Above Discovery

by Jennifer Falkner

A collection that careens from Ancient Greece to the Klondike Gold Rush, for readers of A. S. Byatt and Margaret Atwood.

“It is the part that is missing that I am drawn to, that I try to pin down. My gaze is always divided by what is here and what is no longer here. That, for me, is where the deepest pleasure lies, where the sweet overcomes the bitter."


A couple coping with a recent loss are tasked with taking stock of a late biology enthusiast’s hoard. A support worker dedicated to rehabilitating young women suffering from, among other things, a certain unexpected effect of the climate apocalypse faces a truth that shatters the illusion separating her work and her personal life. An archaeologist formerly working in Syria struggles with her decision to flee from unrest, while the people she has left behind face an uncertain fate.

In Jennifer Falkner’s richly imagined first collection, past and present glancingly converge, making the familiar outlines of myth, history, and everyday life seem suddenly strange. With spare, elegant prose, Falkner introduces the reader to those whose narratives are written in the language of empty space. Above Discovery is a stunning debut collection from an author to watch.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

Jennifer Falkner is the author of the novella Susanna Hall, Her Book and the collection of short stories, Above Discovery (Invisible Publishing, May 2023).

Reviews

[Maddison Micetick · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a debut, this was such a lovely collection of short stories. The prose was so simple and striking for me, and I loved Falkner's ability to so easily fit into different characters, time periods, and cultures across each story. The descriptions of nature especially felt so vivid while reading, and she really painted a picture in my mind. The themes of control and agency, and who has or lacks them, was explored uniquely in each story, but I found it hard to connect the dots while reading and it only cleared up after I looked back at my notes and reflected a bit. For me, I really appreciate writing that allows you to make connections during the reading process, and while I don't think it was a huge issue, it did leave a it of confusion for me as to why she chose these specific stories. I also wish some of the stories were more fleshed out, I think it could have furthered the themes a bit better. Oerall though, SUCH a pleasant read, and I'd definitely look into more of her work when it comes!!

[Jacqueline Smeaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is beautiful. The stories are short (which I love). Most of them were thought provoking and some lovely, but a couple were a little too weird for me.

[AneMus · Rating 3 out of 5]

a couple of great short stories

but overall lack of cohesion in the whole collection