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A Flash in the Dark: A collection of flash fiction and short stories
Dive into this collection of short stories that run the spectrum of genres from fantasy to horror, crime and sci-fi.
Take a trip to Mars in Coming Home as humanity seeks a new home amongst the stars. Set sail on the open seas in pursuit of adventure and wealth in Monsters on the Tide. Christmas Spirit sees Santa seek a way to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. Double-header Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow see an aspiring musician seeking his big break. Follow Micah Andrews as he descends into the depths of Insomnia. Take a trip into a Lovecraft-inspired tale in One Black Crow.
A Flash in the Dark is a collection of short stories and flash fiction that all share a similar origin - that one moment of inspiration, a flash in the dark.
Take a trip to Mars in Coming Home as humanity seeks a new home amongst the stars. Set sail on the open seas in pursuit of adventure and wealth in Monsters on the Tide. Christmas Spirit sees Santa seek a way to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. Double-header Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow see an aspiring musician seeking his big break. Follow Micah Andrews as he descends into the depths of Insomnia. Take a trip into a Lovecraft-inspired tale in One Black Crow.
A Flash in the Dark is a collection of short stories and flash fiction that all share a similar origin - that one moment of inspiration, a flash in the dark.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2024
About the author
Steven Smith
5 books29 followersI've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. In school, I loved writing stories. In 2015, I set up a blog to review my then-reading obsession - the Discworld series. Over time the reviews branched out and I added new book-based features. It's called Books and Beyond Reviews
In late 2019, an idea for a story struck, so I took part in NaNoWriMo to keep me honest. Throughout 2020 that idea eventually became my first novel, Chasing Shadows. In late 2020 I had finally finished revising it, ready for editing. It released on Kindle and paperback on the 1st of April 2021.
I've also been hard at work on my second novel, the follow up to Chasing Shadows and trying my hand at a whole host of short stories to boot. One of my short stories, Coming Home, published in the collection Connections, published by Fuzzy Flamingo on the 23rd of April 2021.
In late 2019, an idea for a story struck, so I took part in NaNoWriMo to keep me honest. Throughout 2020 that idea eventually became my first novel, Chasing Shadows. In late 2020 I had finally finished revising it, ready for editing. It released on Kindle and paperback on the 1st of April 2021.
I've also been hard at work on my second novel, the follow up to Chasing Shadows and trying my hand at a whole host of short stories to boot. One of my short stories, Coming Home, published in the collection Connections, published by Fuzzy Flamingo on the 23rd of April 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 3, 2025
A Flash in the Dark by Steven Smith is a striking showcase of imagination, range, and emotional depth a masterful anthology that captures the essence of storytelling across genres and moods.
From the far reaches of Mars to the haunted edges of human consciousness, Smith’s stories move effortlessly between sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and noir, bound by a single thread that electric moment of inspiration, that flash in the dark. Each tale unfolds with precision and atmosphere, revealing the author’s gift for world-building and tone within the tight confines of flash and short fiction.
In Coming Home, humanity’s search for a new beginning among the stars resonates with quiet poignancy. Monsters on the Tide channels classic adventure and myth, while Insomnia and One Black Crow dive into psychological and cosmic horror with chilling restraint. The paired pieces Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow ground the collection with a gritty, emotional realism that lingers long after the final page.
What makes Smith’s collection compelling is its balance of imagination and humanity each narrative, no matter how brief, feels like a glimpse into a fully realized world. His prose is sharp, visual, and cinematic, inviting readers to savor every sentence while leaving space for wonder and reflection.
For fans of Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, and Shirley Jackson, A Flash in the Dark offers a captivating journey through the strange, the beautiful, and the unsettling corners of the human experience. This is short fiction at its most inventive a reminder that even the smallest spark can illuminate entire worlds.
From the far reaches of Mars to the haunted edges of human consciousness, Smith’s stories move effortlessly between sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and noir, bound by a single thread that electric moment of inspiration, that flash in the dark. Each tale unfolds with precision and atmosphere, revealing the author’s gift for world-building and tone within the tight confines of flash and short fiction.
In Coming Home, humanity’s search for a new beginning among the stars resonates with quiet poignancy. Monsters on the Tide channels classic adventure and myth, while Insomnia and One Black Crow dive into psychological and cosmic horror with chilling restraint. The paired pieces Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow ground the collection with a gritty, emotional realism that lingers long after the final page.
What makes Smith’s collection compelling is its balance of imagination and humanity each narrative, no matter how brief, feels like a glimpse into a fully realized world. His prose is sharp, visual, and cinematic, inviting readers to savor every sentence while leaving space for wonder and reflection.
For fans of Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, and Shirley Jackson, A Flash in the Dark offers a captivating journey through the strange, the beautiful, and the unsettling corners of the human experience. This is short fiction at its most inventive a reminder that even the smallest spark can illuminate entire worlds.
July 25, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of flash fiction and short stories from author, Steven Smith. A Flash In The Dark features a good mix of everything from fantasy, dark crime, psychological thrillers, sci-fi, an emotional story about an imperfect doll, and even an inspiring Christmas story.
Standouts for me were Coming Home, about an astronaut’s exploration to Mars that features a fantastic twist. The life and demise of a musician across Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow. The joy and pitfalls of being a writer in Underwood and Writer’s Retreat. The ghostly, A Haunted King. And the leaves-you-wanting-more crime thrillers, Inside Job, and Insomnia. Even though there’s a mix of genres, the author’s engaging and beautifully written prose ties all of the stories together, and I’d happily read another collection by him.
Standouts for me were Coming Home, about an astronaut’s exploration to Mars that features a fantastic twist. The life and demise of a musician across Windy City Blues and Sin City Sorrow. The joy and pitfalls of being a writer in Underwood and Writer’s Retreat. The ghostly, A Haunted King. And the leaves-you-wanting-more crime thrillers, Inside Job, and Insomnia. Even though there’s a mix of genres, the author’s engaging and beautifully written prose ties all of the stories together, and I’d happily read another collection by him.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews