What do you think?
Rate this book
From the Indie Side
A man who remembers the future and a veteran haunted by his past. A witch ignorant of her powers and a vampire achingly aware of his emptiness. An unmaimed man, a cursed queen, a troubled marriage, a family just trying to survive. From an abandoned convent to a Martian classroom, an open-mic reading to a New Mexico mountaintop, these fantastical and imaginative tales will take you on a journey through impossible worlds, all-too-possible futures, and disquieting glimpses into the other side of reality. Packed with original short stories ranging from sci-fi to thriller to the supernatural, "From the Indie Side" brings together some of the biggest authors in independent publishing today. Be prepared for a great ride—and don’t be surprised if you discover your new favorite author in these pages. Featuring Michael Bunker, Peter Cawdron, Kate Danley, Anne Frasier, Sara Foster, Jason Gurley, Mel Hearse, Kev Heritage, Hugh Howey, Ernie Lindsey, Susan May, and Brian Spangler; and edited by David Gatewood. Includes a foreword by Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool.
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2014
13 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 17, 2014
There was a time when I didn’t know what to do with short stories. Even the term “short story” threw me. Why define a piece of fiction by length, especially in the age of digital publishing? As works of fiction, they evoked feelings of high school where it felt as if the teacher selected the text based more on the attention span of the class than the impact of the writing.
For anyone who might have some of the same reservations, I suggest picking up a copy of “From the Indie Side,” a collection of twelve short stories by independent authors. The theme of the collection is less about genre and more about a feeling. A feeling of freedom of expression and authenticity that “oozes from every page”, as Hugh Howey points out in the foreword.
As refreshing as the stories themselves are the author profiles that follow each piece. In these bios, the author often takes a crack at what the art of short story-telling means to them. I took comfort in the fact that these artists seemed seemed no less ambivalent than I.
Take “The Winter Lands” by Jason Gurley, a piece about a elderly war veteran who shows up at the final open mike night of the local bookstore. He’s published just one short story in his entire life, a tale about a magical land of Snowlings. Still, even with no further external publishing success he has “written of the winter lands for more than sixty years.” As he takes the stage, Gurley describes his final moments with beauty and more than a hint of mystery. In his afterword, Gurley tells us: “Ambiguity is not anathema to the short story.”
Ambiguity also figures heavily in “Made of Stars” by Anne Frasier, a wonderfully told love story between Gabriel, a vampire, and Lila, a waitress. The tale is relayed in seven chapters, alternating between the two lovers and shifting in time. In her note, Frasier tells us that the story began as part of the timed writing party. The looseness of the plot might have put me off were this a novel, but since I knew she was working in a very constrained space, I let the beauty of Frasier’s prose take over.
In “The Man With Two Legs,” Ernie Lindsey takes a conventional view of the short story: “crafting a well-told tale in short amount of space.” And then he does exactly that by creating a world where an amputated leg is a societal norm, then weaving a story of revenge and regime change with a twisted ending.
I read Hugh Howey’s contribution to the collection with great delight. “Mouth Breathers” is a very short story, I would really call it a vingette, about an Earth kid trying to blend in with the Martian middle school population. Clever, well-written, and very short with a big emotional wallop.
My favorite of the book was “Queen Joanna” by Kate Danley. This novella opens on the day of Joanna’s arranged wedding to King Stephen. Using rich detail and a “Game of Thrones”-ish setting, Danley unfolds a mystery about the troubled king who makes no move to consummate his new marriage. We soon find he is being haunted his first wife—and now she is coming after poor Joanna. I won’t tell you the ending, but you’ll love it.
Another reviewer called this book a “gateway drug to the growing number of indie authors.” I agree. The quality of the writing plus the author notes following each story made a great package for very reasonable price.
And maybe a place where you can find explore short stories for yourself.
For anyone who might have some of the same reservations, I suggest picking up a copy of “From the Indie Side,” a collection of twelve short stories by independent authors. The theme of the collection is less about genre and more about a feeling. A feeling of freedom of expression and authenticity that “oozes from every page”, as Hugh Howey points out in the foreword.
As refreshing as the stories themselves are the author profiles that follow each piece. In these bios, the author often takes a crack at what the art of short story-telling means to them. I took comfort in the fact that these artists seemed seemed no less ambivalent than I.
Take “The Winter Lands” by Jason Gurley, a piece about a elderly war veteran who shows up at the final open mike night of the local bookstore. He’s published just one short story in his entire life, a tale about a magical land of Snowlings. Still, even with no further external publishing success he has “written of the winter lands for more than sixty years.” As he takes the stage, Gurley describes his final moments with beauty and more than a hint of mystery. In his afterword, Gurley tells us: “Ambiguity is not anathema to the short story.”
Ambiguity also figures heavily in “Made of Stars” by Anne Frasier, a wonderfully told love story between Gabriel, a vampire, and Lila, a waitress. The tale is relayed in seven chapters, alternating between the two lovers and shifting in time. In her note, Frasier tells us that the story began as part of the timed writing party. The looseness of the plot might have put me off were this a novel, but since I knew she was working in a very constrained space, I let the beauty of Frasier’s prose take over.
In “The Man With Two Legs,” Ernie Lindsey takes a conventional view of the short story: “crafting a well-told tale in short amount of space.” And then he does exactly that by creating a world where an amputated leg is a societal norm, then weaving a story of revenge and regime change with a twisted ending.
I read Hugh Howey’s contribution to the collection with great delight. “Mouth Breathers” is a very short story, I would really call it a vingette, about an Earth kid trying to blend in with the Martian middle school population. Clever, well-written, and very short with a big emotional wallop.
My favorite of the book was “Queen Joanna” by Kate Danley. This novella opens on the day of Joanna’s arranged wedding to King Stephen. Using rich detail and a “Game of Thrones”-ish setting, Danley unfolds a mystery about the troubled king who makes no move to consummate his new marriage. We soon find he is being haunted his first wife—and now she is coming after poor Joanna. I won’t tell you the ending, but you’ll love it.
Another reviewer called this book a “gateway drug to the growing number of indie authors.” I agree. The quality of the writing plus the author notes following each story made a great package for very reasonable price.
And maybe a place where you can find explore short stories for yourself.
February 12, 2014
For a low, low price, you get twelve awesome and original short stories. That's only a little more than thirty-three cents per story! Let's see what's between the covers:
Jason Gurley's "The Winter Lands" - An elderly World War II veteran, Jonathan, who is also an aspiring writer, goes to open mike night to read his story for the first time. But it's about much more than that, as Jonathan's story doesn't have an ending and he's been waiting his entire lifetime to discover what that ending is. An engrossing read with deeper meaning as you realize the destination defines what the journey was all about.
Brian Spangler's "Going Gray" - A family of four trying to survive a cataclysm of gigantic proportions when a poisonous fog begins to destroy almost everything it touches. The author puts you deep into this panicked situation, makes you wonder and hope about the fate of this family and how they try to survive the event. It moves at at a breakneck pace which doesn't let up from page one. You are pulled into the story immediately, invested in their fate right up to the final gut-punch ending that left me breathless.
Kate Danley's "Queen Joanna" - Starts off like a standard fairy tale, a man and a woman from two separate kingdoms marry in order to unite their lands, but then it goes off on an unexpected path, when the king isn't remotely interested in his new bride(!). The story as to why this is, along with a come-from-behind twist ending, makes for a fun story that keeps you guessing.
Hugh Howey's "Mouth Breathers" - This story is about a child who moves from Earth to Mars but he doesn't need a breathing pack like all of the other children do. His parents force him to wear a fake one in order to blend in with the other kids and not get singled out for his differences. This story is the second of three featuring these same characters. (These other stories are available for free on his website too.) I must say, that Hugh Howey guy, he's showing some real potential here and just might make something of himself one of these days (just kidding, Hugh!) This is an enjoyable, well-written story that everyone can relate to, where someone fakes something in order to look just like everyone else, with a twist.
Ernie Lindsey's "The Man With Two Legs" - A story about a normal man with two legs takes on a whole new meaning when everyone around you only has one. And when people lose one leg at an early age, they are forced to hobble in an environment of fear by their own oppressive government. A tale of revenge, rescue of a loved one and a desire to right a societal wrong provides much food for thought.
Sara Foster's "Cipher" - This story makes your wonder what would happen if you're separated from your family in the midst of a terrorist crisis in your city, what do you do, how do you handle it and whether you can trust the kindness of strangers. It kept me guessing the whole way through with its unpredictability as to what would happen next.
Anne Frasier's "Made of Stars" - This is not your typical vampire story and thankfully, it's not filled with angsty vampires that sparkle either. What would you do if you could live an entire lifetime of love with someone in the space of a moment? A genius vampire creates a device that makes this happen and allows one of his brethren to beta test it. Be careful what you wish for though, as you might just get it!
Kev Heritage's "Gyre-Witchery" - A woman in the midst of being expelled from her village on suspicion of being some kind of witch and put to death. Believing herself to be innocent of these charges, she miraculously survives, eventually learns of her true heritage and embarks on a path to embrace her destiny.
Susan May's "The War Veteran" - A rollicking story where an elderly World War II veteran keeps reliving his memories of D-Day, carrying a terrible burden of guilt. But, when it appears his memories are coming to life on his front lawn in the present day, how will be handle it and what will he do? Deeply sad but ultimately uplifting, it made me imagine what I would do if the horrors of war just appeared on my doorstep.
Mel Hearse's "The Greater Good" - A wife gets into a car accident and loses some of her memory. When she starts regaining her memories in the process of investigating what happened, she thinks she knows whats going on. What seems to be a simple story of a wife suspecting her scientist husband is having an affair evolves into a much more sinister tale about trying to help the population of the entire planet. Very provocative and it keeps you guessing whether her memories are helping her learn what happened or are leading her to false conclusions.
Michael Bunker's "REDOUBT" - Four ex-military survivalists form a bond against the much larger backdrop of the collapse of civilization as we know it. We learn how these friends came on retreat to the mountains, and how, by necessity, it became a haven as civilization crumbled around them. Grounded by interesting characters, the author explores how in their friendship, and despite differences in their political viewpoints, they find common ground together in trying to survive against the encroaching lawlessness around them. I found it to be a more thoughtful take on the end of the world, maintaining suspense while keeping you continuously interested.
Peter Cawdron's "The Man Who Remembered Today" - This is a story about a paramedic who knows the immediate future, doesn't know how he knows what he knows but tries to use this new found ability to prevent a series of terrorist attacks and save lives. As he learns more about how this power works, he still trying to prevent these attacks while being chased by the police, who believe he's the prime suspect! In the process, we get a heart-pounding thrill-a-minute tale that grabs you until the very last word.
All of these stories have tremendous scope and remarkable focus on their characters and their dilemmas. In all of the stories, you feel for each protagonist, as they are filled with rich characterization. You vividly feel what they feel and truly walk in their shoes through the beauty of the descriptive prose and the narrative each author weaves.
Some of these tales beg for a sequel, because they create such a vast tapestry in a limited amount of pages where there is plenty of room to grow into further stories. Other stories take place as prequels to stories within universes the authors have already created, like Bunker with Wick & The Last Pilgrims and Spangler with his Going Gray stories. But these are still completely stand-alone, with no prior knowledge necessary of the other works in order to enjoy them.
I also liked how each story ended with a note from the author talking about writing or giving some additional context to the story. Each authors singular vision comes through vibrantly and all of the stories in this collection are compelling and are never anything less than interesting.
I was familiar with several of the authors in this anthology before reading it. But now, I have discovered such terrific tales that I will be searching out more stories from more of these authors in the future. Give these authors your time and attention and they will delight you with their imagination and talent. Once you do that, you should go buy more of their works. :)
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Jason Gurley's "The Winter Lands" - An elderly World War II veteran, Jonathan, who is also an aspiring writer, goes to open mike night to read his story for the first time. But it's about much more than that, as Jonathan's story doesn't have an ending and he's been waiting his entire lifetime to discover what that ending is. An engrossing read with deeper meaning as you realize the destination defines what the journey was all about.
Brian Spangler's "Going Gray" - A family of four trying to survive a cataclysm of gigantic proportions when a poisonous fog begins to destroy almost everything it touches. The author puts you deep into this panicked situation, makes you wonder and hope about the fate of this family and how they try to survive the event. It moves at at a breakneck pace which doesn't let up from page one. You are pulled into the story immediately, invested in their fate right up to the final gut-punch ending that left me breathless.
Kate Danley's "Queen Joanna" - Starts off like a standard fairy tale, a man and a woman from two separate kingdoms marry in order to unite their lands, but then it goes off on an unexpected path, when the king isn't remotely interested in his new bride(!). The story as to why this is, along with a come-from-behind twist ending, makes for a fun story that keeps you guessing.
Hugh Howey's "Mouth Breathers" - This story is about a child who moves from Earth to Mars but he doesn't need a breathing pack like all of the other children do. His parents force him to wear a fake one in order to blend in with the other kids and not get singled out for his differences. This story is the second of three featuring these same characters. (These other stories are available for free on his website too.) I must say, that Hugh Howey guy, he's showing some real potential here and just might make something of himself one of these days (just kidding, Hugh!) This is an enjoyable, well-written story that everyone can relate to, where someone fakes something in order to look just like everyone else, with a twist.
Ernie Lindsey's "The Man With Two Legs" - A story about a normal man with two legs takes on a whole new meaning when everyone around you only has one. And when people lose one leg at an early age, they are forced to hobble in an environment of fear by their own oppressive government. A tale of revenge, rescue of a loved one and a desire to right a societal wrong provides much food for thought.
Sara Foster's "Cipher" - This story makes your wonder what would happen if you're separated from your family in the midst of a terrorist crisis in your city, what do you do, how do you handle it and whether you can trust the kindness of strangers. It kept me guessing the whole way through with its unpredictability as to what would happen next.
Anne Frasier's "Made of Stars" - This is not your typical vampire story and thankfully, it's not filled with angsty vampires that sparkle either. What would you do if you could live an entire lifetime of love with someone in the space of a moment? A genius vampire creates a device that makes this happen and allows one of his brethren to beta test it. Be careful what you wish for though, as you might just get it!
Kev Heritage's "Gyre-Witchery" - A woman in the midst of being expelled from her village on suspicion of being some kind of witch and put to death. Believing herself to be innocent of these charges, she miraculously survives, eventually learns of her true heritage and embarks on a path to embrace her destiny.
Susan May's "The War Veteran" - A rollicking story where an elderly World War II veteran keeps reliving his memories of D-Day, carrying a terrible burden of guilt. But, when it appears his memories are coming to life on his front lawn in the present day, how will be handle it and what will he do? Deeply sad but ultimately uplifting, it made me imagine what I would do if the horrors of war just appeared on my doorstep.
Mel Hearse's "The Greater Good" - A wife gets into a car accident and loses some of her memory. When she starts regaining her memories in the process of investigating what happened, she thinks she knows whats going on. What seems to be a simple story of a wife suspecting her scientist husband is having an affair evolves into a much more sinister tale about trying to help the population of the entire planet. Very provocative and it keeps you guessing whether her memories are helping her learn what happened or are leading her to false conclusions.
Michael Bunker's "REDOUBT" - Four ex-military survivalists form a bond against the much larger backdrop of the collapse of civilization as we know it. We learn how these friends came on retreat to the mountains, and how, by necessity, it became a haven as civilization crumbled around them. Grounded by interesting characters, the author explores how in their friendship, and despite differences in their political viewpoints, they find common ground together in trying to survive against the encroaching lawlessness around them. I found it to be a more thoughtful take on the end of the world, maintaining suspense while keeping you continuously interested.
Peter Cawdron's "The Man Who Remembered Today" - This is a story about a paramedic who knows the immediate future, doesn't know how he knows what he knows but tries to use this new found ability to prevent a series of terrorist attacks and save lives. As he learns more about how this power works, he still trying to prevent these attacks while being chased by the police, who believe he's the prime suspect! In the process, we get a heart-pounding thrill-a-minute tale that grabs you until the very last word.
All of these stories have tremendous scope and remarkable focus on their characters and their dilemmas. In all of the stories, you feel for each protagonist, as they are filled with rich characterization. You vividly feel what they feel and truly walk in their shoes through the beauty of the descriptive prose and the narrative each author weaves.
Some of these tales beg for a sequel, because they create such a vast tapestry in a limited amount of pages where there is plenty of room to grow into further stories. Other stories take place as prequels to stories within universes the authors have already created, like Bunker with Wick & The Last Pilgrims and Spangler with his Going Gray stories. But these are still completely stand-alone, with no prior knowledge necessary of the other works in order to enjoy them.
I also liked how each story ended with a note from the author talking about writing or giving some additional context to the story. Each authors singular vision comes through vibrantly and all of the stories in this collection are compelling and are never anything less than interesting.
I was familiar with several of the authors in this anthology before reading it. But now, I have discovered such terrific tales that I will be searching out more stories from more of these authors in the future. Give these authors your time and attention and they will delight you with their imagination and talent. Once you do that, you should go buy more of their works. :)
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2014
Having recently read (and greatly enjoyed) books by Hugh Howey and Kev Heritage, I was thrilled to receive an advance review copy of From The Indie Side, a new anthology of sci-fi/fantasy stories by award-winning Independent Authors including Howey and Heritage.
A great anthology like this is akin to a sumptuous buffet of delicious foods prepared by gourmet chefs. Set in locations ranging from contemporary New York and New Mexico to fantasy kingdoms and bio-habitats in space, the twelve stories sparked my imagination in different ways. An added treat is having each author provide a brief afterword discussing their story.
One of the bonuses of an anthology is discovering “new-to-you” authors, and there are several in From The Indie Side whose work I'm eager to explore further. As much as I enjoyed Howey’s “Mouth Breathers” and Heritage’s “Gyre-Witchery,” my favorites — narrowly decided, after much thought — were “The Winter Lands” by Jason Gurley, “Made of Stars” by Anne Frasier, and “The Man Who Remembered Today” by Peter Cawdron. I enjoyed all of the stories, but there was a little something extra in these tales, a clever twist or turn of phrase, that set them apart and a bit above.
This anthology was obviously put together with great care and love. As a proud Indie Author myself, I have personal experience with the great depth of creativity, support and encouragement that exists in our community. From The Indie Side celebrates this while featuring some of our “All-Stars” but today each of us can write what we want and offer it to others to read. As editor David Gatewood writes in a brief afterword: “I find it fitting that this anthology was led by a mom, an IT project manager, and a banking analyst. Welcome to the new world of indie publishing.”
Word.
A great anthology like this is akin to a sumptuous buffet of delicious foods prepared by gourmet chefs. Set in locations ranging from contemporary New York and New Mexico to fantasy kingdoms and bio-habitats in space, the twelve stories sparked my imagination in different ways. An added treat is having each author provide a brief afterword discussing their story.
One of the bonuses of an anthology is discovering “new-to-you” authors, and there are several in From The Indie Side whose work I'm eager to explore further. As much as I enjoyed Howey’s “Mouth Breathers” and Heritage’s “Gyre-Witchery,” my favorites — narrowly decided, after much thought — were “The Winter Lands” by Jason Gurley, “Made of Stars” by Anne Frasier, and “The Man Who Remembered Today” by Peter Cawdron. I enjoyed all of the stories, but there was a little something extra in these tales, a clever twist or turn of phrase, that set them apart and a bit above.
This anthology was obviously put together with great care and love. As a proud Indie Author myself, I have personal experience with the great depth of creativity, support and encouragement that exists in our community. From The Indie Side celebrates this while featuring some of our “All-Stars” but today each of us can write what we want and offer it to others to read. As editor David Gatewood writes in a brief afterword: “I find it fitting that this anthology was led by a mom, an IT project manager, and a banking analyst. Welcome to the new world of indie publishing.”
Word.
February 8, 2014
Really great anthology. I originally bought on Kindle and recently ordered the print version. I absolutely love the Author notes that are after each story. Some I liked more than other's but they are all unique. I do have a favorite called "The Man Who Remembered Today" by Peter Caudron. I am hoping that this short story becomes a full length novel or series. Another fantastic story is Made Of Stars by Anne Frasier. A time warp/vampire/love story that works. I want to mention The Winter Lands by Jason Gurley. The story is odd and strange and I loved it. I have been reading Gurleys short stories lately and they are all very thought provoking and take time to settle in. I love that in a short story. Following Winter Lands, Jason's author note is brilliant and puts the story in some perspective.
October 1, 2014
There was a time when short stories had a lot of credibility in sci-fi. Arguably some of the greatest work from classic sci-fi, fantasy and horror authors are short stories and there was a time when anthologies were plentiful. Some of my fondest reading memories as a kid was reading the Harlan Ellison-edited Dangerous Visions, Clive Barker’s Books Of Blood or Stephen King’s Different Seasons and Four Past Midnight.
The good news is, short stories are making a comeback, fuelled largely by ebooks and self-publishing. A short story anthology is ideal for readers who adore the convenience. It’s something you can dip into occasionally and come back to anytime. Read, re-read, skip forward, skip back. Don’t like a story? That’s fine. Don’t like an author? That’s fine too – next! Sometimes it’s a great palate cleanser in between novels, especially for reviewers such as myself. They are however starting to take on a life of their own, with many authors expanding their original short story into successful novels, Hugh Howey’s Wool and Michael Bunker’s Wick both being prime examples.
For authors there are no restrictions. Write your story, publish it yourself and see what happens. Readers may like it, they may not, people may buy it, they may not. What is evident from what I’ve seen in the world of self-publishing so far is that the cream tends to rise to the top. It may take a while, but if you’re an indie author with talent the only limit to your success is yourself.
From The Indie Side is the culmination of a lot of these success stories, some now well-established, others rising stars on the indie scene, but all extremely talented and deserving of their place on this book.
The sign of a good anthology is when you’ve finished one story and feel compelled to move straight on to the next. From The Indie Side is one of those. There are twelve stories featured, from Jason Gurley’s beautiful opening story The Winter Lands to (my personal favourite) Peter Cawdron’s thrilling finale The Man Who Remembered Today, spanning an excellent range of sub-genres. While you may be familiar with some of the more popular authors featured, what impressed me most were the writers I hadn’t yet read. There are some genuine gems in there, most notably from Brian Spangler, Sarah Foster and Susan May. I have to admit, some of the more fantasy-based stories weren’t for me, but that’s purely a matter of personal taste on my part, I can’t fault the writing.
From The Indie Side is a fitting snapshot of both the health and wealth of independent science fiction right now and whether you’re a hardened fan or about to dip a toe in the indie fiction pool, there is no better place to begin than here.
The good news is, short stories are making a comeback, fuelled largely by ebooks and self-publishing. A short story anthology is ideal for readers who adore the convenience. It’s something you can dip into occasionally and come back to anytime. Read, re-read, skip forward, skip back. Don’t like a story? That’s fine. Don’t like an author? That’s fine too – next! Sometimes it’s a great palate cleanser in between novels, especially for reviewers such as myself. They are however starting to take on a life of their own, with many authors expanding their original short story into successful novels, Hugh Howey’s Wool and Michael Bunker’s Wick both being prime examples.
For authors there are no restrictions. Write your story, publish it yourself and see what happens. Readers may like it, they may not, people may buy it, they may not. What is evident from what I’ve seen in the world of self-publishing so far is that the cream tends to rise to the top. It may take a while, but if you’re an indie author with talent the only limit to your success is yourself.
From The Indie Side is the culmination of a lot of these success stories, some now well-established, others rising stars on the indie scene, but all extremely talented and deserving of their place on this book.
The sign of a good anthology is when you’ve finished one story and feel compelled to move straight on to the next. From The Indie Side is one of those. There are twelve stories featured, from Jason Gurley’s beautiful opening story The Winter Lands to (my personal favourite) Peter Cawdron’s thrilling finale The Man Who Remembered Today, spanning an excellent range of sub-genres. While you may be familiar with some of the more popular authors featured, what impressed me most were the writers I hadn’t yet read. There are some genuine gems in there, most notably from Brian Spangler, Sarah Foster and Susan May. I have to admit, some of the more fantasy-based stories weren’t for me, but that’s purely a matter of personal taste on my part, I can’t fault the writing.
From The Indie Side is a fitting snapshot of both the health and wealth of independent science fiction right now and whether you’re a hardened fan or about to dip a toe in the indie fiction pool, there is no better place to begin than here.
July 22, 2014
From the first page to the last, “From the Indie Side” is sensational. Each story grabs you by the throat, squeezes, and doesn’t let go until long after you’ve finished. Each story written in a style reminiscent of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone is part thriller and fantasy. Each story is excellent, but I will mention a few that stayed with me.
The Winter Lands by Jason Gurley shocks you. It tells of an older gentleman who had been writing his novel for over sixty years. Finally, he gets up the courage to read a small portion of it at open mic night; what he reads and what occurs will leave you shaking your head.
Queen Joanna by Kate Danley is a historical fiction, which is both mystical and frightening. The young queen of a widower king is haunted by the reflection of his past wife. Joanna is driven to madness, but is it a vision or is there life on the other side of the mirror?
The Man with Two Legs by Ernie Lindsey takes us to a world where everyone has their right leg cut off when they are born. The government states it’s for their own good. Cray, the man with two legs in exile since childhood, has come back to free his mother from this oppressive government and topple those in power. This story will leave you wondering: If you were given a choice, which would you choose . . . security or freedom?
The War Veteran by Susan May blurs the lines between what we think is real and what is real. It’s a story of an elderly war hero from D-day and the guilt he feels over his own survival. His nightmares take on a different texture when he no longer knows what is happening in his sleep and when he’s awake. It’s a gripping tale of PTSD and guilt. Your heart will bleed for Jack Baker, but you’d better hope your blood is just an emotional outpouring.
The Man Who Remembered Today by Peter Cawdron tells of a man who wakes up to find that he was a survivor of a terrorist bombing. He remembers nothing of the event, but has ‘memories’ of things yet to come. He ‘remembers’ another attack, calls the police, and runs to the site of the bombing to warn people. He is mistaken as the terrorist. Peter Cawdron writes a stunning thriller that belies the horror of profiling and the conclusions that people jump to when they’re fearful.
“From the Indie Side” is a must read for all suspense lovers. It promises to stun, shock, and make you think!
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Cornerstone” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
The Winter Lands by Jason Gurley shocks you. It tells of an older gentleman who had been writing his novel for over sixty years. Finally, he gets up the courage to read a small portion of it at open mic night; what he reads and what occurs will leave you shaking your head.
Queen Joanna by Kate Danley is a historical fiction, which is both mystical and frightening. The young queen of a widower king is haunted by the reflection of his past wife. Joanna is driven to madness, but is it a vision or is there life on the other side of the mirror?
The Man with Two Legs by Ernie Lindsey takes us to a world where everyone has their right leg cut off when they are born. The government states it’s for their own good. Cray, the man with two legs in exile since childhood, has come back to free his mother from this oppressive government and topple those in power. This story will leave you wondering: If you were given a choice, which would you choose . . . security or freedom?
The War Veteran by Susan May blurs the lines between what we think is real and what is real. It’s a story of an elderly war hero from D-day and the guilt he feels over his own survival. His nightmares take on a different texture when he no longer knows what is happening in his sleep and when he’s awake. It’s a gripping tale of PTSD and guilt. Your heart will bleed for Jack Baker, but you’d better hope your blood is just an emotional outpouring.
The Man Who Remembered Today by Peter Cawdron tells of a man who wakes up to find that he was a survivor of a terrorist bombing. He remembers nothing of the event, but has ‘memories’ of things yet to come. He ‘remembers’ another attack, calls the police, and runs to the site of the bombing to warn people. He is mistaken as the terrorist. Peter Cawdron writes a stunning thriller that belies the horror of profiling and the conclusions that people jump to when they’re fearful.
“From the Indie Side” is a must read for all suspense lovers. It promises to stun, shock, and make you think!
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Cornerstone” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
February 4, 2014
(I was lucky enough to be provided with an advance copy of this book by Mr. Bunker.)
What a great collection! While made up of mostly genre pieces, this volume touches on a number of them, hitting most of the sub-genres as well. For someone just getting into indie authors, whether on the tails of Howey’s huge success, or by the relentless assault indie authors have conducted on the e-book charts, this is a great entry point. Just a sample of some of the stories within:
“The Winter Lands” (Jason Gurley) – Like an amuse bouche, this story zips in, gives you an exciting taste and then leaves just as fast. The story asks many questions and answers virtually none but at no point do you feel cheated. I couldn’t help but think that it would make a great Twilight Zone episode. I look forward to taking in some of Mr. Gurley’s longer works.
“Going Gray” (Brian Spangler) – As derivative as this seems, King’s “The Mist” comes to mind, you are left with such a feeling of malaise from this story that I didn’t care about the framing. This piece capitalizes on both the naivety and the helplessness of a child. Finding out that this is the prelude to a much bigger world in the afterword was just a bonus.
“Queen Joanna” (Kate Danley) – Subtly disturbing, this is a tale of royal duty that ends up somewhere you may not have expected. Again, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this would easily make a great teleplay. If only Hollywood would get on the indie author bandwagon.
“Redoubt” (Michael Bunker) – A prelude/companion to his longer works, Wick and The Last Pilgrims, “Redoubt” is a solid piece of post-apocalypse fiction that shows the reader what odd bedfellows extreme circumstances can create.
Overall, the stories in this book form a serious gateway drug for the growing numbers of indie authors. Each author offers some insight into his or her story which made the entire read much more enjoyable for me. In some cases, they have turned me onto more works in the same setting that I will be acquiring in the near future. Given the digital price tag, this is a steal right now. Buy it. You won’t be sorry.
What a great collection! While made up of mostly genre pieces, this volume touches on a number of them, hitting most of the sub-genres as well. For someone just getting into indie authors, whether on the tails of Howey’s huge success, or by the relentless assault indie authors have conducted on the e-book charts, this is a great entry point. Just a sample of some of the stories within:
“The Winter Lands” (Jason Gurley) – Like an amuse bouche, this story zips in, gives you an exciting taste and then leaves just as fast. The story asks many questions and answers virtually none but at no point do you feel cheated. I couldn’t help but think that it would make a great Twilight Zone episode. I look forward to taking in some of Mr. Gurley’s longer works.
“Going Gray” (Brian Spangler) – As derivative as this seems, King’s “The Mist” comes to mind, you are left with such a feeling of malaise from this story that I didn’t care about the framing. This piece capitalizes on both the naivety and the helplessness of a child. Finding out that this is the prelude to a much bigger world in the afterword was just a bonus.
“Queen Joanna” (Kate Danley) – Subtly disturbing, this is a tale of royal duty that ends up somewhere you may not have expected. Again, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this would easily make a great teleplay. If only Hollywood would get on the indie author bandwagon.
“Redoubt” (Michael Bunker) – A prelude/companion to his longer works, Wick and The Last Pilgrims, “Redoubt” is a solid piece of post-apocalypse fiction that shows the reader what odd bedfellows extreme circumstances can create.
Overall, the stories in this book form a serious gateway drug for the growing numbers of indie authors. Each author offers some insight into his or her story which made the entire read much more enjoyable for me. In some cases, they have turned me onto more works in the same setting that I will be acquiring in the near future. Given the digital price tag, this is a steal right now. Buy it. You won’t be sorry.
February 22, 2014
Please, short stories have not gone out of fashion. The evidence is this fabulous collection of short stories from some of the best indie authors.
Though I enjoyed each and ever story in this collection, Kate Danley's "Queen Joanna", Ernie Lindsey's "The Man with Two Legs", Susan May's "The War Veteran", and Michael Bunker's "REDOUBT" are my favorites. I loved the foreword by Hugh Howey. I know this sounds pretty weird --- who talks about the foreword of a book really? But then, Hugh is a pretty awesome guy --- a guy with the Midas touch.
This collection has something for everyone. There are vampires, there's apocalypse, there's supernatural phenomenon, there's historical fiction, there's a bit of dystopia thrown in, there's magic, there's family, there's love, and there's hate born out of ignorance. I discovered some new authors and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work. I loved reading some more work of Peter Cawdron, Michael Bunker, Jason Gurley, and Hugh Howey. You guys are awesome! Also, applause for David Gatewood --- thanks for doing a great job.
Though I enjoyed each and ever story in this collection, Kate Danley's "Queen Joanna", Ernie Lindsey's "The Man with Two Legs", Susan May's "The War Veteran", and Michael Bunker's "REDOUBT" are my favorites. I loved the foreword by Hugh Howey. I know this sounds pretty weird --- who talks about the foreword of a book really? But then, Hugh is a pretty awesome guy --- a guy with the Midas touch.
This collection has something for everyone. There are vampires, there's apocalypse, there's supernatural phenomenon, there's historical fiction, there's a bit of dystopia thrown in, there's magic, there's family, there's love, and there's hate born out of ignorance. I discovered some new authors and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work. I loved reading some more work of Peter Cawdron, Michael Bunker, Jason Gurley, and Hugh Howey. You guys are awesome! Also, applause for David Gatewood --- thanks for doing a great job.
February 2, 2014
I am fond of short stories, if I don't have much time or I'm not in the mood for reading a novel I pick up a short story. I am fond of indie authors too, they are more original than many of the mainstream authors.
I started from the stories of some of the authors I already knew (in reading order): Jason Gurley (Greatfall, The Man Who Ended the World), Michael Bunker (Wick, Pennsylvania), Hugh Howey (Wool, Sand), Peter Cawdron (Little Green Men, Monsters) and then I moved to some of the ones unknown to me: Ernie Lindsey, Sara Foster.
I can say this anthology is one of the best you can find at the moment and the average quality is impressive, each author has contributed with its best material. You will fall in love with many of these authors and you will want to read more from them, I am sure you will not regret.
I started from the stories of some of the authors I already knew (in reading order): Jason Gurley (Greatfall, The Man Who Ended the World), Michael Bunker (Wick, Pennsylvania), Hugh Howey (Wool, Sand), Peter Cawdron (Little Green Men, Monsters) and then I moved to some of the ones unknown to me: Ernie Lindsey, Sara Foster.
I can say this anthology is one of the best you can find at the moment and the average quality is impressive, each author has contributed with its best material. You will fall in love with many of these authors and you will want to read more from them, I am sure you will not regret.
June 26, 2014
Superb collection of gritty tales that kept me glued to the pages. Out of 12 stories, I can honestly say that 10 were superb (2 not my personal liking). I'm the kind of reader that prefers novel length tales, but some of my favorite Indie authors were included in this book so I just had to see what they had in store for me. I must say, I was not only pleased with my favorites' new stories, but utterly thrilled to discover some new authors whom I have added to my "to be read soon" list & downloaded some of their works already as well. There is some awesome, not-to-be-missed talent hidden in these here pages. This collection also turned my head on short-story collections...found it extremely difficult to put the book down!!!!
February 7, 2014
Wow, what a gem! This anthology of short stories from these great Independent Authors will now be the standard, for me. Each writer, all with their unique styles came together to give their reading audience one heck of a show.
First, Jason Gurley sets the scene about a peculiar old man with a tale to tell; a tale he has been trying to tell since he returned from The Winter Lands.
Brian Spangler gives us a horrifying glimpse of consequences when we try to correct mother nature in Going Gray.
Kate Danley breathes life into a terrifying tale of a woman named Joanna who becomes Queen out of duty and fear. Soon after the nuptials to the reticent King, Queen Joanna‘s nightmare begins. At first, she is pleased her King shows no interest in her. But she has promised to win the Kings heart so that peace resumes in the land. But Joanna is constantly warned from an image in the mirror, to “staaayy awaaay.” The tension builds perfectly in this very creepy story and the ending is wonderfully done.
In Mouth Breathers, Hugh Howey tells a story of a boy who is suffering from homesickness and growing pains when he and his family relocates from Earth to Mars.
Ernie Lindsey‘s story, The Man With Two Legs, is surprisingly touching and full of insight. As a child, Cray escaped the cruelty of a government that oppresses his people. But as a young man he goes on a nearly impossible mission: return to the place he escaped to rescue the mother he believed died years before.
In Cipher, Australian Author Sara Foster‘s short story about a woman named Beatrice who leaves her home in a frustrated huff one day and finds herself missing the family that has frustrated her hours later before. A bomb has gone off, you see. And the city she once knew has become unrecognizable. She has survived the blast of the bomb, but has her family? Beatrice meets a stranger who offers her, his company and an explanation of what has happened to the city. This story made me feel like I was in a race against time and I wasn’t quite sure why, until the end.
Anne Frasier wonderfully original Vampire story Made Of Stars about two star struck lovers, Lila and Gabriel; the living and the undead. Gabriel is a vampire who is a beta tester for Sinclair, a genius vampire who has created something magical for the night creatures. Sinclair has created a gateway that allows vampires to experience what their immortal lives is void of: true love. Gabriel has fallen in love with Lila; an unknowing but passively willing accomplice who is quite taken with Gabriel “the pale boy.” The magic, the formula, whatever it is, has not been perfected; there are a few flaws and Gabriel, the beta tester, reports every one to Sinclair.His biggest complaint being that Sinclair has created an experience that is too real.
Kevin Heritage’s weaves a beautifully strange, yet familiar story in Gyre- Witchery, about superstitions, fear and the result of them. Tamina is a dim-witted girl who has been accused of witchery from the natives. They blame her for the unwanted developments of their island: The sun is getting colder, they starve yet Tamina is quite plump and healthy. It doesn’t help that animals seem to worship her and that her eyes are green. But if Tamina possesses a power, she is unaware of it. The natives have decided to rid themselves of their witch but Tamina, with unexpected help and a revelation, learns her roll.
In The War Veteran, Australian writer Susan May tells a story of an eighty-something -year old man who cannot forget the horrors of war. Suffering from PTSD, he relives the horrors of June 6, 1944 on Omaha Beach. The visions, hallucinations usually go away soon after they start, but one night, the terrible event that haunts Jack Baker’s soul is brought to his doorstep. And he must face the past and his guilt to put the nightmare to rest. Susan May really did her research for this short story. A bit of a tear-jerker.
In For The Greater Good an awesome suspense tale is told by another Australian writer Mel Hearse. A mysterious car accident on a road Lanie cannot remember. A neurosurgeon husband whose aloof behavior brings about suspicions from his wife, Lanie. And a pretty red-head named Leila who is seen with the doctor husband by Lanie on more than one occasion. Believe me, it’s not what you think!
Michael Bunker‘s gives a refreshing account in his post apocalyptic story- REDOUBT. In an already strained world, three military trained men decide to vacation in New Mexico. They meet an artist who they quickly befriend. And then as the four enjoy a good old-fashioned snow ball fight, they get “the call.” Something has indeed gone terribly wrong. A third of the country’s electronic communications have been severed. Not the end of the world, but the end as we know it. This story made me want more and I must purchase “Wick” (REDOUBT parallels the story). I became a bit teary eyed at the end. I was not expecting that.
Written by Australian writer Peter Cawdron, The Man Who Remembered Today had me on the edge of my seat (or my bed as I read this late at night). Egyptian born but clearly an American citizen, Kareem wakes up as if in a fog. He believes he is suffering from a hangover until he gets a look at himself in the mirror. Clearly something more has happened. But he cannot remember yesterday. As the day unfolds in a busy NYC, news reports of a terrorist attack unfold. Kareem can’t explain how but knows he must stop the next one at all cost. This is one of those stories where you are screaming “Nooo, it can’t end now!
This book of anthologies will take you away to strange lands, futuristic worlds, introduce you to both strange and sympathetic characters, and remind you of very real and present dangers.
Did I mention that I loved it?
First, Jason Gurley sets the scene about a peculiar old man with a tale to tell; a tale he has been trying to tell since he returned from The Winter Lands.
Brian Spangler gives us a horrifying glimpse of consequences when we try to correct mother nature in Going Gray.
Kate Danley breathes life into a terrifying tale of a woman named Joanna who becomes Queen out of duty and fear. Soon after the nuptials to the reticent King, Queen Joanna‘s nightmare begins. At first, she is pleased her King shows no interest in her. But she has promised to win the Kings heart so that peace resumes in the land. But Joanna is constantly warned from an image in the mirror, to “staaayy awaaay.” The tension builds perfectly in this very creepy story and the ending is wonderfully done.
In Mouth Breathers, Hugh Howey tells a story of a boy who is suffering from homesickness and growing pains when he and his family relocates from Earth to Mars.
Ernie Lindsey‘s story, The Man With Two Legs, is surprisingly touching and full of insight. As a child, Cray escaped the cruelty of a government that oppresses his people. But as a young man he goes on a nearly impossible mission: return to the place he escaped to rescue the mother he believed died years before.
In Cipher, Australian Author Sara Foster‘s short story about a woman named Beatrice who leaves her home in a frustrated huff one day and finds herself missing the family that has frustrated her hours later before. A bomb has gone off, you see. And the city she once knew has become unrecognizable. She has survived the blast of the bomb, but has her family? Beatrice meets a stranger who offers her, his company and an explanation of what has happened to the city. This story made me feel like I was in a race against time and I wasn’t quite sure why, until the end.
Anne Frasier wonderfully original Vampire story Made Of Stars about two star struck lovers, Lila and Gabriel; the living and the undead. Gabriel is a vampire who is a beta tester for Sinclair, a genius vampire who has created something magical for the night creatures. Sinclair has created a gateway that allows vampires to experience what their immortal lives is void of: true love. Gabriel has fallen in love with Lila; an unknowing but passively willing accomplice who is quite taken with Gabriel “the pale boy.” The magic, the formula, whatever it is, has not been perfected; there are a few flaws and Gabriel, the beta tester, reports every one to Sinclair.His biggest complaint being that Sinclair has created an experience that is too real.
Kevin Heritage’s weaves a beautifully strange, yet familiar story in Gyre- Witchery, about superstitions, fear and the result of them. Tamina is a dim-witted girl who has been accused of witchery from the natives. They blame her for the unwanted developments of their island: The sun is getting colder, they starve yet Tamina is quite plump and healthy. It doesn’t help that animals seem to worship her and that her eyes are green. But if Tamina possesses a power, she is unaware of it. The natives have decided to rid themselves of their witch but Tamina, with unexpected help and a revelation, learns her roll.
In The War Veteran, Australian writer Susan May tells a story of an eighty-something -year old man who cannot forget the horrors of war. Suffering from PTSD, he relives the horrors of June 6, 1944 on Omaha Beach. The visions, hallucinations usually go away soon after they start, but one night, the terrible event that haunts Jack Baker’s soul is brought to his doorstep. And he must face the past and his guilt to put the nightmare to rest. Susan May really did her research for this short story. A bit of a tear-jerker.
In For The Greater Good an awesome suspense tale is told by another Australian writer Mel Hearse. A mysterious car accident on a road Lanie cannot remember. A neurosurgeon husband whose aloof behavior brings about suspicions from his wife, Lanie. And a pretty red-head named Leila who is seen with the doctor husband by Lanie on more than one occasion. Believe me, it’s not what you think!
Michael Bunker‘s gives a refreshing account in his post apocalyptic story- REDOUBT. In an already strained world, three military trained men decide to vacation in New Mexico. They meet an artist who they quickly befriend. And then as the four enjoy a good old-fashioned snow ball fight, they get “the call.” Something has indeed gone terribly wrong. A third of the country’s electronic communications have been severed. Not the end of the world, but the end as we know it. This story made me want more and I must purchase “Wick” (REDOUBT parallels the story). I became a bit teary eyed at the end. I was not expecting that.
Written by Australian writer Peter Cawdron, The Man Who Remembered Today had me on the edge of my seat (or my bed as I read this late at night). Egyptian born but clearly an American citizen, Kareem wakes up as if in a fog. He believes he is suffering from a hangover until he gets a look at himself in the mirror. Clearly something more has happened. But he cannot remember yesterday. As the day unfolds in a busy NYC, news reports of a terrorist attack unfold. Kareem can’t explain how but knows he must stop the next one at all cost. This is one of those stories where you are screaming “Nooo, it can’t end now!
This book of anthologies will take you away to strange lands, futuristic worlds, introduce you to both strange and sympathetic characters, and remind you of very real and present dangers.
Did I mention that I loved it?
July 19, 2020
This was a fantastically curated collection of short stories, I loved every single one of them. A really good mixture of fantasy and science fiction with most of the stories hinting at a longer novel, I particularly liked the author notes that followed each story - so good to get an insight into their inspiration and a note of any other work available by them.
January 30, 2014
A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to grab an Advanced Copy of the Short Story Anthology “From The Indie Side” featuring 12 incredible authors from all around the globe. I’ll admit to being friends with a few already – notably Hugh Howey, Peter Cawdron, Michael Bunker and Jason Gurley. I was drawn the collection by those stories, but discovered so much to love here. This will be one of those books I’ll come back to again and again.
In his Author’s Note, Peter Cawdron noted some important science fiction short stories, such as Asimov’s Nightfall and The Bicentennial Man and Philip K. Dick’s stories that inspired Minority Report and Total Recall. Stories like that were hugely influential to me as a teenager. I had a few collections of science fiction short stories from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, and frequently found myself returning to them over the years.
This could very well be a collection like that. Each of the stories is unique and presents their own distinct view on science fiction or fantasy (or in a few cases, both).
Along the way, I discovered some authors I hadn’t read previously – ones that I’ll definitely be paying attention to in the future – authors like Brian Spangler, Kate Danley, Sara Foster, Anne Frasier, Kev Heritage, Susan May, and Mel Hearse. I can’t find a lousy one in the bunch, honestly.
For me, though, three stories stood out. I loved all the individual tales, but the ones from Ernie Lindsey, Sara Foster, and Peter Cawdron really stuck with me and will ruminate in my mind for some time.
The story from Lindsey was so simple, yet was so relevant and so profound. “The Man With Two Legs,” is the title of Lindsey’s story, which is designed to catch the reader off-guard. Why wouldn’t a man have two legs? And thus begins a fantasy/sci-fi tale about a man who has two legs in a world where the general population has just one. One leg to keep them in line, to check their behavior, and to oppress opposition to the status quo. Those two legs represent so much, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, this story will stick with me.
Sara Foster had a short little yarn called “Cipher,” which tells the story of a woman out for a visit to her ailing father when a bomb goes off, leaving her separated from her family. The man she meets takes care of her as all the apocalyptic potentials raced through my head. Suddenly the story was over in an instant and the shocking end seared the story into my memory.
And Peter Cawdron’s “The Man Who Remembered Today” caps off the anthology. For an Australian, Mr. Cawdron does a phenomenal job of putting us inside of an Arab-American working as a paramedic in New York City when terrorists are striking all around him. The writing is top-notch and crisp, not hesitating from the plot for a second, as Kareem (the aforementioned paramedic) cannot remember yesterday, only the events of today. Events that haven’t happened yet. Cawdron expertly follows Kareem throughout his day, putting us on a collision course with an epic conclusion.
Oh…did I forget to mention these are all independent authors? I suppose the title may have given it away, but the writing sure didn’t. This is up there was any of the short stories I would have devoured as a teenager and continue to love today. Just because the word “indie” is slapped in front of someone’s title doesn’t alter the fact they are phenomenally talented at what they do.
Pick this collection up. Read it. Pick and choose if you like. At the most, the longest story will take a little over half an hour. Some will take a few minutes. All are worthy of your time.
In his Author’s Note, Peter Cawdron noted some important science fiction short stories, such as Asimov’s Nightfall and The Bicentennial Man and Philip K. Dick’s stories that inspired Minority Report and Total Recall. Stories like that were hugely influential to me as a teenager. I had a few collections of science fiction short stories from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, and frequently found myself returning to them over the years.
This could very well be a collection like that. Each of the stories is unique and presents their own distinct view on science fiction or fantasy (or in a few cases, both).
Along the way, I discovered some authors I hadn’t read previously – ones that I’ll definitely be paying attention to in the future – authors like Brian Spangler, Kate Danley, Sara Foster, Anne Frasier, Kev Heritage, Susan May, and Mel Hearse. I can’t find a lousy one in the bunch, honestly.
For me, though, three stories stood out. I loved all the individual tales, but the ones from Ernie Lindsey, Sara Foster, and Peter Cawdron really stuck with me and will ruminate in my mind for some time.
The story from Lindsey was so simple, yet was so relevant and so profound. “The Man With Two Legs,” is the title of Lindsey’s story, which is designed to catch the reader off-guard. Why wouldn’t a man have two legs? And thus begins a fantasy/sci-fi tale about a man who has two legs in a world where the general population has just one. One leg to keep them in line, to check their behavior, and to oppress opposition to the status quo. Those two legs represent so much, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, this story will stick with me.
Sara Foster had a short little yarn called “Cipher,” which tells the story of a woman out for a visit to her ailing father when a bomb goes off, leaving her separated from her family. The man she meets takes care of her as all the apocalyptic potentials raced through my head. Suddenly the story was over in an instant and the shocking end seared the story into my memory.
And Peter Cawdron’s “The Man Who Remembered Today” caps off the anthology. For an Australian, Mr. Cawdron does a phenomenal job of putting us inside of an Arab-American working as a paramedic in New York City when terrorists are striking all around him. The writing is top-notch and crisp, not hesitating from the plot for a second, as Kareem (the aforementioned paramedic) cannot remember yesterday, only the events of today. Events that haven’t happened yet. Cawdron expertly follows Kareem throughout his day, putting us on a collision course with an epic conclusion.
Oh…did I forget to mention these are all independent authors? I suppose the title may have given it away, but the writing sure didn’t. This is up there was any of the short stories I would have devoured as a teenager and continue to love today. Just because the word “indie” is slapped in front of someone’s title doesn’t alter the fact they are phenomenally talented at what they do.
Pick this collection up. Read it. Pick and choose if you like. At the most, the longest story will take a little over half an hour. Some will take a few minutes. All are worthy of your time.
February 16, 2014
ARC Review
A decent collection of short stories, crossing various genres from independent authors. Of the 12 authors, three I recognize, and of those three, two I have read. The nice thing about short stories is just that, they're short and they can give you sampling of what each writer has to offer with a full novel. That said, I look forward to exploring the words and worlds that some of these authors have created.
I'll be honest, there were some stories that I rolled my eyes. It may have been due to writing, the story, or the big reveal and/or ending. There were some genres I didn't care for, but that's not to discredit the story or the prose, because they are all excellent in their own right.But the ones that moved me? I wanted more.
"The Winter Lands" by Jason Gurley tells the emotional tale of a man with a fantastic story to tell and, yet, cannot put those words down eloquently.
"Cipher" by Sara Foster is an incredible story of a woman yearning to be reunited with her family after being separated by mysterious bomb set off close to home. By the end of the story I was left speechless with the exception of one word, "Damn." By far my favorite of the anthology.
"The War Veteran" by Susan May is an fantastic look into the psyche of a war veteran suffering from depression, survivor's guilt, and PTSD.
"Gyre-Witchery" by Kev Heritage weaves sci-fi and fantasy primitive tale seamlessly.
"Redoubt" by Michel Bunker and "Mouth Breathers" by Hugh Howey ; The tales end just as soon as it starts and leaves you with an unquenchable thirst for more. The end of days and a forbidden love story. Terrific build up for the universes that they've created.
"Made of Stars" by Anne Frasier features terrific prose. As a fan of story telling, I enjoyed it despite that I couldn't care less about the genre of lovelorn vampires. It's a cliché as far as I'm concerned, but her writing was solid and left me wanting to read more of her work.
"The Man Who Remembered Today" by Peter Cawdron tells the tale of a man, ethnically profiled, who has no recollection of the past but of what's to come. It's with that clairvoyance that chaos ensues with the foresight of a terrorist attack.
For the price of the anthology, you can't go wrong with the stories. It's definitely worth it to explore and discover what the up and coming indie authors have to offer.
A decent collection of short stories, crossing various genres from independent authors. Of the 12 authors, three I recognize, and of those three, two I have read. The nice thing about short stories is just that, they're short and they can give you sampling of what each writer has to offer with a full novel. That said, I look forward to exploring the words and worlds that some of these authors have created.
I'll be honest, there were some stories that I rolled my eyes. It may have been due to writing, the story, or the big reveal and/or ending. There were some genres I didn't care for, but that's not to discredit the story or the prose, because they are all excellent in their own right.But the ones that moved me? I wanted more.
"The Winter Lands" by Jason Gurley tells the emotional tale of a man with a fantastic story to tell and, yet, cannot put those words down eloquently.
"Cipher" by Sara Foster is an incredible story of a woman yearning to be reunited with her family after being separated by mysterious bomb set off close to home. By the end of the story I was left speechless with the exception of one word, "Damn." By far my favorite of the anthology.
"The War Veteran" by Susan May is an fantastic look into the psyche of a war veteran suffering from depression, survivor's guilt, and PTSD.
"Gyre-Witchery" by Kev Heritage weaves sci-fi and fantasy primitive tale seamlessly.
"Redoubt" by Michel Bunker and "Mouth Breathers" by Hugh Howey ; The tales end just as soon as it starts and leaves you with an unquenchable thirst for more. The end of days and a forbidden love story. Terrific build up for the universes that they've created.
"Made of Stars" by Anne Frasier features terrific prose. As a fan of story telling, I enjoyed it despite that I couldn't care less about the genre of lovelorn vampires. It's a cliché as far as I'm concerned, but her writing was solid and left me wanting to read more of her work.
"The Man Who Remembered Today" by Peter Cawdron tells the tale of a man, ethnically profiled, who has no recollection of the past but of what's to come. It's with that clairvoyance that chaos ensues with the foresight of a terrorist attack.
For the price of the anthology, you can't go wrong with the stories. It's definitely worth it to explore and discover what the up and coming indie authors have to offer.
April 5, 2014
I enjoy a good story. To help alleviate my ongoing dilemma of finding good stories, Michael Bunker, one of the featured authors in this anthology, provided me an Advance Review Copy of From the Indie Side (FTIS).
FTIS is an eclectic anthology of short stories, written by some of the premiere names in the indie author movement. Maybe you've heard of them, maybe not. Either way, the authors, for one reason or another, decided to self-publish their work, not going the "traditional" publishing route. This freedom of movement adds to the dynamic nature of the anthology.
Like any good collection of shorts, FTIS offers a wide range of styles and genres. From the looming planet on the cover (also designed by one of the authors-these guys and gals are talented), you get the impression that sci-fi is a common thread throughout the collection. While this is the case, sci-fi is where the similarity begins but also where it ends. Just as every author has their own voice, so every story carries its own unique vibe. If you're looking for quirky, it's there. You'll also find young adult, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, and urban fantasy. Maybe even a vampire or two. Even though these terms can help define sub-genres, they only paint a one-dimensional portrait of the quality of writing. True to the indie initiative, the stories defy pigeon-holing into a simple genre or sub-genre. They are dynamic and entertaining, crossing conventional boundaries of typical, formulaic stories. That is the heart of indie. If this is what you're looking for, then pick up a copy (download to Kindle) of FTIS.
What's more, I enjoyed the author comments at the end of each story. Some talk of the inspiration for their story. Others provide a hint of an underlying idea woven in the fabric of the words (you know those authors, always planting subtle ideas in their stories). Each one speaks with pride for their work. You can feel the care and passion they put into their craft.
I have my own tastes. I liked some stories more than others and liked some writing styles more than others. But then, isn't that the beauty of anthologies? You get to try and experience a wide range of authors. But as a whole, FTIS is a worthwhile, entertaining investment. So if you've heard of indie authors and have wondered what the buzz is about, then grab a copy of FTIS and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed, and you will mostly likely end up with a list of many more authors to follow.
FTIS is an eclectic anthology of short stories, written by some of the premiere names in the indie author movement. Maybe you've heard of them, maybe not. Either way, the authors, for one reason or another, decided to self-publish their work, not going the "traditional" publishing route. This freedom of movement adds to the dynamic nature of the anthology.
Like any good collection of shorts, FTIS offers a wide range of styles and genres. From the looming planet on the cover (also designed by one of the authors-these guys and gals are talented), you get the impression that sci-fi is a common thread throughout the collection. While this is the case, sci-fi is where the similarity begins but also where it ends. Just as every author has their own voice, so every story carries its own unique vibe. If you're looking for quirky, it's there. You'll also find young adult, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, and urban fantasy. Maybe even a vampire or two. Even though these terms can help define sub-genres, they only paint a one-dimensional portrait of the quality of writing. True to the indie initiative, the stories defy pigeon-holing into a simple genre or sub-genre. They are dynamic and entertaining, crossing conventional boundaries of typical, formulaic stories. That is the heart of indie. If this is what you're looking for, then pick up a copy (download to Kindle) of FTIS.
What's more, I enjoyed the author comments at the end of each story. Some talk of the inspiration for their story. Others provide a hint of an underlying idea woven in the fabric of the words (you know those authors, always planting subtle ideas in their stories). Each one speaks with pride for their work. You can feel the care and passion they put into their craft.
I have my own tastes. I liked some stories more than others and liked some writing styles more than others. But then, isn't that the beauty of anthologies? You get to try and experience a wide range of authors. But as a whole, FTIS is a worthwhile, entertaining investment. So if you've heard of indie authors and have wondered what the buzz is about, then grab a copy of FTIS and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed, and you will mostly likely end up with a list of many more authors to follow.
March 9, 2014
I've just finished From the Indie Side, which is a collection of a dozen non-realated short stories with a common science fiction thread running through them. Granted, this is not my usual reading matter, but hey, I'm branching out. The fact that this compilation has my editor's (David Gatewood) name on the cover may also have had something to do with my selection!
In sum, this is a good read as well as a great idea, which gives an inquisitive reader a chance to discover some different authors. I think this is particularly good for readers who are experimenting with the genre and don't necessarily want to invest the time and money in a full-blown novel – sci-fi books can run quite long. I found the short stories to have a good flow and I liked that I didn't get bogged down.
When I started reading the book, I'd heard of a couple of the contributors, but now I've finished I will definitely check out the work of some of the others. There's a useful author website list at the end to make this easy. My favourite stories which deserve special mention, were Sara Foster's Cipher and Peter Cawdron's, The Man Who Remembered Today.
I would definitely recommend everyone grab a copy of this book as it gives an insight and an introduction into the parallel, but no less talented world of indie writing and publishing.
In sum, this is a good read as well as a great idea, which gives an inquisitive reader a chance to discover some different authors. I think this is particularly good for readers who are experimenting with the genre and don't necessarily want to invest the time and money in a full-blown novel – sci-fi books can run quite long. I found the short stories to have a good flow and I liked that I didn't get bogged down.
When I started reading the book, I'd heard of a couple of the contributors, but now I've finished I will definitely check out the work of some of the others. There's a useful author website list at the end to make this easy. My favourite stories which deserve special mention, were Sara Foster's Cipher and Peter Cawdron's, The Man Who Remembered Today.
I would definitely recommend everyone grab a copy of this book as it gives an insight and an introduction into the parallel, but no less talented world of indie writing and publishing.
August 11, 2014
I received this from Library Thing to read and review. This is a pretty interesting collection of twelve stories crossing a variety of genres. Most are pretty good and could easily lead to other longer or follow-on stories or even books. I like the way the authors provided additional information for each story, adding context or thoughts on writing. For me, this lent even more to the stories because I could more easily understand the true meaning behind them or what the author meant (sometimes you, as a reader, will wonder after reading a book or story, and this gave me some details). Reading a short story is easy and takes less time than most books, and this one can provide the reader with a multitude of short interludes during (and after) which to savor the story, the characters, the ending. I think anyone who enjoys reading about a myriad of things and who is not tied to reading just one genre will enjoy this. In addition, this sampler provides an excellent opportunity to become familiar with new or different authors and genres.
March 18, 2014
An interesting and enjoyable collection of tales by various authors. Some of these authors can really make you think about the deeper meaning behind the story. The Man Who Remembered Today by Peter Cawdron is about a man who has spent his working life saving people but having the wrong name and being in the wrong place has led to unfounded conclusions about him by the authorities. Gyre~Witchery by Kev Heritage is about a young girl who has the wrong colour eyes and is made an outcast and blamed for the troubles of her village simply because of her eye colour. The War Veteran by Susan May is a rather sad story of a man who has served his country in a war but one mistake and natural fear has led him to believe he is responsible for the deaths of his comrades and he has lived with the guilt for his whole life.
March 29, 2015
I have read books by a couple of the authors listed in this short story collection. (Jason Gurley and Hugh Howey). I already knew I would enjoy their work, but it was also fun to check out some other authors' work. This is an easy and inexpensive way to find other books to read and authors to follow. I normally wouldn't gravitate toward short stories unless it is in this format where it is a bunch of authors who want to show a little of their work. I am definitely going to read more of the novels by some of these writers! Give this book a try, because you won't be disappointed! There is a story for everyone!
July 7, 2014
This book has many sides, as short story compilations often do. One thing is common in them, though, they are well written. Sometimes I come across poorly edited indie books, but this one isn't one of them. Each story has the unique voice of its author, that makes the book just more interesting. I have read books from several of the authors (Hugh Howey, Kev Heritage and Susan May), and they didn't disappoint me.
There were quite a few interesting stories, and I liked that they were character driven. Some of them I found odd (for example the one with the legged people), and some others didn't have a nice twist. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book and I recommend it to sci-fi fans.
There were quite a few interesting stories, and I liked that they were character driven. Some of them I found odd (for example the one with the legged people), and some others didn't have a nice twist. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book and I recommend it to sci-fi fans.
March 15, 2014
This is a great collection of short stories, all with science fiction or paranormal themes. There's a nice variety of plots, a little something for everyone that's partial to the SF genre. A couple of the stories are written in worlds belonging to the authors' existing series, but are complete stand-alone works. Like every other reader, I have my favorites, but there was no story that I didn't enjoy.
Now I'll have to check out the work of a couple of these authors that were unfamiliar to me. More books to read, always a good thing.
Now I'll have to check out the work of a couple of these authors that were unfamiliar to me. More books to read, always a good thing.
February 10, 2014
"From the Indie Side" is a collection of short stories written by a group of very talented independent authors. The stories are well-written and highly entertaining. Each one is unique and showcases each author’s talent. I found myself eagerly moving from story to story excited about what the next one would bring. This anthology has something for everyone. If you enjoy a good short story, then I highly recommend that you grab this collection.
October 16, 2015
Have you read
I'm so glad I had the chance to read this great book of shirt stories put together by some great people. It was hard to put down when life needed to be taken care of but I'm sure glad the world didn't stop while I was reading this. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone that enjoys a twist or more since each story was different and unique in their own way. I hope that you will be able to give one a chance for your next book read. Thank you
I'm so glad I had the chance to read this great book of shirt stories put together by some great people. It was hard to put down when life needed to be taken care of but I'm sure glad the world didn't stop while I was reading this. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone that enjoys a twist or more since each story was different and unique in their own way. I hope that you will be able to give one a chance for your next book read. Thank you
March 21, 2014
A truly fantastic collection of short stories! Usually when I read a collection like this I find myself looking for the weak link... The story that could, and probably should have been left out. In this case, there really wasn't one, and it ended with probably the best story in the collection. A must read, who's who of indie authors.
June 3, 2014
Very interesting book. I read this book due to the fact that Susan May had a hand in creating it. I was not disappointed. While I am an avid reader, I also enjoy good television as well, this book reminded me of the twilight zone TV series. It was hit and miss on some of the stories but for the most part , I must commend the authors on a job very well done.
August 5, 2014
I just finished it last night..... this morning to be honest! Absolutely brill!
Loved all, but particularily Going Gray, The Winter Lands, Mouth Breathers, The War Veteran -> Best story <- REDOUBT.
Once again proof that this is the age of the short story. Buy, read & enjoy.
Loved all, but particularily Going Gray, The Winter Lands, Mouth Breathers, The War Veteran -> Best story <- REDOUBT.
Once again proof that this is the age of the short story. Buy, read & enjoy.
August 1, 2014
This anthology is a very entertaining and well-written collection of short stories boasting a wide range of voices, styles, and themes. Anyone who thinks that self-published authors can’t write as well as traditionally-published authors will be pleasantly proven wrong by this book.
November 24, 2014
Amazing Stories .......oh that been used?
The depth of the human (assuming) mind to place new situations in unusual locals with surprise results has always amazed me.
Thank you for this collection.
The depth of the human (assuming) mind to place new situations in unusual locals with surprise results has always amazed me.
Thank you for this collection.
March 3, 2015
Excellent Writing
Though short, these fiction pieces are fantastic in their capacity to draw the reader into the thought-provoking ideas the authors have come up with. It's science fiction, but it is magical in its power.
Though short, these fiction pieces are fantastic in their capacity to draw the reader into the thought-provoking ideas the authors have come up with. It's science fiction, but it is magical in its power.
April 1, 2015
Cool and quirky stories
This collection of indie short stories is of high quality. I like that there is a sci-fi or alternate history bent to some of them. While not all were to my taste, the majority were very good. Worth a look.
This collection of indie short stories is of high quality. I like that there is a sci-fi or alternate history bent to some of them. While not all were to my taste, the majority were very good. Worth a look.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews