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joecam79's review against another edition
4.0
I have now been a subscriber to The Fiction Desk anthologies of short fiction for the past years and I must say it’s always a pleasure when the latest issue pops through the letter-box. The twelfth volume in the collection explores the theme of “loss”. In his introduction, editor Rob Redman notes that it is generally when submissions are being assembled that a connecting thread between the stories starts to manifest itself. Perhaps that is indeed the case, but in this volume, the subject of loss is presented – whether consciously or unconsciously – in the most variegated of shapes and forms.
Thus, mislaid luggage appears twice, with startlingly different results. In Douglas Bruton’s “Thirteen Wedding Dresses”, a bride’s wedding attire prompts a wistful, lyrical story but, in Alastair Chisholm’s “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” the airport luggage carousel (and what happens behind its doors) is the setting of an impishly dark tale with echoes of Roald Dahl.
“The Black Squirrel” by Christopher Howard refers to loss in a more oblique way. A woman spends her time in a park, looking for an elusive black squirrel which reminds her of her grown-up son, with whom she has practically lost contact. Sean Gill’s “The Computer Man” presents us with an old woman who gets all worked up about cold calls from a man who tries to sell her computer accessories. We realise, alongside with the narrator, that notwithstanding her complaints, these calls have become a highlight of her twilight days.
There’s a similar sense of longing for the past in “All Washed Up” by Chris Hogben, whose protagonist is a semi-retired actor who has seen much better days. Hogben also contributes “The Star which Stayed till morning”, a tale which strikes a delicate balance between sci-fi and supernatural fiction and which placed second in the 2018 Fiction Desk Ghost Story competition,. The winner, “The Spare Room” by C. B. McCall is the only supernatural tale I know which is told from the point of view of a cat. At first, this feline perspective elicits a smile – one which is soon wiped away by the chilling final paragraphs. Third-placed “Highway Memorials” by Kris Ashton is a rather more traditional ghost story which also references urban legends about highway hauntings. “Briar Rose” by Alex Clark, although not taken from the contributions to the competition, also has the flavour of the ghost story, although one suspects that these particular hauntings are in the mind.
Another contest run by The Fiction Desk is the Flash Fiction Competition. The 2017 edition was won by Steve Clarkson – “Excuse me” shows us that behind the possibly bland, predictable exterior of the “tourist” lies a human being carrying a baggage of personal pains.
Whilst some of the contributors have already been featured before, this anthology also has space for newcomers. And it is refreshing to note that “newcomers” are not necessarily young authors. Eleanor Bell had been a teacher for many years before trying her hand at writing. She draws upon her experiences for “Meeting Miss Mathieson” a piece of speculative fiction which explores the challenges and expectations facing modern parents. And Bert Thomson worked as a criminal lawyer for nearly forty years before returning to his first love, literature. He contributes a nostalgic love story – “On Some Cold Fierce Winter’s Day”. It might not be particularly original but it’s well-written and moving and fits the ethos of “The Fiction Desk” – that of presenting “stories about people and places, rather than about writing itself”.
Thus, mislaid luggage appears twice, with startlingly different results. In Douglas Bruton’s “Thirteen Wedding Dresses”, a bride’s wedding attire prompts a wistful, lyrical story but, in Alastair Chisholm’s “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” the airport luggage carousel (and what happens behind its doors) is the setting of an impishly dark tale with echoes of Roald Dahl.
“The Black Squirrel” by Christopher Howard refers to loss in a more oblique way. A woman spends her time in a park, looking for an elusive black squirrel which reminds her of her grown-up son, with whom she has practically lost contact. Sean Gill’s “The Computer Man” presents us with an old woman who gets all worked up about cold calls from a man who tries to sell her computer accessories. We realise, alongside with the narrator, that notwithstanding her complaints, these calls have become a highlight of her twilight days.
There’s a similar sense of longing for the past in “All Washed Up” by Chris Hogben, whose protagonist is a semi-retired actor who has seen much better days. Hogben also contributes “The Star which Stayed till morning”, a tale which strikes a delicate balance between sci-fi and supernatural fiction and which placed second in the 2018 Fiction Desk Ghost Story competition,. The winner, “The Spare Room” by C. B. McCall is the only supernatural tale I know which is told from the point of view of a cat. At first, this feline perspective elicits a smile – one which is soon wiped away by the chilling final paragraphs. Third-placed “Highway Memorials” by Kris Ashton is a rather more traditional ghost story which also references urban legends about highway hauntings. “Briar Rose” by Alex Clark, although not taken from the contributions to the competition, also has the flavour of the ghost story, although one suspects that these particular hauntings are in the mind.
Another contest run by The Fiction Desk is the Flash Fiction Competition. The 2017 edition was won by Steve Clarkson – “Excuse me” shows us that behind the possibly bland, predictable exterior of the “tourist” lies a human being carrying a baggage of personal pains.
Whilst some of the contributors have already been featured before, this anthology also has space for newcomers. And it is refreshing to note that “newcomers” are not necessarily young authors. Eleanor Bell had been a teacher for many years before trying her hand at writing. She draws upon her experiences for “Meeting Miss Mathieson” a piece of speculative fiction which explores the challenges and expectations facing modern parents. And Bert Thomson worked as a criminal lawyer for nearly forty years before returning to his first love, literature. He contributes a nostalgic love story – “On Some Cold Fierce Winter’s Day”. It might not be particularly original but it’s well-written and moving and fits the ethos of “The Fiction Desk” – that of presenting “stories about people and places, rather than about writing itself”.
gilljames's review
5.0
Although I'm quite a connoisseur of the short story - I read many, I publish quite a few and I've had quite a few of my own published these were beautifully refreshing. Some great voices and plenty of surprises.
joecam79's review
4.0
I have now been a subscriber to The Fiction Desk anthologies of short fiction for the past years and I must say it’s always a pleasure when the latest issue pops through the letter-box. The twelfth volume in the collection explores the theme of “loss”. In his introduction, editor Rob Redman notes that it is generally when submissions are being assembled that a connecting thread between the stories starts to manifest itself. Perhaps that is indeed the case, but in this volume, the subject of loss is presented – whether consciously or unconsciously – in the most variegated of shapes and forms.
Thus, mislaid luggage appears twice, with startlingly different results. In Douglas Bruton’s “Thirteen Wedding Dresses”, a bride’s wedding attire prompts a wistful, lyrical story but, in Alastair Chisholm’s “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” the airport luggage carousel (and what happens behind its doors) is the setting of an impishly dark tale with echoes of Roald Dahl.
“The Black Squirrel” by Christopher Howard refers to loss in a more oblique way. A woman spends her time in a park, looking for an elusive black squirrel which reminds her of her grown-up son, with whom she has practically lost contact. Sean Gill’s “The Computer Man” presents us with an old woman who gets all worked up about cold calls from a man who tries to sell her computer accessories. We realise, alongside with the narrator, that notwithstanding her complaints, these calls have become a highlight of her twilight days.
There’s a similar sense of longing for the past in “All Washed Up” by Chris Hogben, whose protagonist is a semi-retired actor who has seen much better days. Hogben also contributes “The Star which Stayed till morning”, a tale which strikes a delicate balance between sci-fi and supernatural fiction and which placed second in the 2018 Fiction Desk Ghost Story competition,. The winner, “The Spare Room” by C. B. McCall is the only supernatural tale I know which is told from the point of view of a cat. At first, this feline perspective elicits a smile – one which is soon wiped away by the chilling final paragraphs. Third-placed “Highway Memorials” by Kris Ashton is a rather more traditional ghost story which also references urban legends about highway hauntings. “Briar Rose” by Alex Clark, although not taken from the contributions to the competition, also has the flavour of the ghost story, although one suspects that these particular hauntings are in the mind.
Another contest run by The Fiction Desk is the Flash Fiction Competition. The 2017 edition was won by Steve Clarkson – “Excuse me” shows us that behind the possibly bland, predictable exterior of the “tourist” lies a human being carrying a baggage of personal pains.
Whilst some of the contributors have already been featured before, this anthology also has space for newcomers. And it is refreshing to note that “newcomers” are not necessarily young authors. Eleanor Bell had been a teacher for many years before trying her hand at writing. She draws upon her experiences for “Meeting Miss Mathieson” a piece of speculative fiction which explores the challenges and expectations facing modern parents. And Bert Thomson worked as a criminal lawyer for nearly forty years before returning to his first love, literature. He contributes a nostalgic love story – “On Some Cold Fierce Winter’s Day”. It might not be particularly original but it’s well-written and moving and fits the ethos of “The Fiction Desk” – that of presenting “stories about people and places, rather than about writing itself”.
Thus, mislaid luggage appears twice, with startlingly different results. In Douglas Bruton’s “Thirteen Wedding Dresses”, a bride’s wedding attire prompts a wistful, lyrical story but, in Alastair Chisholm’s “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” the airport luggage carousel (and what happens behind its doors) is the setting of an impishly dark tale with echoes of Roald Dahl.
“The Black Squirrel” by Christopher Howard refers to loss in a more oblique way. A woman spends her time in a park, looking for an elusive black squirrel which reminds her of her grown-up son, with whom she has practically lost contact. Sean Gill’s “The Computer Man” presents us with an old woman who gets all worked up about cold calls from a man who tries to sell her computer accessories. We realise, alongside with the narrator, that notwithstanding her complaints, these calls have become a highlight of her twilight days.
There’s a similar sense of longing for the past in “All Washed Up” by Chris Hogben, whose protagonist is a semi-retired actor who has seen much better days. Hogben also contributes “The Star which Stayed till morning”, a tale which strikes a delicate balance between sci-fi and supernatural fiction and which placed second in the 2018 Fiction Desk Ghost Story competition,. The winner, “The Spare Room” by C. B. McCall is the only supernatural tale I know which is told from the point of view of a cat. At first, this feline perspective elicits a smile – one which is soon wiped away by the chilling final paragraphs. Third-placed “Highway Memorials” by Kris Ashton is a rather more traditional ghost story which also references urban legends about highway hauntings. “Briar Rose” by Alex Clark, although not taken from the contributions to the competition, also has the flavour of the ghost story, although one suspects that these particular hauntings are in the mind.
Another contest run by The Fiction Desk is the Flash Fiction Competition. The 2017 edition was won by Steve Clarkson – “Excuse me” shows us that behind the possibly bland, predictable exterior of the “tourist” lies a human being carrying a baggage of personal pains.
Whilst some of the contributors have already been featured before, this anthology also has space for newcomers. And it is refreshing to note that “newcomers” are not necessarily young authors. Eleanor Bell had been a teacher for many years before trying her hand at writing. She draws upon her experiences for “Meeting Miss Mathieson” a piece of speculative fiction which explores the challenges and expectations facing modern parents. And Bert Thomson worked as a criminal lawyer for nearly forty years before returning to his first love, literature. He contributes a nostalgic love story – “On Some Cold Fierce Winter’s Day”. It might not be particularly original but it’s well-written and moving and fits the ethos of “The Fiction Desk” – that of presenting “stories about people and places, rather than about writing itself”.
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