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Sighted
Before the war Peter had lived an ordinary life, teaching in a university, falling in love. Then the war came, and nothing was ordinary again. Now he is a war hero who lies still for hours among the rubble and snow and dead bodies, killing the enemy one by one each time they stray in front of the sights of his rifle.
But one day, in this city where the living are just dead men walking, Peter comes across a target he cannot kill.
Sighted is a short story first published in the Stoker-nominated and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated anthology At Ease With The Dead.
Iain Rowan's short fiction has been reprinted in anthologies, won awards, and been the basis for a novel shortlisted for the UK Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger award.
"Iain Rowan is both a meticulous and a passionate writer, and these stories showcase his ample talent wonderfully well. You owe it to yourself to discover Rowan's fiction if you haven't already had the pleasure." (Jeff Vandermeer, author of Finch, Afterword, City of Saints and Madmen; two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award)
But one day, in this city where the living are just dead men walking, Peter comes across a target he cannot kill.
Sighted is a short story first published in the Stoker-nominated and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated anthology At Ease With The Dead.
Iain Rowan's short fiction has been reprinted in anthologies, won awards, and been the basis for a novel shortlisted for the UK Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger award.
"Iain Rowan is both a meticulous and a passionate writer, and these stories showcase his ample talent wonderfully well. You owe it to yourself to discover Rowan's fiction if you haven't already had the pleasure." (Jeff Vandermeer, author of Finch, Afterword, City of Saints and Madmen; two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award)
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2011
4 people want to read
About the author
Iain Rowan
33 books16 followersI've had a lot of short stories published, and some of those have won awards and been reprinted in anthologies. I was shortlisted for the UK Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger novel award a while back. I'm now working on something else.
ONE OF US is the crime novel that was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger, and which is now published in paperback and ebook by Infinity Plus.
NOWHERE TO GO is a collection of eleven of my previously published crime stories, which includes the Derringer Award-winning One Step Closer, and is available for all e-readers. It's published by Infinity Plus.
ICE AGE is a collection of eight stories of the strange and the chilling that have been published in various places over the last few years, and it's also available for all e-readers. Stories in ICE AGE have been reprinted in Year's Best anthologies or were first published in anthologies that ended up being nominated for the Stoker or Shirley Jackson Awards.
You can read more about all of this at my website, www.iainrowan.com.
ONE OF US is the crime novel that was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger, and which is now published in paperback and ebook by Infinity Plus.
NOWHERE TO GO is a collection of eleven of my previously published crime stories, which includes the Derringer Award-winning One Step Closer, and is available for all e-readers. It's published by Infinity Plus.
ICE AGE is a collection of eight stories of the strange and the chilling that have been published in various places over the last few years, and it's also available for all e-readers. Stories in ICE AGE have been reprinted in Year's Best anthologies or were first published in anthologies that ended up being nominated for the Stoker or Shirley Jackson Awards.
You can read more about all of this at my website, www.iainrowan.com.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 28, 2011
I came across this story after reading the fabulous Lilies by the same author. Both short stories have a similar feel and setting, being set in an unamed city in an unknown war. Like Lilies there is a supernatural element to the story, but here the effect is more ambiguous, leaving the reader unlcear how much of what is happening is real and how much is in the protagonist's mind.
This is one of those stories where everything works together - the build up, the ending, the theme even the title - for the desired affect. The writing is sparse and clean, and the setting of a city ruined by ongoing war vividly realised.
Recommended.
This is one of those stories where everything works together - the build up, the ending, the theme even the title - for the desired affect. The writing is sparse and clean, and the setting of a city ruined by ongoing war vividly realised.
Recommended.
Displaying 1 of 1 review