A 2023 Independent Author Network (IAN) Book of the Year Finalist!
18 speculative short stories… A lyrical and literary approach to genre-based fiction. Speculative literary fiction that gleans its energy from the fantastical, making us think about who we are as people, about those Core Truths that govern the lives we choose to live.
"I adored this collection, which strikes the perfect tone between genre writing, sewing in elements of thriller, sci-fi and horror, with riveting stories about the human condition. The skeleton of each tale is a good story - the author has something to say which is so refreshing. There are several stand out tales, but I particularly loved 'The Outlaw of Unintended Consequences'. There isn't a bad tale here and once picked up, a reader will get through the substantial collection very swiftly." - Paul E. Draper, author of Black Gate Tales
“Despite their brevity, these short stories are complex and thought provoking. The author’s poetic touch draws empathy and connection between the reader and the characters. Every detail sings, and every story feels whole.” –Beth C. Greenberg, Author of The Cupid’s Fall series
“The writing was engaging, and I was really unable to put this book down.” –Country Mamas with Kids, Book blogger
“This thoroughly gripping set of stories move[s] you, as all good fiction should.” –Lin Morris, Author of Spot the Not
“Core Truths is a brilliant read, for lovers of sci-fi and human stories. It presents some truly dazzling futuristic concepts from the author's rich imagination, but never leaves you cold with sci-fi speak; rather Lisa Fox uses these other-worldly concepts to explore what it means to be human.” –Paulene Turner, Author of Secrets of the Nile
“A gripping and thrilling read.” –Tea Leaves and Book Leaves, Book blogger
“Simply breathtaking.” – Riley Cross, Author of Disconnected
“Full of wonder and heart.” –Myna Chang, Author of The Potential of Radio and Rain
“An imaginative anthology, and well worth the read for every spec fic lover. I will look forward to more works by this author because she sure has the right writing chops.” –Rosh Reviews
Lisa Fox is a pharmaceutical market researcher by day and fiction writer by night. She enjoys crafting short stories across genres, but most of her work can best be described as literary speculative fiction. For Lisa, there is no better satisfaction than creating something out of nothing, in transforming life’s ‘what ifs’ to prose that flashes a mirror on the human condition. As a writer, nothing makes her happier than having readers say that her work made them feel something or look at the world in a different way.
Lisa won the 2018 NYC Midnight Short Screenplay competition and in 2020 had work nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best Small Fictions. Her stories are featured in various publications, including Uncharted, Dark Matter, Metaphorosis, Bards and Sages Quarterly, New Myths, Brilliant Flash Fiction, Luna Station Quarterly, and in several other journals and anthologies.
A resident of New Jersey in the USA, Lisa survives, and sometimes even thrives, in the chaos of suburbia. She and her husband are kept busy raising two teenage boys and chasing their double-doodle dog, who loves stealing remotes and reading glasses.
You can find more of Lisa's work on her website - lisafoxiswriting.com; or you can reach her on Twitter: @iamlisafox10800.
In a Nutshell: A speculative fiction anthology dealing with some essential ‘core truths’ of what makes us what we are. Quite impressive for a debut work.
This collection of eighteen stories, while based in speculative fiction, still spans a range of subgenres such as fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism and horror. The author’s introductory note makes the theme clear right at the start. The stories focus, as the title indicates, on ‘core truths’. Each of us has a core truth within us, which defines our personality, guides our actions and motivates us towards certain choices. When life tests us, it is these core truths that determine our reaction, especially when the situation is not in our control.
The central character in each story thus has to confront a tough decision. We discover how they respond to the quandary facing them. Just as in life, not every ending is a happy one. Unfortunately, not every ending was a closed one as well. In some cases, I was left wanting more closure, for the character as well as for myself.
The stories herein come with an inherent contrast. On one hand, the genre is speculative fiction, which lends to the stories an unworldliness, a bizarreness, a dreamlike (and sometimes, nightmare like) quality. On the other hand, each story is as grounded as can be, rooted in such base human feelings as helplessness, despair, courage and determination.
The writing in this anthology is well-defined and even innovative at times in its structure. It never feels like a debut collection at all. The plots are distinct from each other, and the protagonists cover a wide array of characters, human and otherwise. I also loved the author’s world-building skills, something that is so tough to get right in a short story. Her prose is also commendable, creating myriad emotions with her choice of words and premises.
As always, I rated the stories individually, and fifteen of the stories reached or crossed the three star mark easily. So I either liked the stories or loved them, which is a great track record. My favourites, each with 4.5+ stars, were: 🌷 Don't Blink – Rarely does a short story leave me with as many questions as this one, but I still enjoyed its originality from start to end. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 🌷 To Lure Gavin Back Home – Is this a mother's wishful thinking or just something bizarre? Either way, worth every minute. Brilliant! - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 🌷 Worms – If this doesn’t scare you into using your smartphone for a lesser time, I don’t know what will! - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 🌷 A Dignified Death – Began as something typical but the backstory made this extraordinary. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 🌷 The Rise of the Mariner's Star – One of the more rooted tales in the collection. Almost like a mythological lore. Didn’t see the ending coming despite the title. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌷 Taking Hope – Reminded me of a Jodi Picoult book, but handled so, so much better! - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
All in all, this is an imaginative anthology, and well worth the read for every spec fic lover. I will look forward to more works by this author because she sure has the right writing chops.
3.8 stars, based on the average of my rating for each story.
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and author Lisa Fox for a complimentary copy of “Core Truths”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
“Core Truths” by Lisa Fox is a collection of wonderful, thought-provoking, and entertaining short stories about humans in often inhuman circumstances. The characters and situations will resonate deep inside while you read, as they mine the core truths that lie inside each of us. The first story, “Something Rare and Beautiful,” is a glimpse into the stories that lie ahead. There is an air of mystery about the stories and characters as they unfold but is never confusing. You soon realize that no matter which story you read, you can’t get away from the central idea of human nature and the choices we make based on our true selves.
Imagine a world where being forty years old means you’ve reached the end of your usefulness and are regarded as an anomaly, an outcast. The themes in these stories touch on ideas we can all relate to: aging, family, grieving, friends, illness, death, the life cycle, and doing what’s right instead of what’s expected. And some ideas that are clever and creative, yet still pull you into the realm of self and possibility, like the time traveler who has the ability to change the past, making him a target of interest. The language in the stories is beautiful, the phrasing poetic–the kind of stories you want others to experience immediately.
Each story reveals core truths, allowing readers to explore and identify their own core truths. Core truths are what dictate the choices we make and the lives we lead. The writing has depth without trying and can touch you in the way a complex fable does, with timeless messages of humanity–sometimes a life lesson, sometimes food for thought.
At the risk of sounding disrespectful, I would have to say that, to this reviewer, these stories are reminiscent of the very best “Twilight Zone” episodes, which offer intricate, poignant human stories wrapped in science fiction, or the supernatural. This writer knows how to set a mood, evoke emotions, and stir the imagination, all without lecturing, overwriting, or being too technical. Fox’s stories are brief, dramatic, and leave a lasting impression. She takes the what-if story to its highest level. She is an author you will want to read again. If you’re looking for a body of spec fiction to fall in love with, make it “Core Truths” by Lisa Fox.
Wow, this is an amazing collection of speculative fiction short stories. Each story is so nuanced and vastly different from the next — but at the core of every story are amazing characters, great writing, and an unforgettable story. I treated myself to one story each night before I went to sleep. The very first one still haunts me. So powerful. Please write more and publish more collections. This is definitely a writer to follow and watch. Great job! And thank you for these stories!
**Full disclosure** I have been fortunate to read all of Lisa’s stories during their development and watch her expertly craft each of them. If you’re a speculative fiction fan, I think you’ll love her work.
One of Lisa’s gifts is finding heart in her storytelling. Whether it’s a mother endlessly searching for the boy she lost, or a scientist faced with saving her world at an unimaginable cost, each story pits its characters with impossible decisions that ultimately define them.
I read hundreds of short stories a year from dozens of writers, and I can say that Lisa’s work is always top-notch. I’m left touched, often teary and always inspired by her prose. I’m so happy to finally have a collection of her work sitting on my shelf alongside other beloved collections.
Will the apocalypse be worms slithering from technology or slimy tentacles creatures reaching through the ice? What is the meaning of time and how do you hang on to it? Will the end of the world be on Earth or a distant planet? How do you survive the loss of a child?
Lisa creates vivid settings in each story, world-building behind a curtain so we believe we’ve always lived in a world with magic in seconds.
A highlight is the story “Sunshine in hell” with the gritty voice of a black and white twenties street drama.
This is a book worth picking up. The first story Something Rare and Beautiful, sets the scene well for what's to come. I adored its creative concept and contrasting perceptions on time and what it means to grow old. Reading on, the stories reliably tickled my brain with descriptive language. "I feel the sigh rise from my core; a lone bubble of oxygen pushed from the depths, reminding me to breathe." Quoted from the story Don't Blink, a poignant tale about a childs love across time and unexpected futures. Other favourites of mine are: A Dignified Death, Core Truths, and the heartbreaking yet wonderfully defiant Taking Hope - which takes my top spot. "She thought of a tumbleweed scraping coarse bristles through the valley, of prickly spines breaking through tough cactus skin, and wondered how people endured the sharpness of human life." Quoted from The Outlaw of Unintended Consequences, another wild west flavoured favourite. Overall, there is such a wide variety of stories in this collection, and they all have some kind of speculative/sci-fi element or twist, which I found satisfying. This is definitely a book for anyone who loves delicious prose and stories that make them think.
Lisa Fox is a masterful short-fiction writer, and Core Truths collects some of her emotion-filled, lyrical speculative tales. Each piece has a rich atmosphere, the narratives unfolding slowly, with an almost dreamlike quality, as we get to know the protagonists and what drives them, their quiet intensity often borne of desperation. This is really a collection about love: it imbues every story, permeates every paragraph, especially the love characters feel toward their kin, with the stories exploring the love of parents toward their children being exceptionally moving. Beautiful work.
A fantastic collection of stories that are both fantastic and lyrical. Lisa Fox brings the right amount of worldbuilding and beautiful storytelling-- each story envelops you. My favorite story was Taking Hope. This is a book I'll go back to and re-read again!
(Please note that I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book.”)
Core Truths is a brilliant read, for lovers of sci-fi and human stories. It presents some truly dazzling futuristic concepts from the author's rich imagination, but never leaves you cold with sci-fi speak; rather Lisa Fox uses these other-worldly concepts to explore what it means to be human.
Don't Blink, the opening story, is a skilfully told scifi tale of time-shifting...or is it? It had me sniffling and thinking about how quickly important moments pass us all by, and resolving to enjoy them while they're here.
Taking Hope is from the perspective of a clone, abused and ignored by the parents of the origin child. Though she's created by science, she feels keenly the pain of being overlooked, unloved. As we all do. Again, it was a thrilling sci-fi story, but overwhelmingly it felt like it was about what was at the core of our human needs.
A Little Bit of Sunshine in Hell was a particular favourite of mine, with a great period voice and a gripping tale of fortune, magic and making your own luck.
I also loved The Odds are Even, set in a futuristic time when conception and family is determined by a spin of the roulette wheel.
And The Outlaw of Unintended Consequences showcases Lisa Fox's flexibility with voice, as she writes a great western story around a gripping time travel conundrum.
There's so much in here to surprise and draw you in-- clever concepts, lovely language and relatable themes that all leave you pondering the vulnerability and strength of being human. Make sure you have some tissues handy, for oh so many poignant moments.
Many sci-fi writers sacrifice accessibility for clever futuristic tech and concepts, but for Lisa Fox, they are vessels for understanding the pain and joy of our shared humanity.
In her introduction to Core Truths, author Lisa Fox promises characters who confront the quintessential essence of who they are and who they will become—and she delivers beautifully. Masterful at the short story form (especially of the speculative fiction variety), Fox drops the reader straight into her characters’ most intense moments of conflict. The stakes are always high, but they’re always deeply personal as well. Pulling us inside the minds and imagined worlds of her characters, the author draws the thinnest possible line between hero and villain, courage and cowardice, even reality and science fiction. Dark and light are knotted as tightly as grief and hope. Nothing is black and white.
Despite their brevity, these short stories are complex and thought provoking. The author’s poetic touch draws empathy and connection between the reader and the characters. Every detail sings, and every story feels whole. And yet the author seamlessly plants that all-important question in the reader’s heart: What would I do in this situation?
I greatly enjoyed meeting Fox’s characters and highly recommend Core Truths even to readers who might ordinarily shy away from speculative fiction.
Thank you to Crystal Skipper Press for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
If you love tales that tug at the heartstrings, and pack emotional gut-punches, check out Core Truths. By the time I got a few tales in, and I was ugly-crying in public. Core Truths kept me turning the pages, sucked into the creative and conflict-filled speculative stories from the opening piece, “Something Rare and Beautiful,” through the final one, “The Healing Power of Witchcraft.” Take the sci-fi “Core Truths,” with a failing world, as “The Mother” in her crystal chamber succumbs to poison, and a crew on a mission tries to find the element to save their planet—but at what cost? Or “Something Rare and Beautiful, where a father and young son enjoy bonding time on a park bench, people watching, and he, wondering how many days they have left. Fox spins the world straight into the tale, making me hurt for their life. But lessons come from the most unlikely places. If you enjoy rich world-building, characters who matter, and beautiful prose, give this collection a read. I am SOOOOO freaking excited to read her next book, Passageways, which released recently.
Wow, I really enjoyed reading this short story collection by the author. There are so many stories in this book. A few of my favorites were: Taking Hope, The Outlaw of Unintended Consequences, and Something Rare and Beautiful. A few of these stories shared sci-fi/fantasy elements but I love that about stories! The writing was engaging and I was really unable to put this book down until I read all the stories. A common theme in this book is that all the characters have to come to terms with some kind of very hard truth about themselves or others. And that is an amazingly poignant message for us all as readers. There are also some mythical creatures in this book for those like myself who also like to read about them, such as Sea Elves, Witches, and vampires to name a few.
There's an underlying current to this group of speculative, mostly-sci-fi tales: the examination of truth, of morality, of ethical living. But the stories are never preachy; instead they give you pause, make you think. More than once, I finished a story and thought, "What would I do in this situation?" But more than anything, this thoroughly gripping set of stories move you, as all good fiction should. Highlights: Worms (for me, the best of the entire group); Vanished; The Rise of the Mariner's Star; and A Little Bit of Sunshine in Hell. Each is equally bracing and thought-provoking. Highly Recommended!
Spent my morning happily reading a chilling SciFi collection… Core Truths by Lisa Fox is simply breathtaking. How has technology been used to combat common human fears… or further these nightmares? From dreams to death, what is the core truth?
Just like a trip to the Twilight Zone, Lisa Fox is ready to let your imagination travel to vast unknowns…