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A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila and Other Stories
A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila is a map to the worlds of award-winning fictionist Dean Francis Alfar's imagination. The real and the unreal intersect in these fifteen stories of fantasy, science fiction and horror, and celebrate the wonder of speculative fiction.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 24 reviews
November 17, 2015
So ganito pala ang speculative fiction~
Some are really good, but the others are just meh, I tried myself getting to the end of it. Some stories are forgetrable, others are ZOMG SHOCKING and worthy to remember.
The first story is really good though. He's like doing a Neil Gaiman mood, bleak, dark, and a personification of those we see everyday as commuters.
Some are really good, but the others are just meh, I tried myself getting to the end of it. Some stories are forgetrable, others are ZOMG SHOCKING and worthy to remember.
The first story is really good though. He's like doing a Neil Gaiman mood, bleak, dark, and a personification of those we see everyday as commuters.
October 29, 2015
I have long since been a fan of Dean Alfar's works subsequent that well-traversed sojourn I had through the streets of Ciudad Meiora, Street of Lost Hope, and back. With this one, I was even more impressed.
Lastly, the cover design and its material is very pretty. I tried to wrap it with plastic as soon as I opened it just to protect the edges from crumpling. I cannot forgive myself if that happens. Haha.
Lastly, the cover design and its material is very pretty. I tried to wrap it with plastic as soon as I opened it just to protect the edges from crumpling. I cannot forgive myself if that happens. Haha.
August 15, 2020
Wow, unbelievably good. There's so much color painted against the backdrop of Metro Manila's banality. What do we get out of a defunct necropolis in the guise of a city? A good literary work like this. A must read for friends who lived and grew up in the NCR.
For other short stories, I think they were overwritten. Too many dangling modifiers and descriptives. But I identify with the writing style, partly because this is also how I write. LOL. Based on other reviews, the style is comparable to Neil Gaiman. I haven't read any Gaiman works but since I liked Alfar's writing style, I will read one soon.
For other short stories, I think they were overwritten. Too many dangling modifiers and descriptives. But I identify with the writing style, partly because this is also how I write. LOL. Based on other reviews, the style is comparable to Neil Gaiman. I haven't read any Gaiman works but since I liked Alfar's writing style, I will read one soon.
August 12, 2018
I feel a little let down because there’s no touch of whimsy I’ve come to expect from a Dean Francis Alfar’s book. But don’t let that discourage you from picking up this book. The magic is still there.
September 21, 2015
I always love reading Dean Alfar's short stories. I NEVER know what I'm gonna feel at the end of them (always satisfied, but whether I'd be sad or happy remains to be seen). So when I saw copies of this in the Book Fair, I knew I had to buy one. Even though I promised myself no new books until I've cleared my to-read pile.
Kinda nitpicky comment, but I do wish 'Goggles and Gloves' wasn't one of the stories near the end of the collection, though. Like, I have nothing against steampunk set in countries other than the British Empire (I used to be doubtful, but Cherie Priest crushed all those doubts to bits). Anyway, my problem with 'Googles and Gloves' isn't that it's steampunk (Christ, I'm excited to read a Filipino steampunk story), but because I felt it would work better as a novella or even a novel.
We get the island of Maharlika, a thriving place with booming trade, putting up a Shield when war broke out in order to repel the invaders. Men were needed to keep this Shield working, and so those who lost their jobs when Maharlika closed off its ports were forced to work underground as miners. So far, so good.
Why did I think it was weak (as a short story) then, and should probably be put in the middle of the book? Well, I was expecting someone from the story to wonder what the fuck the nobles (or whatever governing body Maharlika has) are doing overground, someone to express some doubt about the backbreaking dangerous job (and people DID indeed die), someone to question the status quo. But because there was a foreign invader, we forget the bad governing system and bad political decisions and choose to fight only to survive. It's a story of survival, but only that. I'd be happy to see more stories in this world.
In other news, 'Steps' is beautiful, unexpected, haunting, and made me cry. Easily my favourite in this collection.
Kinda nitpicky comment, but I do wish 'Goggles and Gloves' wasn't one of the stories near the end of the collection, though. Like, I have nothing against steampunk set in countries other than the British Empire (I used to be doubtful, but Cherie Priest crushed all those doubts to bits). Anyway, my problem with 'Googles and Gloves' isn't that it's steampunk (Christ, I'm excited to read a Filipino steampunk story), but because I felt it would work better as a novella or even a novel.
We get the island of Maharlika, a thriving place with booming trade, putting up a Shield when war broke out in order to repel the invaders. Men were needed to keep this Shield working, and so those who lost their jobs when Maharlika closed off its ports were forced to work underground as miners. So far, so good.
Why did I think it was weak (as a short story) then, and should probably be put in the middle of the book? Well, I was expecting someone from the story to wonder what the fuck the nobles (or whatever governing body Maharlika has) are doing overground, someone to express some doubt about the backbreaking dangerous job (and people DID indeed die), someone to question the status quo. But because there was a foreign invader, we forget the bad governing system and bad political decisions and choose to fight only to survive. It's a story of survival, but only that. I'd be happy to see more stories in this world.
In other news, 'Steps' is beautiful, unexpected, haunting, and made me cry. Easily my favourite in this collection.
Read
January 13, 2025Started the year with an anthology by Dean Francis Alfar, one of the well-recognized Filipino contemporary authors in the field of Speculative Fiction and whose works I’ve wanted to read for a while.
The 15 stories are in different genres ranging from fantasy to horror. My favorites are:
The New Daughter
Things
City Crossing
Notes on an Ascent
Brother and Sister
The others just didn’t affect me as much. I expected the most from the title story but I felt like the concept of the streets in Manila (EDSA, Aurora Blvd., etc.) having living personifications didn’t reach its full potential.
Even though I didn’t like the stories equally, I liked how the common thing among them is that despite the fantastical elements, the stories are both kept grounded and elevated by having human relationships and emotions at their core.
I recommend this collection for those who want to try more Philippine Spec Fic. As a tweet pointed out, it is reminiscent of the #ManilaEncounters trend years ago.
The 15 stories are in different genres ranging from fantasy to horror. My favorites are:
The New Daughter
Things
City Crossing
Notes on an Ascent
Brother and Sister
The others just didn’t affect me as much. I expected the most from the title story but I felt like the concept of the streets in Manila (EDSA, Aurora Blvd., etc.) having living personifications didn’t reach its full potential.
Even though I didn’t like the stories equally, I liked how the common thing among them is that despite the fantastical elements, the stories are both kept grounded and elevated by having human relationships and emotions at their core.
I recommend this collection for those who want to try more Philippine Spec Fic. As a tweet pointed out, it is reminiscent of the #ManilaEncounters trend years ago.
June 11, 2024
📖: A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila and Other Stories (2015)
🖋️: Dean Francis Alfar
1. A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila
Loved the lore behind the famous streets of Metro Manila and how each became a sentient being with their personality derived from the culture of its inhabitants. The ending was a little bit too fast for me, though.
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
2. Ohkti
Arabic for 'sister'. It is a touching story about two orphaned sisters. One who found love and deceit, the other who feared love because of what happened to her sister.
"This is a love story, but it has nothing to do with a man. You had no father because a father means someone who stays to be a father, and the man who helped to make you was anything but that."
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
3. The New Daughter
A woodworker who built his children out of wood. All the boys he built had grown and left him, and now all he wants is a daughter. The ending reveals that he, in fact, is neither ready nor fit to father a little girl.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
4. Things
A self-aware woman is being hunted and punished by her lover's dead wife. My only question is, why is the woman the only one being punished?
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
5. Godfathers
A speculative epistolary about two men claiming to be the godfathers of a girl, promising to provide protection to their goddaughter after the death of her parents. The girl's silence brings about the true intentions of her 'godfathers.'
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
6. Noted On An Ascent
Confusing read.
🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑
7. The Girl With The Gun
Is this free verse poetry? If it was a poem, then I'm not a fan of how the narrative poem was executed. It's not poetic and engaging enough for me. The story would've come out better if it was written normally, though.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
8. Float
The imagery reminds me of Disney Pixar's 'Soul.'
🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
9. Brother & Sister
It has the vibes of Hansel and Gretel, but the children are zombified. The story almost became my favorite in the whole collection until I read the last two paragraphs. I feel like there should've been more to that ending.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
10. Steps
A Cinderella-inspired story, written from the perspective of the STEPmother. First, you find it sweet and warm, then wholesome, then fulfilling, then speculative, then anticipative, then disturbing, and then utterly shocking. It's still a story about love; no one died.
"Are you here to be my mother?" She asked.
This question took you by surprise, and so did your quick reply.
"Of course not. She is dead. I can never be her."
AND OOOOOH boy, she, indeed, was not THERE to be Cinderella's mother.
This is, by far, the CRAZIEST Cinderella story adaptation I have ever read.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
11. City Cross
I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen. Reading this piece feels like it's nonfiction, a memoir to be specific. I enjoyed reading through the imagery of Metro Manila. The pacing is natural and very engaging to read.
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
12. Dai vidas du'l grandu investigadores: El Caso du'l Toro Perduto (From The Lives of the Great Detectives: The Case of the Missing Bull)
When the bull speaks, does it spit BULLshit or facts?
Also, what an incredibly long title for such a short story. And yes, the translation is even included in the title.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
13. Glove & Goggles
A steampunk-style short story. It reminds me of Alita: The Battle Angel.
The world-building was appealing, and its flow was reasonable.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
14. Jianghu
Not my cup of tea.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
15. This Is The Story
It's another one of those stories that reads like a memoir. If this story is dear and personal to the author, I have nothing to say.
However, if this is entirely a work of fiction and is not personally associated with the author, then I must say that the mother was right for never forgiving her husband. The mother sacrificed too much of her life, her womanhood, and her dignity but still never put an ounce of blame and remorse on their child.
The husband is a complete hopeless romantic who never cared about his wife's wellbeing, not a single hint of remorse on the text, he's just a sad sad boy who's abandoned his family because his wife never loved him.
Sex, even inside marriage, without the other party's consent, is rape. Being forced against your will will never be romantic.
The boy you raised with your blood and tears just so he doesn't become like his father, then grows up to be the exact replica of his father, is an absolute nightmare of a reality. It's as if the mother died without ever experiencing the fulfillment of life. A life ruined by men, no redemption for anyone whatsoever. Just a sham of a happy ending for the son that, in reality, wouldn't probably last.
It's a well-written story, I must confess. However, I am not rating this story out of respect whether this is based on reality or not.
------------------------
My Review:
It was a dark and rainy day when I passed by an NBS and decided, hmm, maybe I should check out some books for fun. It wasn't my plan to buy anything that day until my eyes landed on two books, a Nick Joaquin one and this book, a collection of speculative fiction short stories. After reading both books, I must say it was well worth my money.
I am glad to have found this book. I used to read similar pieces as our assigned readings during our CW class. Now, I was able to explore the genre of speculative fiction more. I will most definitely read more of Dean Alfar's works in the future!
I'm going to take a Speculative Fiction course next year, I am absolutely looking forward to studying more about this genre of wide variety. Hey, maybe I could try out writing a speculative piece, too!
Overall Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
🖋️: Dean Francis Alfar
1. A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila
Loved the lore behind the famous streets of Metro Manila and how each became a sentient being with their personality derived from the culture of its inhabitants. The ending was a little bit too fast for me, though.
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
2. Ohkti
Arabic for 'sister'. It is a touching story about two orphaned sisters. One who found love and deceit, the other who feared love because of what happened to her sister.
"This is a love story, but it has nothing to do with a man. You had no father because a father means someone who stays to be a father, and the man who helped to make you was anything but that."
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
3. The New Daughter
A woodworker who built his children out of wood. All the boys he built had grown and left him, and now all he wants is a daughter. The ending reveals that he, in fact, is neither ready nor fit to father a little girl.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
4. Things
A self-aware woman is being hunted and punished by her lover's dead wife. My only question is, why is the woman the only one being punished?
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
5. Godfathers
A speculative epistolary about two men claiming to be the godfathers of a girl, promising to provide protection to their goddaughter after the death of her parents. The girl's silence brings about the true intentions of her 'godfathers.'
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
6. Noted On An Ascent
Confusing read.
🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑
7. The Girl With The Gun
Is this free verse poetry? If it was a poem, then I'm not a fan of how the narrative poem was executed. It's not poetic and engaging enough for me. The story would've come out better if it was written normally, though.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
8. Float
The imagery reminds me of Disney Pixar's 'Soul.'
🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
9. Brother & Sister
It has the vibes of Hansel and Gretel, but the children are zombified. The story almost became my favorite in the whole collection until I read the last two paragraphs. I feel like there should've been more to that ending.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
10. Steps
A Cinderella-inspired story, written from the perspective of the STEPmother. First, you find it sweet and warm, then wholesome, then fulfilling, then speculative, then anticipative, then disturbing, and then utterly shocking. It's still a story about love; no one died.
"Are you here to be my mother?" She asked.
This question took you by surprise, and so did your quick reply.
"Of course not. She is dead. I can never be her."
AND OOOOOH boy, she, indeed, was not THERE to be Cinderella's mother.
This is, by far, the CRAZIEST Cinderella story adaptation I have ever read.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
11. City Cross
I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen. Reading this piece feels like it's nonfiction, a memoir to be specific. I enjoyed reading through the imagery of Metro Manila. The pacing is natural and very engaging to read.
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
12. Dai vidas du'l grandu investigadores: El Caso du'l Toro Perduto (From The Lives of the Great Detectives: The Case of the Missing Bull)
When the bull speaks, does it spit BULLshit or facts?
Also, what an incredibly long title for such a short story. And yes, the translation is even included in the title.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
13. Glove & Goggles
A steampunk-style short story. It reminds me of Alita: The Battle Angel.
The world-building was appealing, and its flow was reasonable.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
14. Jianghu
Not my cup of tea.
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
15. This Is The Story
It's another one of those stories that reads like a memoir. If this story is dear and personal to the author, I have nothing to say.
However, if this is entirely a work of fiction and is not personally associated with the author, then I must say that the mother was right for never forgiving her husband. The mother sacrificed too much of her life, her womanhood, and her dignity but still never put an ounce of blame and remorse on their child.
The husband is a complete hopeless romantic who never cared about his wife's wellbeing, not a single hint of remorse on the text, he's just a sad sad boy who's abandoned his family because his wife never loved him.
Sex, even inside marriage, without the other party's consent, is rape. Being forced against your will will never be romantic.
The boy you raised with your blood and tears just so he doesn't become like his father, then grows up to be the exact replica of his father, is an absolute nightmare of a reality. It's as if the mother died without ever experiencing the fulfillment of life. A life ruined by men, no redemption for anyone whatsoever. Just a sham of a happy ending for the son that, in reality, wouldn't probably last.
It's a well-written story, I must confess. However, I am not rating this story out of respect whether this is based on reality or not.
------------------------
My Review:
It was a dark and rainy day when I passed by an NBS and decided, hmm, maybe I should check out some books for fun. It wasn't my plan to buy anything that day until my eyes landed on two books, a Nick Joaquin one and this book, a collection of speculative fiction short stories. After reading both books, I must say it was well worth my money.
I am glad to have found this book. I used to read similar pieces as our assigned readings during our CW class. Now, I was able to explore the genre of speculative fiction more. I will most definitely read more of Dean Alfar's works in the future!
I'm going to take a Speculative Fiction course next year, I am absolutely looking forward to studying more about this genre of wide variety. Hey, maybe I could try out writing a speculative piece, too!
Overall Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
December 22, 2018
“The Field Guide to the Roads of Manila and Other Stories” by Dean Francis Alfar is a dream. It has introduced me to new and fascinating worlds and characters. Meet these people and places: Hansel and Gretel, but as zombies. The stepmother of Cinderella, but this time, she is not a villain. A toymaker making his new daughter.
My favorite stories are “The New Daughter”, “Steps”, and “Things.
My actual rating for this short story collection is 4.5/5 stars.
My favorite stories are “The New Daughter”, “Steps”, and “Things.
My actual rating for this short story collection is 4.5/5 stars.
March 22, 2022
Ang mga nagustuhan kong kuwento:
● The New Daughter – Nako nalungkot ako para kay lolo.
● Things – Pero bakit parang ang salarin lang ay si ate? Hindi ba may kinalaman rin ang kanyang kaapid?
● Godfathers – Ang nakakainis lang dito ay: una, parang kulang; pangalawa, bakit parang napaka-pang-yuropa yung mga pangalan nila? Pwede rin namang mas Pinoy pa pangalan nila.
● Notes on an Ascent – Nakakaintriga lang kase wew, hagdanan patungo sa walang-may-alam? Mga umakyat at hindi pa nakababalik?
● Brother & Sister – kakaibang pagsasalaysay sa “Hansel & Gretel”. Para bang tinanong ni G. Alfar sa sarili niya, “Paano kung si Hansel at Gretel ay zombie?”
● Dai vidas du’l grandu investigadores: El caso du’l toro perduto – paborito ko ’to kase ang gago rin nung kalabaw. Hayup kang kalabaw ka! Nakigulo ka pa! Yan tuloy!
Karagdagan:
Nakulangan ako sa dalawang kuwento, yung Godfathers at Gloves & Goggles. Parang umpisa lang sila ng mas mahabang kuwento na pwede pang dagdagan ni G. Alfar. Pati yung Notes on an Ascent, pwede sanang pang-umpisa lang yung kuwentong ’yon bago maging kuwento nang katatakutan at kababalaghan.
Ang pinaka mahina na para sa akin ay yung pangunahing kuwento, A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila. Medyo nakakaintriga yung konsepto na may pagkatao ang mga daan ng Maynila, pero nagtaka lang kase ako na, osige, pinasabog mo ang EDSA (at malamang kahit walang nasaktan e libu-libong manlalakbay ang napeste mo), . . . e pano na ngayon? Hindi ba bubuuin lang nila ulit? Sinong makapagsasabi na hindi lang ulit mabuhay si EDSA mismo, yung EDSAng mamatay-tao? At kung mangyari iyon, hindi ba mas lagot lang tayo pagbalik niya?
Pero masaya naman ang buong libro at mabilis lang basahin.
● The New Daughter – Nako nalungkot ako para kay lolo.
● Things – Pero bakit parang ang salarin lang ay si ate? Hindi ba may kinalaman rin ang kanyang kaapid?
● Godfathers – Ang nakakainis lang dito ay: una, parang kulang; pangalawa, bakit parang napaka-pang-yuropa yung mga pangalan nila? Pwede rin namang mas Pinoy pa pangalan nila.
● Notes on an Ascent – Nakakaintriga lang kase wew, hagdanan patungo sa walang-may-alam? Mga umakyat at hindi pa nakababalik?
● Brother & Sister – kakaibang pagsasalaysay sa “Hansel & Gretel”. Para bang tinanong ni G. Alfar sa sarili niya, “Paano kung si Hansel at Gretel ay zombie?”
● Dai vidas du’l grandu investigadores: El caso du’l toro perduto – paborito ko ’to kase ang gago rin nung kalabaw. Hayup kang kalabaw ka! Nakigulo ka pa! Yan tuloy!
Karagdagan:
Nakulangan ako sa dalawang kuwento, yung Godfathers at Gloves & Goggles. Parang umpisa lang sila ng mas mahabang kuwento na pwede pang dagdagan ni G. Alfar. Pati yung Notes on an Ascent, pwede sanang pang-umpisa lang yung kuwentong ’yon bago maging kuwento nang katatakutan at kababalaghan.
Ang pinaka mahina na para sa akin ay yung pangunahing kuwento, A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila. Medyo nakakaintriga yung konsepto na may pagkatao ang mga daan ng Maynila, pero nagtaka lang kase ako na, osige, pinasabog mo ang EDSA (at malamang kahit walang nasaktan e libu-libong manlalakbay ang napeste mo), . . . e pano na ngayon? Hindi ba bubuuin lang nila ulit? Sinong makapagsasabi na hindi lang ulit mabuhay si EDSA mismo, yung EDSAng mamatay-tao? At kung mangyari iyon, hindi ba mas lagot lang tayo pagbalik niya?
Pero masaya naman ang buong libro at mabilis lang basahin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Rating: 3.5/5
I'm impressed by the various worlds Dean Alfar was able to conjure in this collection. From a reconfiguration of Manila as we know it to a creative retelling of some popular fairy tales, if you want to engage your imagination and travel worlds you had never thought of, this book is for you.
The only downside is that some of the stories--their worldbuilding in particular--are too dense for a short story that you wouldn't be able to fully appreciate them in their current form.
My favorite stories in the collection are the titular "A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila", "Brother and Sister", and "This is Our Story".
I'm impressed by the various worlds Dean Alfar was able to conjure in this collection. From a reconfiguration of Manila as we know it to a creative retelling of some popular fairy tales, if you want to engage your imagination and travel worlds you had never thought of, this book is for you.
The only downside is that some of the stories--their worldbuilding in particular--are too dense for a short story that you wouldn't be able to fully appreciate them in their current form.
My favorite stories in the collection are the titular "A Field Guide to the Roads of Manila", "Brother and Sister", and "This is Our Story".
June 21, 2020
Rating is the average of all the stories combined.
I genuinely enjoyed most of the stories in this, but the others were a bit of a drag. (Hence, the long time frame it took me to finish this book.
The stories I enjoyed the most, wanted more, and highly recommend are:
- A Field Guide to Roads of Manila
- Godfathers
- Notes on an Ascent
- City Crossing
I do have to say that while I took the time to ingest Dean Francis Alfar's writing style, the speculative fiction he wrote is delightful, morbid, and genuinely interesting.
TWs (trigger warning): rape, abuse, death (for different stories)
I genuinely enjoyed most of the stories in this, but the others were a bit of a drag. (Hence, the long time frame it took me to finish this book.
The stories I enjoyed the most, wanted more, and highly recommend are:
- A Field Guide to Roads of Manila
- Godfathers
- Notes on an Ascent
- City Crossing
I do have to say that while I took the time to ingest Dean Francis Alfar's writing style, the speculative fiction he wrote is delightful, morbid, and genuinely interesting.
TWs (trigger warning): rape, abuse, death (for different stories)
October 31, 2018
I loved this so much. Wide-ranging collection that is heartfelt and inventive. While a couple of stories weren't quite as strong as the others (the steampunk one about the haunted goggles really needed to be at least a novella), just reading the first two stories more than justified my impulse purchase. I can only say the writing's pure magic. I can't wait to read more!
June 2, 2026
I love the idea of speculative fiction, and I am ecstatic to finally read a book that's filled with different short stories from the genre. The writing is sharp and compelling, so much so that even the stories I liked less were enjoyable to read. Will defintely revisit these stories in the years to come.
Also: This is an open invite to send your speculative fic recommendations my way!
Also: This is an open invite to send your speculative fic recommendations my way!
November 14, 2019
I think this is the first collection of Alfar that I didn't like as a whole. Some short stories here just does not strike at the heart or to any of my sentiments, although there were some that are great.
December 23, 2019
This is my first acquaintance with Philippine speculative fiction. Alfar is a gift!
February 22, 2021
Stories are either a hit or miss.
January 13, 2022
Makes me remember all the tales people from our province used to tell me. Really brings me in the Philippines.
November 18, 2017
I think
is still the better collection but Alfar has already made me his biggest fan:-) After reading Kite of Stars, if you are thirsty for more fiction, you may pick this one up. Dean Francis Alfar is such an amazing storyteller. He has such a grasp of the words that it seems like the stories are the most accurate representation of his mind. And then combine it with his love affair with speculative fiction it can only result to something truly fantastic.
is still the better collection but Alfar has already made me his biggest fan:-) After reading Kite of Stars, if you are thirsty for more fiction, you may pick this one up. Dean Francis Alfar is such an amazing storyteller. He has such a grasp of the words that it seems like the stories are the most accurate representation of his mind. And then combine it with his love affair with speculative fiction it can only result to something truly fantastic.
August 26, 2015
My official blurb on the back of the book:
"Dean Francis Alfar has done it again. After two remarkable collections and one of the best novels I've ever read, he returns with a new batch of stories that are whimsical, tragic, mythic, unsettling and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. Alfar is one of the few writers who continually leaves me in awe and surprise, and a new book of his is always an especial gift. Open it and savor." —Jason Erik Lundberg, author of Strange Mammals
"Dean Francis Alfar has done it again. After two remarkable collections and one of the best novels I've ever read, he returns with a new batch of stories that are whimsical, tragic, mythic, unsettling and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. Alfar is one of the few writers who continually leaves me in awe and surprise, and a new book of his is always an especial gift. Open it and savor." —Jason Erik Lundberg, author of Strange Mammals
October 14, 2015
I find Alfar's other short story collections better than this one. Still a good read though
November 20, 2016
4.5/5 stars
December 20, 2016
Most of the stories were a thrill to read and I'm sure they're going to stay in my mind for a time. I also really love the feel and look of the cover.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 24 reviews