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Discovery: QSF's Second Annual Flash FIction Contest
The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.
The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.
The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.
226 pages, ebook
First published June 10, 2015
1 person is currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Angel Martinez
93 books677 followersAngel Martinez currently lives part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head. She has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 26, 2015
I often feel very self-serving when I talk about anthologies in which I have a story included. I generally discuss them without mentioning my story at all. In this particular case, not including myself there are over a hundred other authors, so I'm feeling very little shame in talking about this anthology.
The blurb really covers the structure, so here it is: The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.
The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.
Broken into a few chapters, each of these flash fiction pieces clocks in at 300 words or less. There are two sections of Science Fiction that bracket sections of Fantasy, Horror, and the Paranormal. With over a hundred entries, I can honestly say there'll be something in here you'll enjoy. As we all know how squeamish I can be about horror, there was a whole section I was actively dreading, frankly, but even that piece had entries that caught my attention and made me smile.
Are there reoccurring themes? Yes and no - I noticed quite a bit of romance tied into the various flash fiction pieces, and there was a larger 'G' component from the LGBTQ spectrum than any of the other letters (though I was super-stoked to see an Ace story, and that's not to say there were no L's or B's or T's in there).
Here's the thing, though - I'm not usually a reader of flash fiction, and I have to admit that reading it was quite relaxing. Maybe that's not the right word for it - there was not a lot of effort required. Each story was there so briefly that I got to enjoy it and smile, and then I was ready to turn the page or turn out the light (it was my bedside book for a couple of weeks) and I didn't have to remember anything for my next reading of the book.
It's fun to read that way. I couldn't do it every time, but I really appreciated the book for the opportunity to do so. Especially while my house is under renovation and concentration is limited, this was the perfect book. It'd be great for a book-bag, work breaks, or any other "Catch-as-catch-can" reading time.
And even when I didn't connect completely with a story it wasn't a big deal. Investment wise, I'd spent very little time, so I didn't feel as let down as when I'm fifty pages into a book and decide I'm done (that's my own personal rule: if I'm not there by page fifty, I stop). And for all that there are over a hundred stories here, I didn't have that moment very often. I liked them.
Perhaps because they all have that "discovery" theme, there's most often a little sideways twist involved in the micro story, and as such, it feels like reading a series of "aha!" stories. Micro mysteries, almost, or cunning reveals. And I like those.
Did I have favourites? Of course. I really got a chuckle out of Storm Grant's "A Rock and a Hard Place," where a man's ex attacks the new boyfriend, and the poor guy discovers things are not at all what they seem in a very big way. I also really liked Astrid Amara's "Anomalous," and Jenn Burke's "Self Actuating," which won the contest - both were a little dark and sad, but so clever.
So, I'm stoked I took part, happy that the anthology includes my little story, and really quite pleased to have discovered what was - to me - a very different reading experience.
The blurb really covers the structure, so here it is: The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.
The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.
Broken into a few chapters, each of these flash fiction pieces clocks in at 300 words or less. There are two sections of Science Fiction that bracket sections of Fantasy, Horror, and the Paranormal. With over a hundred entries, I can honestly say there'll be something in here you'll enjoy. As we all know how squeamish I can be about horror, there was a whole section I was actively dreading, frankly, but even that piece had entries that caught my attention and made me smile.
Are there reoccurring themes? Yes and no - I noticed quite a bit of romance tied into the various flash fiction pieces, and there was a larger 'G' component from the LGBTQ spectrum than any of the other letters (though I was super-stoked to see an Ace story, and that's not to say there were no L's or B's or T's in there).
Here's the thing, though - I'm not usually a reader of flash fiction, and I have to admit that reading it was quite relaxing. Maybe that's not the right word for it - there was not a lot of effort required. Each story was there so briefly that I got to enjoy it and smile, and then I was ready to turn the page or turn out the light (it was my bedside book for a couple of weeks) and I didn't have to remember anything for my next reading of the book.
It's fun to read that way. I couldn't do it every time, but I really appreciated the book for the opportunity to do so. Especially while my house is under renovation and concentration is limited, this was the perfect book. It'd be great for a book-bag, work breaks, or any other "Catch-as-catch-can" reading time.
And even when I didn't connect completely with a story it wasn't a big deal. Investment wise, I'd spent very little time, so I didn't feel as let down as when I'm fifty pages into a book and decide I'm done (that's my own personal rule: if I'm not there by page fifty, I stop). And for all that there are over a hundred stories here, I didn't have that moment very often. I liked them.
Perhaps because they all have that "discovery" theme, there's most often a little sideways twist involved in the micro story, and as such, it feels like reading a series of "aha!" stories. Micro mysteries, almost, or cunning reveals. And I like those.
Did I have favourites? Of course. I really got a chuckle out of Storm Grant's "A Rock and a Hard Place," where a man's ex attacks the new boyfriend, and the poor guy discovers things are not at all what they seem in a very big way. I also really liked Astrid Amara's "Anomalous," and Jenn Burke's "Self Actuating," which won the contest - both were a little dark and sad, but so clever.
So, I'm stoked I took part, happy that the anthology includes my little story, and really quite pleased to have discovered what was - to me - a very different reading experience.
July 17, 2016
This book is a mix, as many anthologies are. From hot stuff to sweet romance to chilling horror, the writers delve into the LGBTQ experience via science fiction and fantasy.
In the interests of full disclosure, I have a story in this anthology. But I had not read most of the other stories until now. There is much that's good in here. Give it a try!
In the interests of full disclosure, I have a story in this anthology. But I had not read most of the other stories until now. There is much that's good in here. Give it a try!
September 1, 2015
If you want a quick five minute read before bed or whilst waiting for an appointment than this book is full of them and all of them are either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal with an LGBT vibe.
I am probably biased as I have a small story in this book but I will admit to the others being of a far better quality than my poor effort and well worth every penny you pay for it.
I am probably biased as I have a small story in this book but I will admit to the others being of a far better quality than my poor effort and well worth every penny you pay for it.
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January 14, 2019
July 11, 2017
Not gonna lie, I need the anthology for every one of these contests ever.
February 2, 2023
MS!S
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 30, 2016No star rating because I didn't finish it. This book is *long* and has SO MANY stories in it. I feel like they weren't really curated very well? This was their first ever contest so I imagine the books get better as time goes, but this one just seemed like you had to slog through a lot of meh to get to some of the good pieces. I don't really have the patience to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews