Dancing through Winter

by B. Morris Allen

After the war, four people survive in a cavern - two adults, two children. But when young Jim learns the truth about his dead father, his small world begins to fall apart.

This is a SHORT STORY (7,300 words)

Note: this story is not related to the novella "The Speed of Winter" by the same author.

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2013

About the author

B. Morris Allen is a biochemist turned activist turned lawyer turned foreign aid consultant, and frequently wonders whether it's time for a new career. He's been traveling since birth, and has lived on five continents. When he can, he makes his home on the Oregon coast. In between journeys, he edits Metaphorosis magazine, and works on his own speculative stories of love and disaster. His dark fantasy novel Susurrus came out in 2017.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an emotional rollercoaster! Two adults and two teenagers stuck together in a cave after a nuclear fallout: the epitome of awkwardness! I liked how, throughout certain parts of the story, the author didn't come out and blatantly say what was going on, but rather the readers were able to infer what might have happened and then be told after the fact that their assumption was either correct or wrong. The characters were easy to sympathize with, and I for one was imagining what I would do had I been placed in a similar situation.

[Nicky Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but very engaging story. I usually find stories of this length make it hard for me to connect with the characters but this one was different. I really felt for the two children and the fact that they were on the cusp of becoming adults made it all the more poignant. I will be checking into the authors other stories and cross my fingers for a full novel at some point.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story about two families living in a network of cave systems after a nuclear fallout. The characters are very well developed for only knowing them a short time and I felt for their plight. As with B. Morris Allen's other short story that I have read, I didn't want it to stop so soon!