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The Powers That Be: A Superhero Collection
They walk among us. They are our friends and family, our neighbors… even our enemies. Individuals with extraordinary abilities. Some view their powers as a blessing. Others, a curse. From the marvelous to the mundane, each of the characters in this anthology must come to grips with the burden that has been placed upon them. Some choose to do good for others; some retreat into more pedestrian pursuits, only to discover they can run from everything but themselves. Some find solace in simple acts; others glory in the grandeur of their exploits. Some want nothing more than to disappear permanently. Yet through it all, hope and humanity prevail in unexpected ways. Featuring nine super stories by ten amazing authors, this is truly an anthology of the extraordinary.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Sickle Cell Clinic at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Sickle Cell Disease can cause chronic, lifelong pain. Riley Hospital for Children provides a holistic approach to care for patients affected by Sickle Cell Disease, and also helps family members cope with the impact of the diagnosis.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Sickle Cell Clinic at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Sickle Cell Disease can cause chronic, lifelong pain. Riley Hospital for Children provides a holistic approach to care for patients affected by Sickle Cell Disease, and also helps family members cope with the impact of the diagnosis.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 1, 2015
Let's face it, superheroes are all around us these days, in inventive television shows and in blockbuster movies. A renaissance of these large-than-life characters is upon us, dominated primarily by characters from Marvel & DC Comics. But when you break away from these fictional universes published by corporations and let an author's imagination run wild, the result is truly wonderful anthology to read.
Starting with a well-written introduction by Ernie Lindsey exploring why we are fascinated with superheroes, these nine stories examine the exciting and imaginative possibilities:
1.) Carol Davis' "Cassie Dreams of Flying" - Teenagers Cassie, Lily, Cam and Cassie's brother Jon, go to the town's annual Halloween party, the biggest shindig of the year. Jon is her seven-year-old brother who needs oxygen and uses a wheelchair. Cassie is dressed in a homemade superhero costume, feeling completely ridiculous and self-aware of her outfit. But somehow, it's more than what she thinks it is because, at the party, it empowers her to do the unthinkable when something unexpected happens to Jon. When Cassie decides to do something about it, the story truly soars, is uplifting in its actions and poignant in its conclusion. There's a true authenticity to the characters and the story the author created, as they are so rich, they feel like someone you know, with all true quirks and eccentricities that bring the characters and the story to spectacular life.
2.) WJ Davies' "Lucky Chance" - A highly whimsical and creative story about how one unlucky guy, Luke, tries to get to court in time for a child custody hearing with his ex-wife. This journey see-saws back and forth between good and bad luck in the most unusual and unpredictable of ways. As the coincidences dovetailed into one another, I went from chuckling to heartily guffawing to uproarious laughter as Luke went through one predicament after another, each one building into an explosive finale. While there are some serious overtones, they are punctuated mightily with these bouts of luck and humor.
3.) Thomas Robins' "Repose" - When an all-powerful superhero named Herman wants to get away from what he considers a cursed life, he processes these feelings in therapy. He gripes about how he cannot escape from his life because he's always needed to save people from freaks with legal genetic modifications. Then when he gets attacked repeatedly by these young upstarts who think they can best him, he defeats them soundly. When he begins to wonder where they are coming from and why are they attacking him, the story becomes increasingly more compelling until the final showdown with a surprising new nemesis. The powerful conclusion and surprising ending left me awestruck at what happened. Truly a deft exploration of superpowers when they are considered a chore; going against the grain where they are usually considered a blessing.
4.) David Adams' "Who Will Save Supergirl?" - Mel, a soldier in the US Army stationed in Iran, tries to stop a missile strike on a city that inadvertently was going to cause many civilian casualties. Mel, covertly a flying superhero, recounts the story to her significant other of how she was trying to prevent death but sadly, finds she might not measure up. A story that is simultaneously visceral with a you-are-there perspective and suspenseful making you wonder whether she can successfully fulfill her duty to right a really bad wrong. It's also ponderous as Mel explores the emotional contradiction of how she feels she can always do more to help others but can never do enough, scrutinizing the thin line between good and evil and how their definitions aren't always clear cut.
5.) Ann Christy's "Yankari" - Eight-year-old Olisa dutifully observes big game hunters and their porters make camp in the outer reaches of the Yankari National Park and Game Preserve in Nigeria, Africa. As a native of these lands, she's used to interlopers trying to break the law protecting the animals. But Olisa is different than most natives, as she can communicate simply with the local wildlife by sending ripples through the ground. As Olisa tries to figure out how to protect her wards, something unthinkable happens, quickly turning into a life-threatening situation that culminates in a powerful ending that reverberates not only across Yankari but affects the entire world in an impactful way. Filled with lush description that appeals to the five senses and jarring, thrilling action, you can't help but be completely immersed in the story when it draws you in like this.
6.) Paul K. Swardstrom & Will Swardstrom's "Hotbox Runner" - A story of a mother who is in the midst of commuting home from work to fulfill her responsibility of taking care of her two young children and husband. But life has other plans as a series of superhero fights break out, upending her rou-tine and threatening to get in the way of her arrival home. However, she will not be deterred from her mission. Driven and determined to get home by any means possible, she embarks on a series of increasingly dangerous challenges, from damaged public transportation to wonton vehicular destruction amidst the superhero conflict. Told from an engaging and refreshing down-to-earth perspective of a civilian in the middle of larger-than-life chaos, we are anxious to see whether she has a chance to survive.
7.) Logan Thomas Snyder's "We're Coming For You" - Isaac is a young man living in an institution who was overwhelmed by hearing voices and has eventually learned to take control of his ability. When he turns eighteen, his keeper Dr. Svendsen decides to grant an interview with a celebrity tabloid reporter to show off his prize patient. When Isaac starts hearing voices again after spending years learning how to control them, he freaks out, terrified as his carefully constructed world starts unraveling unexpectedly. What happens next is one surprise after another resulting in some comical dialogue and situations, despite the dire circumstances. To be able to achieve a balance between the two can be tricky to pull off but here, it works quite effortlessly, creating a lot of "what the heck" moments as we finally learn what just really happened to Isaac and who caused it.
8.) Samuel Peralta's "Faster" - When Sparrow, a telepathically gifted individual, escapes her captivity, she's running through the streets to make good on her escape. But when she encounters a motorcycle gang of five accosting a fifteen year old girl, Sparrow's empathy kicks in and she attempts to save the girl and gain transportation. In demonstrating her dangerous skills, we come to under-stand why she was imprisoned and researched upon. Thrilling, intense and action-packed, each word is utilized with pinpoint accuracy to tell the story with maximum impact, heightening the tension in a tale of an underdog against difficult odds. The fight scenes vividly move like poetry in motion through precise description and breathless action as Sparrow methodically attempts to achieve her objectives.
9.) Will Swardstrom's "To Sacrifice a King" - What do you do when you're a sidekick with no powers apprenticed to The Universal Hero (named Larry) who is really just a big giant jerk? That's the central question being asked here. Larry's puerile behavior and his accidental powers make him a hero but he's not guided by a very strong moral compass. As a sidekick with a stronger moral fiber and the ability to think on his feet, Jesse yearns to have powers of his own but will he ever get them? When opportunity strikes, what will he do with it and what price must he pay to attain it? Filled with many hilarious moments lampooning many popular super-heroes, the tale progresses into more serious territory as the story adroitly evolves into an impressive and profound deconstruction of what it truly means to be a hero, whether you have powers or not.
This is the second charity anthology published by the writers group known as the League of Original Woolwrights (LOOW) or the LOOW Collective. Their first anthology is WOOL Gathering (A Charity Anthology) and I very much enjoyed that one as well.
As you can see, you get wide variety of a superhero stories being showcased here, a fine demonstration of the talent assembled in this anthology. Being recognized for their skills, many of these authors already have been or soon will be featured in high-caliber science fiction anthologies (The Robot Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 1),The Telepath Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 2),The Alien Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 3)) that highlight independent authors. The profiles of all of the authors in this anthology continue to improve significantly as a result of their strong storytelling skills.
Something to remember here, these are all independent authors published in this anthology. From the stories to the editing to the cover, all of this was put together by very talented individuals. Most of them don't write full-time but they should be. They write on the side while working at a regular job during the day. They put a lot of hard work into this anthology and cannot rest on their laurels when it comes to writing, like some professional authors being published by the big corporations. They know they have to put their best work out there every single time they publish, because as an independent author, their books are their calling card and must speak for themselves in terms of high quality content and holding themselves to a professional standard despite not having the resources of a major publishing house.
Add onto that the fact that they put all of this hard work into an excellent anthology for charity purposes. All of the proceeds generated from this anthology get donated to charity, specifically the Sickle Cell Clinic located in the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. Because superheroes don't only wear capes, they are your everyday folk you see around you who help others every day through selfless actions, giving of themselves using the power of kindness. That description also applies to each and every one of the contributors to this anthology, who generously created this book so they can assist those in need.
Readers get great stories at a great price, all going towards a heroic cause. It doesn't get any better than that. =)
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this eBook. A favorable review was never expected or asked for.
Starting with a well-written introduction by Ernie Lindsey exploring why we are fascinated with superheroes, these nine stories examine the exciting and imaginative possibilities:
1.) Carol Davis' "Cassie Dreams of Flying" - Teenagers Cassie, Lily, Cam and Cassie's brother Jon, go to the town's annual Halloween party, the biggest shindig of the year. Jon is her seven-year-old brother who needs oxygen and uses a wheelchair. Cassie is dressed in a homemade superhero costume, feeling completely ridiculous and self-aware of her outfit. But somehow, it's more than what she thinks it is because, at the party, it empowers her to do the unthinkable when something unexpected happens to Jon. When Cassie decides to do something about it, the story truly soars, is uplifting in its actions and poignant in its conclusion. There's a true authenticity to the characters and the story the author created, as they are so rich, they feel like someone you know, with all true quirks and eccentricities that bring the characters and the story to spectacular life.
2.) WJ Davies' "Lucky Chance" - A highly whimsical and creative story about how one unlucky guy, Luke, tries to get to court in time for a child custody hearing with his ex-wife. This journey see-saws back and forth between good and bad luck in the most unusual and unpredictable of ways. As the coincidences dovetailed into one another, I went from chuckling to heartily guffawing to uproarious laughter as Luke went through one predicament after another, each one building into an explosive finale. While there are some serious overtones, they are punctuated mightily with these bouts of luck and humor.
3.) Thomas Robins' "Repose" - When an all-powerful superhero named Herman wants to get away from what he considers a cursed life, he processes these feelings in therapy. He gripes about how he cannot escape from his life because he's always needed to save people from freaks with legal genetic modifications. Then when he gets attacked repeatedly by these young upstarts who think they can best him, he defeats them soundly. When he begins to wonder where they are coming from and why are they attacking him, the story becomes increasingly more compelling until the final showdown with a surprising new nemesis. The powerful conclusion and surprising ending left me awestruck at what happened. Truly a deft exploration of superpowers when they are considered a chore; going against the grain where they are usually considered a blessing.
4.) David Adams' "Who Will Save Supergirl?" - Mel, a soldier in the US Army stationed in Iran, tries to stop a missile strike on a city that inadvertently was going to cause many civilian casualties. Mel, covertly a flying superhero, recounts the story to her significant other of how she was trying to prevent death but sadly, finds she might not measure up. A story that is simultaneously visceral with a you-are-there perspective and suspenseful making you wonder whether she can successfully fulfill her duty to right a really bad wrong. It's also ponderous as Mel explores the emotional contradiction of how she feels she can always do more to help others but can never do enough, scrutinizing the thin line between good and evil and how their definitions aren't always clear cut.
5.) Ann Christy's "Yankari" - Eight-year-old Olisa dutifully observes big game hunters and their porters make camp in the outer reaches of the Yankari National Park and Game Preserve in Nigeria, Africa. As a native of these lands, she's used to interlopers trying to break the law protecting the animals. But Olisa is different than most natives, as she can communicate simply with the local wildlife by sending ripples through the ground. As Olisa tries to figure out how to protect her wards, something unthinkable happens, quickly turning into a life-threatening situation that culminates in a powerful ending that reverberates not only across Yankari but affects the entire world in an impactful way. Filled with lush description that appeals to the five senses and jarring, thrilling action, you can't help but be completely immersed in the story when it draws you in like this.
6.) Paul K. Swardstrom & Will Swardstrom's "Hotbox Runner" - A story of a mother who is in the midst of commuting home from work to fulfill her responsibility of taking care of her two young children and husband. But life has other plans as a series of superhero fights break out, upending her rou-tine and threatening to get in the way of her arrival home. However, she will not be deterred from her mission. Driven and determined to get home by any means possible, she embarks on a series of increasingly dangerous challenges, from damaged public transportation to wonton vehicular destruction amidst the superhero conflict. Told from an engaging and refreshing down-to-earth perspective of a civilian in the middle of larger-than-life chaos, we are anxious to see whether she has a chance to survive.
7.) Logan Thomas Snyder's "We're Coming For You" - Isaac is a young man living in an institution who was overwhelmed by hearing voices and has eventually learned to take control of his ability. When he turns eighteen, his keeper Dr. Svendsen decides to grant an interview with a celebrity tabloid reporter to show off his prize patient. When Isaac starts hearing voices again after spending years learning how to control them, he freaks out, terrified as his carefully constructed world starts unraveling unexpectedly. What happens next is one surprise after another resulting in some comical dialogue and situations, despite the dire circumstances. To be able to achieve a balance between the two can be tricky to pull off but here, it works quite effortlessly, creating a lot of "what the heck" moments as we finally learn what just really happened to Isaac and who caused it.
8.) Samuel Peralta's "Faster" - When Sparrow, a telepathically gifted individual, escapes her captivity, she's running through the streets to make good on her escape. But when she encounters a motorcycle gang of five accosting a fifteen year old girl, Sparrow's empathy kicks in and she attempts to save the girl and gain transportation. In demonstrating her dangerous skills, we come to under-stand why she was imprisoned and researched upon. Thrilling, intense and action-packed, each word is utilized with pinpoint accuracy to tell the story with maximum impact, heightening the tension in a tale of an underdog against difficult odds. The fight scenes vividly move like poetry in motion through precise description and breathless action as Sparrow methodically attempts to achieve her objectives.
9.) Will Swardstrom's "To Sacrifice a King" - What do you do when you're a sidekick with no powers apprenticed to The Universal Hero (named Larry) who is really just a big giant jerk? That's the central question being asked here. Larry's puerile behavior and his accidental powers make him a hero but he's not guided by a very strong moral compass. As a sidekick with a stronger moral fiber and the ability to think on his feet, Jesse yearns to have powers of his own but will he ever get them? When opportunity strikes, what will he do with it and what price must he pay to attain it? Filled with many hilarious moments lampooning many popular super-heroes, the tale progresses into more serious territory as the story adroitly evolves into an impressive and profound deconstruction of what it truly means to be a hero, whether you have powers or not.
This is the second charity anthology published by the writers group known as the League of Original Woolwrights (LOOW) or the LOOW Collective. Their first anthology is WOOL Gathering (A Charity Anthology) and I very much enjoyed that one as well.
As you can see, you get wide variety of a superhero stories being showcased here, a fine demonstration of the talent assembled in this anthology. Being recognized for their skills, many of these authors already have been or soon will be featured in high-caliber science fiction anthologies (The Robot Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 1),The Telepath Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 2),The Alien Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 3)) that highlight independent authors. The profiles of all of the authors in this anthology continue to improve significantly as a result of their strong storytelling skills.
Something to remember here, these are all independent authors published in this anthology. From the stories to the editing to the cover, all of this was put together by very talented individuals. Most of them don't write full-time but they should be. They write on the side while working at a regular job during the day. They put a lot of hard work into this anthology and cannot rest on their laurels when it comes to writing, like some professional authors being published by the big corporations. They know they have to put their best work out there every single time they publish, because as an independent author, their books are their calling card and must speak for themselves in terms of high quality content and holding themselves to a professional standard despite not having the resources of a major publishing house.
Add onto that the fact that they put all of this hard work into an excellent anthology for charity purposes. All of the proceeds generated from this anthology get donated to charity, specifically the Sickle Cell Clinic located in the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. Because superheroes don't only wear capes, they are your everyday folk you see around you who help others every day through selfless actions, giving of themselves using the power of kindness. That description also applies to each and every one of the contributors to this anthology, who generously created this book so they can assist those in need.
Readers get great stories at a great price, all going towards a heroic cause. It doesn't get any better than that. =)
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this eBook. A favorable review was never expected or asked for.
April 8, 2015
Superheroes remember me my youth when reading comics was a top priority :)
This super-collection from some of the best indie authors in the scifi scene is great. Every author gives a particular point of view on the theme, some of the stories are full of action, some comic, sad, suspenseful, terrifying, hilarious. Everyone will find his favourite but everyone of them are worth the price that by the way will be given entirely to charity.
This super-collection from some of the best indie authors in the scifi scene is great. Every author gives a particular point of view on the theme, some of the stories are full of action, some comic, sad, suspenseful, terrifying, hilarious. Everyone will find his favourite but everyone of them are worth the price that by the way will be given entirely to charity.
June 22, 2015
This book is great light reading. There's a nice range of stories from pretty good to outstanding, as in most anthologies. It seems to me that the overriding theme was that there are all different kinds of heroes, and they aren't always what you would expect. The book is very well written, and I enjoyed reading it.
January 12, 2015
Wonderful read! Every one of these short stories is excellent!
August 19, 2015
Cassie Dreams of Flying: This was an absolutely beautiful story. Moving and well written, with very relatable characters. I hope the whole collection is like this!
Lucky Chance: another very cool story. I love that he is only lucky when he is being a dick. Great character and I'd love to read more about him. Well done!
Repose: a very clever spin on the agonies of superhuman immortality. Great main character, great angst, and we are up to three great short stories in a row now.
Who Will Save Supergirl?: This was a cool concept, and I loved the idea behind it. This story could easily be made into a full length novel, which I would love to read.
Yankari - A Talking Earth Tale: Great story! Well done, Ann! This short will hit you right in the feels and leave you wanting more. A very neat, non-traditional superhero concept.
Hotbox Runner: A superhero story from the other side of the coin. What must it be like to be trapped in the middle of a superhero battle? Great character and well written.
We're Coming For You: This one seemed more like the beginning of a story than a complete short story. It was an intriguing start, but I felt like I didn't really know much about the group. I'd like to read more, though.
Faster: A sort of Anime superhero story. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It's definitely in the top three in the collection for me. It had great "Akira" overtones, while being quite original at the same time.
To Sacrifice a King: the sidekicks get a go as well in the final story of the collection. Great characters and an awesome story. It's official, there isn't a bad story in the collection. Well done, authors!
Lucky Chance: another very cool story. I love that he is only lucky when he is being a dick. Great character and I'd love to read more about him. Well done!
Repose: a very clever spin on the agonies of superhuman immortality. Great main character, great angst, and we are up to three great short stories in a row now.
Who Will Save Supergirl?: This was a cool concept, and I loved the idea behind it. This story could easily be made into a full length novel, which I would love to read.
Yankari - A Talking Earth Tale: Great story! Well done, Ann! This short will hit you right in the feels and leave you wanting more. A very neat, non-traditional superhero concept.
Hotbox Runner: A superhero story from the other side of the coin. What must it be like to be trapped in the middle of a superhero battle? Great character and well written.
We're Coming For You: This one seemed more like the beginning of a story than a complete short story. It was an intriguing start, but I felt like I didn't really know much about the group. I'd like to read more, though.
Faster: A sort of Anime superhero story. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It's definitely in the top three in the collection for me. It had great "Akira" overtones, while being quite original at the same time.
To Sacrifice a King: the sidekicks get a go as well in the final story of the collection. Great characters and an awesome story. It's official, there isn't a bad story in the collection. Well done, authors!
January 31, 2015
A very decent collection of indie superhero prose, well-written and, what's more, well-edited.
Some stories are about ordinary people who are kind of like superheroes, others about superheroes who face challenges of real life, and some lie somewhere between the two. In one story, I was a little disappointed by a late hint that the protagonist had some kind of unusual ability herself; it undercut the premise of "ordinary person at risk from superheroes" that had been running very successfully up until then (though it did explain her rashness). One or two of the stories had moments where what was going on could have been more clearly conveyed. But most of the stories had very satisfactory conclusions, good, strong characters, and vivid writing that didn't slow down the pace or distract from the story.
Recommended.
Some stories are about ordinary people who are kind of like superheroes, others about superheroes who face challenges of real life, and some lie somewhere between the two. In one story, I was a little disappointed by a late hint that the protagonist had some kind of unusual ability herself; it undercut the premise of "ordinary person at risk from superheroes" that had been running very successfully up until then (though it did explain her rashness). One or two of the stories had moments where what was going on could have been more clearly conveyed. But most of the stories had very satisfactory conclusions, good, strong characters, and vivid writing that didn't slow down the pace or distract from the story.
Recommended.
January 18, 2016
Cassie Dreams of Flying: Loved, loved, loved this story. When I got to the end of this story, I had an "ah ha" moment when I realized the true mark of a skilled storyteller; when the teller can make the simplest and most mundane of stories engaging.
Lucky Chance: A super power with consequences. The main character can influence luck, just not for himself. He's walking karmic retribution.
Repose: An interesting take on how the superhero life, and eternal life, could become tedious. The main character just wants out, but he can't die.
Who Will Save Supergirl?: A short tale about how the good guy doesn't always complete the mission. Even a super has limitations and a crisis of self.
Yankari: The story started off well, but then the author ruined it with 3rd wave feminist nonsense at the end. At the end, girls, and only girls, receive powers and "change the world."
Hotbox Runner: A story of a person with super powers that abstains from using those powers and chooses to a mother to her children, a wife to her husband, and a worker bee for society. On her way home for work she's caught between various super-powered people fighting in the middle of the city and she just wants to get home to her family.
We're Coming For You: Derivative tale of a guy with stop telepathy thinking he's going insane being "rescued" by some other supers.
Faster: Girl with speed and moderate telepathy escaping from a government facility and fighting a futuristic bike gang. It was a story lifted right out of anime/manga. Uninspired and pedestrian.
To Sacrifice a King: Kinda like Lord of the Rings in that the most important of decisions can be made by the most insignificant of people. Also explores how one doesn't need special skills to be a true hero.
Lucky Chance: A super power with consequences. The main character can influence luck, just not for himself. He's walking karmic retribution.
Repose: An interesting take on how the superhero life, and eternal life, could become tedious. The main character just wants out, but he can't die.
Who Will Save Supergirl?: A short tale about how the good guy doesn't always complete the mission. Even a super has limitations and a crisis of self.
Yankari: The story started off well, but then the author ruined it with 3rd wave feminist nonsense at the end. At the end, girls, and only girls, receive powers and "change the world."
Hotbox Runner: A story of a person with super powers that abstains from using those powers and chooses to a mother to her children, a wife to her husband, and a worker bee for society. On her way home for work she's caught between various super-powered people fighting in the middle of the city and she just wants to get home to her family.
We're Coming For You: Derivative tale of a guy with stop telepathy thinking he's going insane being "rescued" by some other supers.
Faster: Girl with speed and moderate telepathy escaping from a government facility and fighting a futuristic bike gang. It was a story lifted right out of anime/manga. Uninspired and pedestrian.
To Sacrifice a King: Kinda like Lord of the Rings in that the most important of decisions can be made by the most insignificant of people. Also explores how one doesn't need special skills to be a true hero.
August 29, 2015
Good book with a wide range of writing talent and tales. My favorite, however, was the final story, "To Sacrifice A King." "Faster," the next to last tale would follow closely at 2nd favorite. Can't go wrong with this being 'free' on Kindle Unlimited right now.
August 6, 2016
A really solid collection of stories. I didn't love all of them, but a couple stood out, and overall it was interesting to see so many different takes on the superhero theme.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews