Dissonance

by Atlas Blaine

In this multi-genre collection of short stories and flash fiction, Atlas Blaine grapples with varying manifestations of the inharmonious. Be it a departure from reality, a grinding of two souls against one another, or a clashing of human nature with itself, each story inhabits a different sphere of dissonance and probes its shadows.

In “Wyoming,” Blaine contends with the poison that is intergenerational trauma through the eyes of a narrator whose youth was stripped away far too soon. “How To Kill Two Birds With One Stone” provides an all-too-literal guide to calculated murder, while in “Hunger,” a post-apocalyptic warrior scours the desert for the mutant beasts that feed his people, only to refuse his one chance at survival.

With experimental touches and themes intertwining across genres, Dissonance is saturated with Blaine’s affinity for darkness, seeking to disturb and invade the mind through a dissection of the most integral facets of humankind.

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2024

About the author

Atlas Blaine is fascinated by the human condition and all its complexity. She writes stories that often explore what that means, with a particular fondness for science fiction and thrillers. She draws inspiration from her education in computer science and psychology, and finds herself intrigued by tales that are evocative, cerebral, and tinged with darkness. She lives in Southern California with her partner, where in her free time she enjoys playing music, cheating in The Sims, and generating outrageous ideas for her next novel.

Learn more and join her mailing list at www.atlasblaine.com, or find her on social media (@atlas_blaine).

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of stories! I found it after reading the author’s debut novel and wanting to check out more of her work. This was short enough where I read through the whole thing in one sitting.

I did feel like some were *too* short but that might just be me not being used to the flash fiction format. Overall I really loved the author’s style, and some of the stories were genuinely beautiful. My favorite overall was probably Wyoming.

[RaeAnne Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I love Atlas's way of writing! This was such an amazing short book with a bunch of stories. Covering all sorts of topics that got pretty deep and made you really think about things.

It's short enough you can read in one sitting. Some of the stories I wish were longer, but that's just my personal want. They are all perfect how they were! There were some pretty dark topics, so keep that in mind if you pick this book up, but I highly suggest giving it a go!!