We’ve changed things up with the IWSG Book Club, featuring books from members.
The books for September were two IWSG anthologies featuring winning short stories from members.
About the Book
Enter the realm of parallel universes!
What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?
Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!
Check it out on Goodreads.
Authors featured:
- L.G. Keltner
- Tamara Narayan
- Crystal Collier
- Hart Johnson
- Cherie Reich
- Sandra Cox
- Yolanda Renee
- Melanie Schulz
- Sylvia Ney
- Michael Abayomi
My Review
The first story, Felix was Here, felt like a Stepford Wife type story with the wife having nightmares – flashbacks? – of someone named Felix after her friend bemoaned the fact that their friend was naming her baby Felix. Not sure how this is speculative fiction – moving to the suburbs? – but the story didn’t hook me. DNF.
The second story, Rianers, was fast-paced, full of action, had zombies, and a cute wolf cub! So much fun to read.
The third story, WIN, reminded me a bit of Terminator and how machines eventually ruled the planet. Awesome! And that David was seen as obsolete because he couldn’t be part of the machines and could only learn from books – brilliant! An entertaining story.
The fourth story, The Mirror People, read like a crime thriller with loads of fun twists as it’s from the murderer’s reflection’s perspective. Speculative fiction at its best.
The sixth story, Ever-Ton, is good. But it feels more dystopian – a true reflection of where we’re heading – than a parallel universe.
The seventh story, Folds in Life and Death, was pure speculative fiction. Good. And I’m guessing taking place in a parallel universe (I have no idea who the presidents of America are supposed to be or how many or how they died – and adding curses just feels like speculative fiction, not an alternate reality.)
The eighth story, The Seventeen, starts with a clear message that this was a world where no rules existed against human guinea pigs. And the story was awesome!
The ninth story, Scrying the Plane, I DNFed because I had an issue with the language. You can write a good story without taking the Lord’s name in vain.
The tenth story, Haunted, began with a woman throwing her meds at her therapist. The feeling this scene elicited didn’t sit right with me. DNF.
An interesting anthology about parallel universes. I would have liked to see more interaction between the two universes – like in Fringe.
About the Book
The clock is ticking…
Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze? Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?
Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues, and stay out of danger. Time is wasting…
Check it out on Goodreads.
Authors featured:
- Gwen Gardner
- Rebecca M. Douglass
- Tara Tyler
- S.R. Betler
- C.D. Gallant-King
- Yolanda Renee
- C. Lee McKenzie
- Jemi Fraser
- J.R. Ferguson
- Christine Clemetson
- Mary Aalgaard
My Review
The first story, A Stich in Crime, is an interesting cosy mystery with ghosts. A fun read.
The second story, Gussy Saint and the Case of the Missing Co-Ed, objectified women just a little too much – even before his supposed quirkiness was revealed. DNF.
The third story, The Tide Waits, is an interesting mixture of medieval small town and cosy mystery. A fun read.
The fourth story, The Little Girl in the Bayou, is a dark tale of child abduction and child porn. Mack is a good guy who does what the police refuses to do: fin a missing girl. The ending is great.
The fifth story, Cypress, Like the Tree, was melodramatic and without a lot of story to hook me. I DNFed when the detective questioned her the second time.
The sixth story, Reset, starts a bit slow, but once the time travelling stuff kicks in and Casey has to save everyone, it gets interesting.
The seventh story, Three O’clock Execution, starts with an inmate on death row. Really not in the mood to read about whatever crime this person may or may not have committed. DNF.
The eighth story, Center Lane, is about an inmate. Just as with the previous story, I don’t care why he’s there. DNF.
The ninth story, One More Minute, is yet another story in this anthology of a battered woman. DNF.
The tenth story, Heartless, is from the killer’s perspective as well as several others. Not my cup of tea. DNF.
The eleventh story, Until Release, has a very angry vibe. DNF.
I liked the cosy mysteries. Even the darker cosy mystery where the guy goes out to save a girl. But the ones about actual criminals and inmates weren’t for me. And as the titular story is a cosy mystery, I expected the same throughout.
Have you read these anthologies? What do you think about anthologies? Have you read anything by the authors featured in these anthologies?
*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*
What an awesome, supportive-of-other-authors blog post! Thanks for co-hosting this month, my Insta-friend!
I think the new direction of the book club is brilliant! It will be nice to have our own talented authors highlighted and discussed.
I hadn’t really thought about it, but you bring out a problem with anthologies–the possibility of stories not really being the same sort. Maybe that’s okay–an anthology can have stories for different types of readers? I’m not sure. Certainly your batting average on “Tick Tock” wasn’t good; I’d hope in any anthology to like at least 50% of the stories.
I’m fine with anthologies catering to different types of readers, but as you say: I didn’t even like 50% in “Tick Tock”, which is an issue.