Of Bone and Steel and Other Soft Materials

by Annie Bellet

Eking out an existence as a scavenger in post-apocalyptic Russia, Ryska never thought she would be more than a blind, discarded military experiment. Then she ends up in the middle of a kidnapping gone wrong and must use her all her skills to save herself, and the young boy who brings back painful memories of her past.This is a science fiction short story that originally appeared in Mirror Volume One.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Own

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2011

About the author

Annie Bellet is a full-time speculative fiction writer. She holds a BA in English and a BA in Medieval Studies and thus can speak a smattering of useful languages such as Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Welsh.

Her books include Avarice (Pyrrh Considerable Crimes Division: Book 1), The Gryphonpike Chronicles series, and the Twenty-Sided Sorceress series.

Her interests besides writing include rock climbing, reading, horse-back riding, video games, comic books, table-top RPGs, and many other nerdy pursuits.


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Reviews

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It isn’t you I wanted to forget, it isn’t you I shove away. I just want silence. I want peace.”

It was . . . short. Good storytelling, but not much of a story--it felt like it was a scene written for a creative writing class. Just that, a scene.

“She still remembered. She still loved. She’d thought her heart had been buried with the blackened bones beneath the demolished Lab, but she carried it still. It was time to move on and feel again.”

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this short read by Bellet. I enjoyed the uniqueness of Ryska and would love to read more books about her. Does anyone know if she's part of any other books by Bellet?

[Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I suspect it would be four were it longer for the writing is eloquent (if in need of a touch of proofreading) and you can feel these hints of emotion, even in just a few short pages.

[Kevis Hendrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, short, and fun. Yet another really cool story from this author that deserved to become a series. I would have paid good money to read more about this character as opposed to the author's new urban fantasy stuff. Btw, I have an older edition of this book with an unimpressive cover. But the new alternate cover kicks serious butt. I hope Ms. Bellet revisits this world one day and give Ryska the royal treatment. I'll be waiting to get my copy.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author I have read; I thought it might be good start with a shorter story to see how I like the writing style, storytelling, etc. To be fair and upfront, I don't usually read short stories. I prefer at least novellas, that way you are more likely to get a real feel for the book, but all I had by this author were a couple full lengths and this short. This was really short, of course, and because of that you don't get any real backstory. I think there's a lot of potential here though. A full length novel could probably be great. Maybe it's just my older kindle, but the use of Russian (? Guessing here but seemed likely) did not pull up for me to read what they meant. If a foreign word isn't explained in a book and it didn't pull up, I get a tad ornery not understanding what is being said. That would be my only complaint. For a short, I thought it was rather well done. It's like a scene from a full length, at least to me, where you feel like there's a much bigger story at play. Also why I think it has a lot of potential. If there are books out there with the character, I honestly haven't looked yet being new to this author, it makes sense. And they'd likely be good.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I already knew I liked Bellet's writing, and this short is no exeption.
This is a fast—paced, action—filled short, with some interesting twists and turns.

The MC has a habdicap not often seen in these kind of story — she's blind. I would love to read more about this character, and this world. There's so much to work on, here! I want more!

Unfortunatly, it's only a short, and there's so much more to go on.

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short, maybe a 7-page story. It is a fast read and makes one wish to read more. It is hard to place a reader in a different world, complete an adventure, and develop a character complete with a back story is such a short piece of work. Annie Bellet pulled it off, and I can tell she has a great deal of talent. I am interested in reading more of her work.

[Kristi Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Great story. Great Characters.

I enjoy being introduced to new stories especially by tried and true authors.
This was a short sweet read.
I recommend to readers that enjoy SciFi, Paranormal and Annie Bellet to read and enjoy!

[Toni Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Leaves much to your imagination. Past and future are left up to the reader to supply, while still having a beginning, middle and end.

[John Walkenford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure

I would so leave to hear more about this character. Once again Annie does an awesome job of creating a new world and character in a shirt amount of space.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short book and so not too complicated. Characters are well defined and likable. When you're in the middle of a crime, do you stop to save someone else?

[Queen Talk Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

I really want to read more about Ryska. What is her backstory? What does the future hold in this dystopian world other than violence?

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very complex world to try and squeeze into a short story. I can see potential in this post-apocalyptic world and would read more.

[ROBERT P MICHAUD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I love this author and enjoyed this short story but post-apocalyptic fiction isn't really my thing. Still a good read.

[Peyton Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully sympathetic protagonist. I hope she gets her own series.

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Bone and Steel and Whiskers

“The programs in her control panel remembered her training, even if she fought to forget.”

Ryska is scavenging in an industrial area in the outskirts of Tynda when she unwittingly stumbles into the middle of a botched kidnapping for ransom. The target – a young boy named Toma, son of the famed “Railway Demon” – reminds her of the boys she couldn’t save back at the Lab: Misha. Luka. Gregr. Her brothers and friends. Though it goes against her survival instinct, Ryska vows to help Toma escape his captors (and if his father rewards her with a fat bag of cash, all the better). Luckily, she has something that her sighted pursuers do not: high-tech sensory whiskers that allow her to see in the dark, and specialized combat training from her childhood in the Lab.

A short thriller/science fiction/dystopian story, “Of Bone and Steel and Other Soft Materials” feels like a little novelette in a larger series, meant to provide some backstory for or additional insight into a much-loved character. As I read, I yearned to learn more about Ryska and her time in the Lab, or to find out what she did with her reward money; sadly, “Of Bone and Steel” is all there is. Still, it’s a fun little read, overall well-written and fast-paced.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/07/05/...

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this freebie because both the title and cover art caught my eye, and I'm so glad I did. What a neat story this is, with the author's unique vision of a blind heroine who rescues a kidnapped boy who reminds her of her painful past as a failed military experiment. Set in a futuristic Russia, the story moves quickly and offers enough backstory to make me want more. Our heroine Ryska is both efficiently deadly yet compassionate in her rescue of a little boy.

Good short stories are hard to write - fewer words, greater impact, and all that. So, I'm impressed with the author's story telling in short form. Very well done.

[Mrklingon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, brisk, nicely paced short cyberpunk story! Maybe cyberpunk isn't the right word, but it's neatly put together adventure which slowly teases out the details of it's post-human protagonist caught in a situation where she has to take a chance to save a child who she comes across while scavenging in abandoned buildings. I'd like to see more of the same from Bellet! [Hat tip to the recent Worldcon events to point me in her direction - something good that came of that mess. A plus - the story was a free Kindle download!]

[Hikes in Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and fascinating. Somewhat disturbing in some ways, as well, but left me wanting more. A highly modified human, still clinging desperately to her humanity, escapes her captivity to make a life while staying undercover. When a young boy invades her area while on the run from kidnappers, she has no choice but to unleash her combat skills and add-ons again. But at a cost.

[R.M. Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive Blind Fight Scenes

Four stars seems appropriate, because of some typos. I enjoyed Ryska's compassion despite being a failed human experiment. The fight scene was quite excellent considering the heroine is blind... this was a unique reading experience for me. Readers who enjoy fight scenes in unique and colorful detail will definitely enjoy this short story.

[Brandon Luffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little story! I enjoyed the perspective of seeing the world through Ryska's "eyes". I'd be interested in knowing more about this world, and the back-story on the character. Well written, with enough hinted at to give you enough to go on without info-dumping on the reader. Good stuff!

[Joshua Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You're either the hunter or the rabbit...she didn't want to be the rabbit."

If you liked hunger games then you'll love this short story about a tough-as-nails heroine. And she kicks butt blindfolded. And it tickled my nerd brain with some cool tech.

[Mitticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Enhanced (young?) woman struggling to survive scavenging, has to make a decision about help another being and open hurtful memories.
-

Too short. Good rythm.
Would like to see more about Ryska.

[Lisa Phillips]

Great

A gripping story with well defined characters and a intriguing and fast paced plot. I would love to follow the main character in her further adventure.

[Modrukinstealer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read. Interesting super soldier training kind of feel with a cross of weird experiment on children.

[Crissy Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story, with a fantastic backdrop. The woman leading the fight is blind, but she has enough tech to give her sight and save the child... if her batteries last.

[Patrick A Terpening · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story

Fun, fast read. There was plenty of details that had me wishing this was part of a novel. I hope to find the book this story belongs to.

[Cynthia Armistead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story

I was immediately drawn into Ryska's world, no long explanations or descriptions needed. Ballet is an evocative author and I look forward to far more from her in the future.