that even short fiction can pack a powerful punch. If you’re a fan of speculative fiction as a whole, and are looking for a quick, entertaining read – or some bite-sized stories to squeeze in between novels – consider giving this collection a try.
- I’m skipping the star rating this time as I don’t think it’s accurate for an anthology.
- Derby Scribes @ Amazon / Stumar Press
- Format Reviewed: ebook provided by publisher for review
Sounds really interesting! I haven’t read a lot of anthologies for the same reason as you – but I really need to try some out!
Liza @ Book Crook Liza recently posted..Review: Anna And The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Nice review! This kind of tickles my fancy from what you’ve said – though I’m mostly a series reader like you, I still enjoy the occasional anthology as a more ‘bitty’, concept-based read.
Jacob @ Drying Ink recently posted..Review | 20, 001: A Steampunk Odyssey – ‘Sufficiently innovative for a book twice the length’