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Invitation: A One-Shot Anthology of Speculative Fiction
Invitation is the eighth of our “one-shot anthology” series. Each one is the product of a single-day marathon of writing and editing by a team of writers, most of them residing in Toronto.
Invitation has 31 stories totaling 88,000 words—all written and edited within the same 24 period.
We would like to extend an invitation to you, the reader, to spend time with the characters, worlds, and ideas of our contributing authors’ imaginations, and to thank you for bringing them to life as the reader. We hope you enjoy your time exploring these stories!—David F. Shultz
Invitation includes stories
David T E FosterXeth ArcamoAbhirup DuttaY.M. PangY.LiR H WesleyWendy HaykoKevin R ColemanH.C. SiregarRioDon MiasekArcalayeDave LovellShannon Frances SmithJennifer DavisPhilippe EtiembleHeather CampbellMuhammet Ali SeverLuke MellorIan MahJames DowneJuliana BrudnyMelissa TerryBrittney and Dan BravermanJennifer LiuAnahita EftekhariJaime BabbWren StarlayneJesse McMinnTim WindlingHolly Clarke
Invitation has 31 stories totaling 88,000 words—all written and edited within the same 24 period.
We would like to extend an invitation to you, the reader, to spend time with the characters, worlds, and ideas of our contributing authors’ imaginations, and to thank you for bringing them to life as the reader. We hope you enjoy your time exploring these stories!—David F. Shultz
Invitation includes stories
David T E FosterXeth ArcamoAbhirup DuttaY.M. PangY.LiR H WesleyWendy HaykoKevin R ColemanH.C. SiregarRioDon MiasekArcalayeDave LovellShannon Frances SmithJennifer DavisPhilippe EtiembleHeather CampbellMuhammet Ali SeverLuke MellorIan MahJames DowneJuliana BrudnyMelissa TerryBrittney and Dan BravermanJennifer LiuAnahita EftekhariJaime BabbWren StarlayneJesse McMinnTim WindlingHolly Clarke
Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 11, 2025
This book holds a very wide array of stories. Sci-fi. Urban. Fantasy. Silly. Serious. All were written in a very short time period, and the result is super cool! (Full disclosure, I have a story in this anthology, but I'm going to mention a few others I really enjoyed.)
'A New Faith for Where Nothing Grows' by Xeth Arcano is a great fantasy short about a young man watching his people decide on their future, choosing between violence or knowledge.
'Settler Anxiety' by Kevin Coleman is an interesting, almost slice-of-life style sci-fi story about a couple deciding if they're going to help settle Mars.
'Happiness Isn't Happiness Without a Violin Playing Goat' by Rio is a funny, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi/romance story about a man finding love in a very unexpected way...
'The Road to Bone Town' by Don Miasek is another one with a bit of humour, but this time a fantasy that almost (almost) verges on splatterpunk about two hapless adventurers hunting monsters and getting in over their heads.
'Ilfayre' by Arcalaye was a surprising treat in the middle of the book. A rich fantasy story about a young woman helping some barbarians with a very specific task. Fans of Joe Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence would enjoy this one for sure.
'Stealthy-phantom, Amazing-mojo's Journey To The Beginning Of Time' by Dave Lovell throws some humour back into the mix, mixing video games with some off-the-wall sci-fi and just running with it!
'Pathways' by Jennifer Davis might be my favourite story in here. A look at a future all too possible, where two Mexican brothers approach the monstrous wall between Mexico and the states. It's serious and fun, blending dark humour and examining the path we're already on.
'Deleted' by Muhammet Ali Sever is silly and fun, thinking about what one might do if the words they wrote came true.
'You're Formally Invited' by Melissa Terry is another of my favourites. The short follows a couple driving, already late for a dinner party. It's rich and beautifully written, and I highly recommend.
'The Tea Man' by Jesse McMinn is a epic fantasy short that can't be ignored. A woman sits by a fire and meets a man carrying a world of tea on his shoulders, and there begins a wonderfully painted story that truly captivates and ensnares the reader.
These are just some of the great stories in this anthology. It is experimental at times, and yes most of the stories would be helped with a few more edits and time, but the essence of what this group of authors is trying to do is captivating and truly unique. If you're on the hunt for something new, fresh, and imaginative check out this anthology.
'A New Faith for Where Nothing Grows' by Xeth Arcano is a great fantasy short about a young man watching his people decide on their future, choosing between violence or knowledge.
'Settler Anxiety' by Kevin Coleman is an interesting, almost slice-of-life style sci-fi story about a couple deciding if they're going to help settle Mars.
'Happiness Isn't Happiness Without a Violin Playing Goat' by Rio is a funny, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi/romance story about a man finding love in a very unexpected way...
'The Road to Bone Town' by Don Miasek is another one with a bit of humour, but this time a fantasy that almost (almost) verges on splatterpunk about two hapless adventurers hunting monsters and getting in over their heads.
'Ilfayre' by Arcalaye was a surprising treat in the middle of the book. A rich fantasy story about a young woman helping some barbarians with a very specific task. Fans of Joe Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence would enjoy this one for sure.
'Stealthy-phantom, Amazing-mojo's Journey To The Beginning Of Time' by Dave Lovell throws some humour back into the mix, mixing video games with some off-the-wall sci-fi and just running with it!
'Pathways' by Jennifer Davis might be my favourite story in here. A look at a future all too possible, where two Mexican brothers approach the monstrous wall between Mexico and the states. It's serious and fun, blending dark humour and examining the path we're already on.
'Deleted' by Muhammet Ali Sever is silly and fun, thinking about what one might do if the words they wrote came true.
'You're Formally Invited' by Melissa Terry is another of my favourites. The short follows a couple driving, already late for a dinner party. It's rich and beautifully written, and I highly recommend.
'The Tea Man' by Jesse McMinn is a epic fantasy short that can't be ignored. A woman sits by a fire and meets a man carrying a world of tea on his shoulders, and there begins a wonderfully painted story that truly captivates and ensnares the reader.
These are just some of the great stories in this anthology. It is experimental at times, and yes most of the stories would be helped with a few more edits and time, but the essence of what this group of authors is trying to do is captivating and truly unique. If you're on the hunt for something new, fresh, and imaginative check out this anthology.
February 1, 2025
A good anthology with many gems of stories-
'Dance with Me' by David TE Foster is a sci-fi take on assisted euthanasia.
'Cthulu on the Shores of Osaka' by YM Pang is a humorous poem about a Chtulu monster attack going wrong ... for the monster.
'A Fine Evening' by Ian Mah is about a Victorian dinner party turning into a murder mystery, and then turning into something out of this world.
'You're Formally Invited' by Melisssa Terry is about a couple driving in the dark woods and seemingly lost, and things only get worse, leading to a horrifying realization.
'To the Crowned Heads of the Multiverse' by Jaime Babb is about a Regency-era lady who gets invited to a cosmic ball with people dressed up from different time periods in history and making strange comments about something called 'IRL.'
'The Tea Man' by Jessie McMinn is a Zen-like parable about a wealthy Emperor, an ordinary tea man, and the nature of impermanence.
I am honored to have my story 'Invitation at the Karma Gate' printed alongside these. It is about an Indian love story going wrong on Bhoot Panchami (Ghost Festival), when the line between who is living and who is a ghost gets blurred.
'Dance with Me' by David TE Foster is a sci-fi take on assisted euthanasia.
'Cthulu on the Shores of Osaka' by YM Pang is a humorous poem about a Chtulu monster attack going wrong ... for the monster.
'A Fine Evening' by Ian Mah is about a Victorian dinner party turning into a murder mystery, and then turning into something out of this world.
'You're Formally Invited' by Melisssa Terry is about a couple driving in the dark woods and seemingly lost, and things only get worse, leading to a horrifying realization.
'To the Crowned Heads of the Multiverse' by Jaime Babb is about a Regency-era lady who gets invited to a cosmic ball with people dressed up from different time periods in history and making strange comments about something called 'IRL.'
'The Tea Man' by Jessie McMinn is a Zen-like parable about a wealthy Emperor, an ordinary tea man, and the nature of impermanence.
I am honored to have my story 'Invitation at the Karma Gate' printed alongside these. It is about an Indian love story going wrong on Bhoot Panchami (Ghost Festival), when the line between who is living and who is a ghost gets blurred.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews