Review: Your "To-Read" List Will Get Longer
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
You know what I love about short fiction anthologies? You get to read a bunch of authors in one handy book, and discover shiny new ones to add to your “to read” list. On the down side, my list is getting way too frigging long, because I’ve added every author included in “FLYING TOASTERS.” Every story in this collection is well written and entertaining, and there’s a mixture of genres and styles, ranging from gritty to haunting and from thought-provoking to ridiculous. I find it hard to rate short story collections, but this time I had no problem. Every story deserves 5 stars.At first I was going to choose my favorites to review, but I had a hard time choosing, so I’ve decided to tell you why each is worth a read. Good thing this anthology includes just a handful of authors, eh?“The Man Upstairs” (Hanna Elizabeth) – Funny spin on ghosts that stays with the reader after “The End.” I cringed at the cat in the closet prank, because I've been there. (no spoilers, so I can't expand beyond that)"The Cave" (Brian L. Braden) - Possibly my favorite of the bunch (I know I said I couldn’t pick, but maybe I lied. I'm totally fan-girling Mr. Braden now.), “The Cave” is beautifully written and subtly creepy. (You’d have to read to understand what I mean, and I’m not giving away spoilers, so there.) I reread many passages in this story simply for the “magic” created in the words Braden chose. Among my top five in this story: “Men are loud in the face of dangers they understand, but fall silent in the shadow of the unknown.” I’m weird like that with the words."My Dead Friend Nancy" (Robert Brumm) – Solid storytelling. Loved this one. Usually stories focus on the awesomeness of immortality, but Mr. Brumm reminds us why it’s wise to know the “cons” of never dying as well."The Lightgiver" (Thomas Cardin) – Ladies, you really must read this one. That is all."Altitude Sickness" (C.M. Saunders) – This is why I don’t like planes…and people. The “big guy” in the story was so irritating I wanted to punch the book, which would have sucked because it’s an e-book…but anyway, extremely well written. Excellent characterization."Nymph-O-Maniacs" (Robert Bevan) – Hilarious. And, he used the word “hoo-ha.” Enough said."Prism" (John Gregory Hancock)- At first I thought this would be your typical fantasy story with fancy heroes and such, but I was pleasantly surprised. Very cool idea. No, not telling you why. Read it and find out."The Ballad of Azron Berzon" (Steven Wetherell) – Another funny one. I love this author’s style, and was hooked by this story in the first page, probably with this paragraph: “Port Town was ugly, but honest. The special kind of honest you get when everybody likes, and expects to be lied to. If there was any truth to the city, it wisely kept its mouth shut.”