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The Fiction Desk #7
There Was Once a Place
Not to be used for navigation: This collection of new short stories will take you from an abandoned factory in Sheffield to the moon, from your local supermarket to a school playing field, and from the nearest hospital to the surface of Mars.
This volume also includes the winning stories from our second flash fiction competition.
This volume also includes the winning stories from our second flash fiction competition.
148 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2014
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June 20, 2014Author review:
This is the seventh anthology from The Fiction Desk. Whilst I may be considered biased as they've featured a story of mine in two of these collections (including my flash fiction 'Badass' in this one) I can say quite honestly that every one of these anthologies has been a pleasure to read. This one is no exception. The Fiction Desk is refreshing. It's reliably good quality, literary fiction that is however never pretentious or predictable. There's the expected quota of adultery and difficult childhoods, sure, but the stories in these anthologies always deal with the typical lit fic subjects that I have to confess lacking fondness for with a flair of capable writing that makes any subject enjoyable.
I have a few personal favourites in this volume. 'Dan and the Dead Boy', is a wonderful, vivid character piece which is moving, humorous, sad and has the perfect punchline. 'Little Bird Story' is a flash fiction piece that ticks all my reading boxes: sad, hopeful and beautifully written. 'Colouring In' is another sweet, hopeful tale - it's nice to read some happy stories. 'The Stamp Works' is a pretty traditional ghost story, rendered absolutely chilling by its impeccable detail, characterisation and pacing.
The anthology is rounded off nicely with two brilliant flash fictions - 'Loss Angina' and 'Bing Bong'. I particularly enjoyed reading the flash fiction in this volume, and each story is prefaced with Rob Redman's customary introduction which is always a lovely touch. Even the cover is nice - vivid blues and golds for a summer holiday read - is it contour lines on a map? Hills? A peninsula? Whatever it is, it's not to be used for navigation!
This is the seventh anthology from The Fiction Desk. Whilst I may be considered biased as they've featured a story of mine in two of these collections (including my flash fiction 'Badass' in this one) I can say quite honestly that every one of these anthologies has been a pleasure to read. This one is no exception. The Fiction Desk is refreshing. It's reliably good quality, literary fiction that is however never pretentious or predictable. There's the expected quota of adultery and difficult childhoods, sure, but the stories in these anthologies always deal with the typical lit fic subjects that I have to confess lacking fondness for with a flair of capable writing that makes any subject enjoyable.
I have a few personal favourites in this volume. 'Dan and the Dead Boy', is a wonderful, vivid character piece which is moving, humorous, sad and has the perfect punchline. 'Little Bird Story' is a flash fiction piece that ticks all my reading boxes: sad, hopeful and beautifully written. 'Colouring In' is another sweet, hopeful tale - it's nice to read some happy stories. 'The Stamp Works' is a pretty traditional ghost story, rendered absolutely chilling by its impeccable detail, characterisation and pacing.
The anthology is rounded off nicely with two brilliant flash fictions - 'Loss Angina' and 'Bing Bong'. I particularly enjoyed reading the flash fiction in this volume, and each story is prefaced with Rob Redman's customary introduction which is always a lovely touch. Even the cover is nice - vivid blues and golds for a summer holiday read - is it contour lines on a map? Hills? A peninsula? Whatever it is, it's not to be used for navigation!
August 14, 2014
For my full review, and reviews of each story, please visit Casual Debris.
The latest issue of The Fiction Desk features this year's flash fiction competition winner and runners-up, tossed in with some fine short stories. I am not a fan of flash fiction, yet again those selected here are worthy reads, and among the shortlisted entries, I completely agree with the selection that received the honour of "best": Jo Gatford's "Bing Bong."
My preferred stories from TFD7 include Melissa Goode's "Exile," which I would vote as the issue's top story, followed by some strong genre entries: Alex Clark's "The Stamp Works," Edmund Krikorian's "Santa Maria" and Chris Fryer's "The Loop."
For my full review, and reviews of each story, please visit Casual Debris.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews