Story Review: The Law of the Jungle by Mickey Ferron from Alien Days Anthology

Cover image taken from the book’s Amazon buy page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine.

Spoiler Free Summary:  The Law of the Jungle by Mickey Ferron is the twelfth story in the Alien Days Anthology. An alien creature has stepped through a worm hole ready to begin the first stages of what should be a simple planetary takeover. Humans are soft, and their technology is limited. However, the pack of wolves that just happened to have been there when the alien arrived has other ideas. Can one of Earths keenest hunters save the planet before humanity even realizes it’s in trouble?

Character:  So the main character in this is the pack leader. The author does a few clever things to try and connect us to them. There’s a bit of Jack London in this story, just not enough for me. I think the author was constrained by the limitations of shorter fiction. I don’t know what his limits were, but I didn’t really get any time to connect with the pack before the action started, so it was just a bit of action-packed Spam in the can. The action was pretty interesting, but I didn’t have any emotional attachment to the wolves. 

Exposition: Here Ferron applied an old-school literary technique of repetition. What was meant to be poet and suspense-building didn’t really work for me. This in combination with the lack of a connection to the character is what brought the story down for me. Perhaps if the repetition of the theme weren’t as numerous, it would have worked, but it just felt like extra words to me. 

Worldbuilding: This story takes place in Alaska, but there isn’t much in the way of setting or scene. Most of this story revolves around the fight.

Dialogue: I’d have to read the story again to determine if there even is any dialogue. This story certainly wasn’t like Homeward Bound, where the reader could read the animal’s thoughts or conversations (at least not to an anthropomorphic degree). 

Description:  The author took a lot of time on the appearance of the wolves and the manner of the fight. I have to acknowledge the author worked very hard to only describe things from the wolves’ points of view, which had to have limited what he could do. As I mentioned above, I needed a little bit more than action and wolf-appearance description. 

Overall: This felt like a really good fight scene from a novel that’s missing the rest of the novel. If the author had spent any time building a connection between me and the wolves, it would have been an amazing story. As it is, it’s just a pretty cool fight with an interesting pair of opponents. It’s wasn’t a boring read (except for all that repetition), but it wasn’t really as cool as it could have been. 

Thanks for reading

Matt

 

Story Review: First Friendship by A.N. Myers from Alien Days Anthology

Cover image taken from the book’s Amazon buy page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine.

Spoiler Free Summary:  First Friendship by A.N. Myers is the tenth story in the Alien Days Anthology. Robert has been given an impossible window cleaning job by the Shoma, an alien race that now essentially runs earth since they arrived. Then Robert meets a man who explains the secret behind the Shoma. That information inspires Robert to do what he can to send a message to the alines who’ve made his life so horrible. What will the consequences of his message really do?

Character:  I admit, I couldn’t remember Robert’s name, but he (as a character) is easily the most memorable character in the entire anthology. He’s sympathetic; he takes action to do something. His arc is memorable. I rooted for this character. I understood him. 

Exposition: While there was some tucked away in the dialogue, this story moves swiftly and doesn’t bog the reader down with more than they need. 

Worldbuilding: While taking place on earth, Myers does a nice job of helping us understand the history of this alternative reality. This history becomes a sort of plot device that creates some symbolism for readers who like that sort of thing. I don’t normally need symbolism, but I don’t mind it either. I appreciate it most when it fits the plot and doesn’t beat a reader over the head, and this story does it that way.

Dialogue: This was also probably the best in the whole anthology. For starters, there were more characters in this story. But it flowed naturally and gave us insight into the characters. It wasn’t just about what they said, but how they said it. 

Description:  Typically for me, this had about what I liked but perhaps not as much as a harder scifi reader would want.  The best example is the Shoma. Their height and stature are plot elements, but I couldn’t say another thing about them. That said, I got a mental image for how I think they look, and I always like the movie theatre in my head more than any other anyway. 

Overall: I can say this is probably the best story in the anthology (and one of only about half I liked very much). This story had a character I was able to connect with who took action. I cared about what he was trying to do, and I cared about what his actions might do. This story does sort of move fast (down on his luck main character gets an offer he can’t refuse), but I didn’t mind that so much. I appreciated the attention to character and tone along with the history of this alternate earth and how it related to how the story ends. This story ranks first among my top three (the other two I’ve already discussed in earlier reviews). 

Thanks for reading

Matt

 

Story Review: A Bolt from the Blue by S.K. Gregory from Alien Days Anthology

Cover image taken from the book’s Amazon buy page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine.

Spoiler Free Summary:  A Bolt from the Blue by S.K. Gregory is the ninth story in the Alien Days Anthology. Iris is on a nature walk with her boyfriend when lightning strikes, and not the romantic kind. As literal as that lightning is, the terror it brings is that much more terrifying.

Character:  Iris was one of the few characters in this anthology I could really sympathize with.  The open was slower to give readers more of a connection. It’s not the best way to do it, but at least Gregory made sure the reader cared about Iris before moving on to the plot. This story has a sort of “thrown into the kettle” feeling. it doesn’t make Iris seem very competent, and it forces her to react rather than to act. However, the circumstances that force her to move feel relatable.  

Exposition: This was solid. There was some internal monologue where description or action would have been better, but the story moved pretty quickly. 

Image of Gregory taken from her website for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine. 

Worldbuilding: This story takes place on earth, and the plot sort of stops (see below) short of evolving, so there wasn’t much worldbuilding to work with. I felt frustrated because the very moment where I was hooked and interested to know what happened is the same moment the story ended. It has a cliffhanger ending that just doesn’t do it for me.

 

Dialogue: The dialogue was good. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever read, but you could tell the conversations were relevant and helped to reveal the characters. I’d probably say this was the author’s strongest attribute. 

Description:  The description was solid. I had what I needed from the scene without getting bogged down. It was sparse, which I liked, but most scifi readers wouldn’t appreciate. I liked that we got a somewhat proportional amount of scenic and character descriptors. This let the environment be every bit as real in my imagination as the characters. 

Overall: My only problem with this story is honestly that it just kind of froze at what I felt was the beginning of a much better story. Short fiction doesn’t have to end in a cliffhanger, and it certainly doesn’t have to end before the characters have had any opportunity to grow or take action. The idea had a ton of merit, but just as I was about to embrace the story, it ended. 

Thanks for reading

Matt

 

Story Review: Dead Reckoning by Anthony Regolino from Alien Days Anthology

Cover image taken from the book’s Amazon buy page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine.

Spoiler Free Summary:  Dead Reckoning by Anthony Regolino is the fourth story in the Alien Days Anthology. Bennett is dead, but that won’t stop him from having one last mission. Bennett’s death is the result of an alien weapon that imitates life, but forces the victim to drift into a vegetative state.  When offered a chance at a literal suicide mission, he takes it.

Character:  Bennett was sympathetic and proactive, which is why this story moved for me. I understood his motivation and wondered how the story might go. Given how the first part of the story works, that mystery sort of died for me (yeah, I took that pun).  My struggle is that I didn’t have a “what was gonna happen” feel for me. Now, I personally hate prequels for the same reason. If I already know what’s happening, I’m just not invested. I think if a writer does enough to make the characters matter, the story might be successful, but I’ve never seen it. 

Exposition: This was fantastic. This story moved. Sure, we get a lot of dialogue exposition (This is how you are dead but still walking), but it still came in a natural, conversational tone. So while I may not have been on the edge of my seat wondering how things would go down, I didn’t feel like I was slugging through a muddy plot to get there. 

Image of Regolino taken from his author page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine.

Worldbuilding: In this case the reader has to take more on faith than I think a typical SCIFI fan would like. The exposition mentioned above feels a bit like a, “just go with it, OK?” vibe. Given that I’m not the most persnickety SCIFI reader, I didn’t mind so much. My mental answer was, “OK.” This is a more character-driven story, so I don’t think the author wanted to get too caught up in the hows and whys. It didn’t bother me much, but fans of Herbert and Zahn aren’t going to want to suspend their disbelief as much as I could. 

Dialogue: There isn’t a ton of dialogue in this story, and I’d say at least forty percent of it is explaining how a story like this is possible. Still, it felt conversational, and the speakers still had a unique voice. 

Description:  I liked this aspect of the story. I say this pretty much every time, but I have no way of know who’s reading what review I do. I don’t need a ton of description. Just get my imagination going, and let said imagination take over. This story did that. I saw what I needed to see. Can I give you one character quality or descriptor for Bennett? Nope. So yeah, we probably could have had more, but I rank plot over description and character over everything. I got what I wanted from this story.

Overall: If it weren’t for the beginning of this story, I’d have put this tale at in my top three. I already mentioned why above. It’s still got some clever scenes and an interesting premise. If you’re not over invested in worldbuilding, you can give this story a chance if you want some interesting philosophical fiction with a touch of action. 

Thanks for reading

Matt

Book Review: The Shanti Heist by Killian Carter from Alien Days Anthology

Cover image taken from the book’s Amazon buy page for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine. 

Spoiler Free Summary:  The Shanti Heist by Killian Carter is the first story in the Alien Days Anthology. Eline, haunted by the death of her sister, has taken a heist that ended up as a setup. Now she has to find a way out of the situation, but just as things look darkest, help comes from the most unanticipated place.

 

Character:  Eline is a solid character. She’s smart and capable. Her love for her sister is obvious even though we never saw the relationship develop. I mentioned an issue with this in my last book review, but in this case, we see a character mourning for a lost loved one (which makes sense) more than a character defending her relative’s cannibalistic insanity.  I can’t say Eline stuck with me after the story, but I remembered the gist of the story even though I’m nearly done with the entire anthology. I’d say that the longer a character sticks with you after reading, the better the character is.

Exposition: This was solid, especially for a short story. The story moved at a brisk pace and didn’t lag down with explanation or background history. 

Worldbuilding: This wasn’t so good. I’ve come to expect this from short fiction, but I didn’t really understand the setting or world I was looking through. I saw what I needed to understand what was happening, but I didn’t feel immersed. I felt like I was watching a play where the set looked obvious if I looked closely enough.

Dialogue: This was pretty neutral for me. It didn’t lag me down. It revealed character. Those were good things. It just wasn’t snappy or memorable.

Image of Mr. Carter was taken from his website for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine. 

Description:  Much like with the worldbuilding, even I think this book could have used a bit more description. What the author did that I appreciate is give me a fast-paced story that had some emotional power. I just miss a bit of the visuals and context that make a good story  a great story.

Overall: This is one of the better stories, somewhere in the top three (though I’m not done with the whole anthology yet).  The ending was powerful but a bit of a bummer for me. I would say it was a great lead-off story for the anthology because most of the others (I’ve read so far) have similar pacing and (unfortunately) similarly unfulfilling conclusions. This story felt like a cliffhanger to me, and I was left (not in a good way) wanting more. That doesn’t make the story bad. I certainly enjoyed it while I read it. If this were an excerpt from a longer work, I’d probably understand and then maybe see how the rest of the story unfolds when my TBR didn’t look like a manifesto.

Thanks for reading

Matt

Alien Days: A Castrum Press Anthology

Greetings all,

I was thinking about what to write about for the blog today and remembered my good friend Corey Truax has a new title available. While I’m still pulling out my hair waiting for his own personal book, he and J.R. Handley worked together again for this new story, which comes in an other anthology. This anthology, Alien Days, is available right now!

Here’s the blurb for the anthology:

Alien Days is a multi-author anthology with thrilling tales of aliens, invasions, artificial intelligence, friendship, deceit and extinction. A combination which makes this collection a must-read for science fiction short story fans.
This anthology features Nebula and Dragon award nominees, Amazon bestsellers and award winners alongside rising stars in the science fiction genre. Let the authors take you on adventures through dystopian worlds and far flung planets that will stretch your imagination… Welcome to Alien Days.

Image of Truax taken from his website for advertising purposes.

I read Corey and J.R.’s last short story in a previous anthology, and I’m excited to have this one on my own TBR pile. J.R. is also a friend, and I’ve read a number of his books. Corey did a blog about this anthology on his page, so you can check that out here.

I can’t say I’ve read any of the work from the other authors, but that’s why I love anthologies so much. They introduce me to authors, and I almost always come away with another author I enjoy reading. I learned about Peter V. Brett from one anthology. I learned about Jake Bible (who I haven’t read more from but intend to) in another.

Anthologies are a fantastic way to get several great stories and meet authors you might not have otherwise heard about. I invite you all to try this one out. I already have my copy.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

Story Review: Tinkerman by Jake Bible, From For a Few Credits More Anthology

 

Spoiler Free Summary: Tinkerman by Jake Bible is the 15th story in the Four Horsemen anthology, For a Few Credits More.  Tee, called Tinkerman by those he provides cybernetic implants to, is in hiding. Sooner or later, people are going to come looking for him because of the secret he carries. When they do, he’ll be prepared, as will the world that’s protecting him, such are the terms of his care for those same people.

Character: Tee is a fantastic character. He’s proactive and capable. He’s got great depth. He’s sympathetic, but not in that he’s just likable or just unlikable. Indeed his range of emotion is a part of the story, and it’s the best part. I was hooked on this story from the moment I started the story as Tee was in his shop.

Exposition: This was perfect. I got the back story I needed as I needed it. Perfect isn’t a story that has no exposition, it’s exposition that provides exactly what the reader needs to be able to progress through the story.

World building:  So for a few reviews now, I’ve been talking about one story I loved, and this is it! This world is every bit as amazing as its characters. This planet feels real. It has textures and minute details that make the feeling of the location visceral. In every scene, I truly felt like I was there. The more I learned, the more I was able to suspend disbelief. We’re not overloaded with aliens and tech. We’re exposed to a cast consisting of different species of aliens; we’re exposed to tech and gadgets that are immediately relevant to the plot. I’m probably going to read on of Bible’s books just because of this short story.

Image of Mr. Bible taken from his website for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine. 

Dialogue: Powerful. Relevant. Realistic. Bible’s conversations move the plot forward without sounding like some sort of plot direction. It’s snappy. It’s entertaining.

Description: Just as I’ve mentioned in the world-building, the feel of this story is amazing. The movie theatre in my mind was on full IMAX-powered overload in all the best ways. I wasn’t bogged down by details, but I always had all my senses active.

Overall: Here’s how much I liked this story. First, there were a handful of stories I truly thought were fun or entertaining. However, whatever I paid for the whole anthology, I would have happily payed for just this one story. It’s honestly amazing, and I think any fan of gritty scifi should make sure they take the chance to read it.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

Story Review: Faith by Chris Kennedy, From For a Few Credits More Anthology

 

Spoiler Free Summary: Faith by Chris Kennedy is the 15th story in the Four Horsemen anthology, For a Few Credits More.  Andrews is a prisoner who’s being recalled to duty? Why? The job will probably get him killed, and prisoners are handy sacrificial pawns. He’s thrust into a Suicide Squad style mission, and when he lands, he realizes this kamikaze mission has taken him home, a place he’d never want to return to.

Character: I’m actually of two minds about Andrews. As a character arc, he’s solid. He’s a man without hope trying to stay alive. The reason this doesn’t quite work for me personally is the end.  His decisive moment for me would have been much more satisfying if his arc were different. What’s the choice? Come on folks! I’m still trying to get a good anthology some plug, so go pick it up and decide for yourself if the end is satisfying.

Exposition: This maybe wasn’t as good as messenger (or another I’m still yet to review), but it was very good. This story was an experience without much exposition even with the first person narrative, which is just impressive.

World building:  This world was the second-most enduring world in my imagination (again, there’s another story coming that I loved). The world where this mission is really stuck with me, and it wasn’t just an alien planet for the sake of being different, it was a well-thought-out plot device. I think this is the best aspect of the book.

Image of Mr. Kennedy taken from his website for review purposes under Fair Use Doctrine. 

Dialogue: If I’m being fair, this was pretty standard for the genre. None of their voices stand out to me, but the dialogue wasn’t wooden or stilted. Sure, there were a few wise cracks that got a smile out of me, but it wasn’t wit of the century. Overall, it wasn’t bad.

Description: The world building to the story made this segment seem that much better.  I can tell the world building was stronger because I didn’t feel dragged down by the description. However, the details that pop into my head are a credit to the author’s ability to make the world feel real.

Overall: Some might see the end coming, but for me, military sci-fi is all about the action. This book has it, and it gives us compelling characters to follow through that action. I hadn’t read anything from Kennedy himself, but I know his reputation, and this story shows how well-deserved it is. It’s a fun story that keeps your eyes glued to the page.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

Story Review: Messenger by Nick Cole, From For a Few Credits More Anthology

 

Spoiler Free Summary: Messenger by Nick Cole s the 14th story in the Four Horsemen anthology, For a Few Credits More.  Tom Kyle was the sole survivor of Hastings Ridge. He found faith. But he’s still struggling to make sense of the massacre he’d escaped. Then he was sent on a mech with no weapons to a planet, where this new life was. All life is precious, and Kyle means to protect that life, even against another company.  Whether he lives or dies matters far less than the fact that he fights to protect life.

Character: Kyle resonates with me. I had to look up his name, but this story had a lot of power. He’s struggling with being a survivor, which is, unfortunately, something a lot of veterans have to deal with. He’s determined, and he’s sympathetic. I like that we first see him through the eyes of his former commander, then through his reflective self, then through the eyes of another character (spoilers). This really put a lot of emotional power in this story even though it’s not very long.

Exposition: This was awesome in that it was nonexistent. From one point of view, it might be a lot, but everything we learn, we learn from the viewpoint of characters who are deep in their conflict, and all we see, we see through the eyes of some wonderfully developed characters. We learn about them as they learn about each other.

World building:  This story didn’t have a lot of that. Where most of the other stories sought to play in the world and look at different aliens (which is cool), this story focused on a real, human emotion with tremendous impact.  It’s not a story designed to wow you with scope and detail. What it did for me is make me think about how I feel about combat and how others view it.

Image of Mr. Cole taken from his website for review purposes under Fair Use doctrine. 

Dialogue: This story didn’t really have any. Oh there’s a flashback story I think, but not really enough to evaluate fully.

Description: Die hard scifi fans might be disappointed. I’ll admit, this is a bit thin on description, but there’s reason. As you read one perspective and then another, you start to understand how it all fits together, and too many descriptive beats or blocks of description would have taken away from the emotion.

Overall: This reflective story gives the reader a tremendous sense of loss with an uplifting message (no pun intended) of hope, and that makes this story truly powerful. I’m not sure what general fans of the universe would think, but I think fans of speculative scifi might really appreciate this little glimpse of characters trying to deal with real trauma and loss.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

I’m In A Podcast!

Greetings All,

A while back I did an interview with Short Story Book Club.  I’m honestly a huge fan of this interview. First, it focuses on The Power of Words, which I still have free Audible codes for if you’d like to email me for a copy of it. She specifically read my story, Stealing Freedom, but we also talked about the First Amendment, the role of science fiction in society and my time in the military.  I honestly think it’s one of the deeper stories anyone’s done about me in some ways. I hope you’ll all check it out. Please like and share the video and subscribe to the podcast. As a note, TW’s name is a bit off, but I’ve spoken to Donna, and she’s working on fixing it (it may be fixed already).  Let me know what you think. If anyone has any questions for me after listening, please feel free to ask in the comments below.  It was a fascinating discussion.

 

 

Thanks for reading,

Matt