Sequoia: a short story

by Hannah Steenbock

Hi, I'm Max. Hardworking, book-loving person who feels special about trees. My favorite one lives in the botanical gardens, a fairly young sequoia. To me, they are the most majestic beings in the world. However, I approach them with caution now, after what happened to me.

I still can't explain it very well. Imagine putting your hand on the tree, feeling the rough bark, thinking loving thoughts to it, and then suddenly plunging into darkness. That's what happened to me. I ended up in a whole forest of sequoias, and soon found out I wasn't in the good old US of A anymore. Fortunately, I made some friends, and discovered a possible way of getting home … and change the world with it.

But like I said, I'm careful about sequoias, these days. And you might want to treat them with respect, too.

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2013

About the author

I'm a writer, dreamer and creator of worlds. I love taking my readers onto journeys into far-away lands where things are different and yet humans are still the same.
I live in the North of Germany, where seagulls scream, the wind never rests, and people are friendly.

Find me on Mastodon (@firlefanz@writing.exchange) and at my website www.hannah-steenbock.de. That's where you can sign up to my newsletter that I send out on every 13th of the month, with writing news and tales of my silly little dragon pet, Ember.

Reviews

[Martin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, here goes... this story was not what I would normally go for (there I said it - and given I won this in a competition it seems a bit ungrateful to do so) having said that, the imagery was good and the mythology seemed well thought out and developed for a short story. It did feel half-way through that it was a shortened version or a concept for a longer work, which it could easily have become; and I think that coloured my expectations. The nature (no pun intended) of the portal fed into the story concept, a feature lacking in many portal stories (especially short ones).

The themes worked well, as a story set with an ecology point to make the message came across and thus the point was made.

I leave it to the mind of the reader as to whether my next comment is a criticism or a compliment...

Why wasn't this a novel? The potential in the story and the writing was there. The intro to the world needs only a little fleshing and it could easily be a good few chapters. A bit more intro to Max (and the talent is there) in our world and that's a chapter at least.

Unfair for a short story? Probably. Unfair as to the talent available to the writer? No. Unfair as to the potential of the story to be so much more? Hell, no.

Sorry Hannah

[Shelly Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant short story. The author has an amazing way of taking the reader on a fantastic journey from one world to another in a short amount of time. She keeps the characters interesting and the plot moving along in perfect rhythm. There is a lot for the reader in a short amount of time.

I don't want to risk giving away anything in the story because you really should read it for yourself but the story does take you on a journey into a completely different world in which things are not like they are in this one. The main character must learn to use a power that is unknown in order to find the way home, but can it be done? The ending was a surprise to me and I didn't see it coming at all. ? I am not doing justice to the story, as you can tell, I'm not a writer but I would really recommend that you give this one a chance. It's really very good and completely worth the taking the time to read it. Great story!

[Sophie Kernstock Kernstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful take on natural magic and the light that flickers in all of us. Worthy read from amazing author with way to paint with words. 💕

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully short story about a tree, a young tree-hugger (literally), and an adventure that will change their life forever.

[Mara Reboi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little story. It was a breeze to read. <3

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending was disappointing.