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Phantasma: Stories
An eclectic collection of speculative short stories by Anne Charnock (2013 Philip K. Dick Award finalist), Jodi McIsaac (“A Cure for Madness,” the Thin Veil series), Kate Maruyama (“Harrowgate”), Roberta Trahan (The Dream Stewards epic fantasy series), J.D. Horn ("Shivaree," the Witching Savannah series), and award-winning poet Jason Kirk.
Stories include:
“Undercurrents” – A young woman discovers her migraines are a symptom of something more sinister than what a good lie-down in a dark room can cure.
“Pro Patria Mori” – An Irish soldier encounters fairies who offer magical aid, but will that magic help save those he holds dearest?
“Akiko” – A curse laid in Japan finds its mark in the City of Angels.
“The Adoption” – In a new age of sexual equality and reproductive freedom, bio-engineered foetuses are gestated in artificial wombs. But what becomes of tomorrow’s orphans?
“Pitch” – A goat-faced boy sets out with a rifle to kill his father, the Devil, in 1950s rural Georgia.
“The Guardian from the Sea” – A wheelchair-bound mermaid finds love in an adult-video store, and barely escapes to regret it.
Stories include:
“Undercurrents” – A young woman discovers her migraines are a symptom of something more sinister than what a good lie-down in a dark room can cure.
“Pro Patria Mori” – An Irish soldier encounters fairies who offer magical aid, but will that magic help save those he holds dearest?
“Akiko” – A curse laid in Japan finds its mark in the City of Angels.
“The Adoption” – In a new age of sexual equality and reproductive freedom, bio-engineered foetuses are gestated in artificial wombs. But what becomes of tomorrow’s orphans?
“Pitch” – A goat-faced boy sets out with a rifle to kill his father, the Devil, in 1950s rural Georgia.
“The Guardian from the Sea” – A wheelchair-bound mermaid finds love in an adult-video store, and barely escapes to regret it.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Anne Charnock
21 books154 followersAnne Charnock's novel DREAMS BEFORE THE START OF TIME is the winner of the 2018 Arthur C. Clarke Award, and was shortlisted for the BSFA 2017 Best Novel Award. Her latest novel, BRIDGE 108, is written in the same world as her debut novel, A CALCULATED LIFE — a finalist for the 2013 Philip K. Dick and The Kitschies Golden Tentacle Awards.
SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND, her second novel, was named by The Guardian as one of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2015
Anne Charnock's journalism has appeared in New Scientist, The Guardian, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and Geographical. She was educated at the University of East Anglia, where she studied Environmental Sciences, and at The Manchester School of Art, England where she gained a Masters in Fine Art.
As a foreign correspondent, she travelled widely in Africa, the Middle East and India and spent a year overlanding through Egypt, Sudan and Kenya.
http://www.annecharnock.com
http://www.twitter.com/annecharnock
Author photo by Marzena Pogorzaly
SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND, her second novel, was named by The Guardian as one of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2015
Anne Charnock's journalism has appeared in New Scientist, The Guardian, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and Geographical. She was educated at the University of East Anglia, where she studied Environmental Sciences, and at The Manchester School of Art, England where she gained a Masters in Fine Art.
As a foreign correspondent, she travelled widely in Africa, the Middle East and India and spent a year overlanding through Egypt, Sudan and Kenya.
http://www.annecharnock.com
http://www.twitter.com/annecharnock
Author photo by Marzena Pogorzaly
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 9, 2015
If you have a taste for science fiction, Phantasma is for you. If you’re like me and sci-fi isn’t really your cup of tea, Phantasma will pleasantly surprise you with its breadth and depth. This new anthology has something for everyone.
This collection is refreshing in that the majority of its authors and a large number of its characters are female. It features several short stories and one poem that stretch from the Irish Civil War into the future, and its scope of subjects – psychic ability, medical technology, exile, and porn, to name a few – is vast. For me, the highlights were “The Adoption” by Anne Charnock, “Pitch” by J.D. Horn, and “The Guardian from the Sea” by Jason Kirk.
“The Adoption” introduces readers to Rudy and Simone, a couple considering adopting from the fetus factory they tour in the story. They want children, but on their own terms. Simone wants as much distance as possible from her own childhood and family, including their DNA. Charnock, through the lens of a believable and sharply written couple, offers a thoughtful perspective on ever-shifting definitions of family. She also raises a number of interesting questions about reproductive ethics, inviting readers to consider this topic without all the noisy judgment often swirling around it.
“Pitch” is reminiscent of Faulker in all its creepy Southern charm and full of supernatural twists and turns. Its energy and dialect immediately draw readers into rural 1955 Georgia, and the character development is disturbingly vivid, particularly in the case of Mo the delivery man. One of several outcasts and scapegoats in the story, he was made “simple” as a child by a hammer to the face, then castrated by the townsmen after displaying sexually predatory behavior as a young man. But this story centers on twelve-year-old Billy (called Billy Goat by most people because of his goat-like features), who embarks on a mission to kill the devil. Readers may shake their heads – the boy’s so literal – but we soon see that the devil is indeed real; it just doesn’t take the expected form.
“The Guardian from the Sea” is a sprawling narrative poem that closes out Phantasma. Sexual fantasies run the gamut, of course, and somewhere along that spectrum, certain fictitious entities hold a great deal of allure. The trickier it might be to have sex with them (cartoons, vampires, robots, aliens), the more men seem to want to give it a try. Enter Meredith, the central figure of the poem, a wheelchair-bound mermaid who works in an adult bookstore and has lots of sex with her tank-topped, six-packed, entirely human boyfriend Ozzie. But this poem is much more than a masturbatory musing.
Readers are steeped in garish Southern California, with its HamletMarts and holy roller bladers and “the kind of Cali burnball sun that even the shadow side of you goes gilded… [and]Under each thing the near sense of its searing somewhere above.” The poem in places adopts the bare roughness of a punk song (“Wives performed miracles/Traffic lights inconvenienced street pissers/The beach was gravy”) and in others soars operatically: “the china…came crashing downward gorgeously and sharded grace light in pinwheel figurines across the floor.” Some of this imagery is achingly beautiful.
The tale demonstrates a fascinating preoccupation, fixation almost, with the body – certainly Meredith’s, for obvious reasons, but also Ozzie’s, who’d “eat ice cream dogs and his hardline figure only pulled tauter.” And it is punctuated throughout by observations that press down on that place inside where oceanic love and longing and loneliness reside.
Phantasma is a worthy investment of your time. It helped dismantle some of my bias against the sci-fi genre and showed me the flimsiness of my understanding of all that it can encompass.
This review is based on an advanced reader's copy provided in an exchange for an honest review.
This collection is refreshing in that the majority of its authors and a large number of its characters are female. It features several short stories and one poem that stretch from the Irish Civil War into the future, and its scope of subjects – psychic ability, medical technology, exile, and porn, to name a few – is vast. For me, the highlights were “The Adoption” by Anne Charnock, “Pitch” by J.D. Horn, and “The Guardian from the Sea” by Jason Kirk.
“The Adoption” introduces readers to Rudy and Simone, a couple considering adopting from the fetus factory they tour in the story. They want children, but on their own terms. Simone wants as much distance as possible from her own childhood and family, including their DNA. Charnock, through the lens of a believable and sharply written couple, offers a thoughtful perspective on ever-shifting definitions of family. She also raises a number of interesting questions about reproductive ethics, inviting readers to consider this topic without all the noisy judgment often swirling around it.
“Pitch” is reminiscent of Faulker in all its creepy Southern charm and full of supernatural twists and turns. Its energy and dialect immediately draw readers into rural 1955 Georgia, and the character development is disturbingly vivid, particularly in the case of Mo the delivery man. One of several outcasts and scapegoats in the story, he was made “simple” as a child by a hammer to the face, then castrated by the townsmen after displaying sexually predatory behavior as a young man. But this story centers on twelve-year-old Billy (called Billy Goat by most people because of his goat-like features), who embarks on a mission to kill the devil. Readers may shake their heads – the boy’s so literal – but we soon see that the devil is indeed real; it just doesn’t take the expected form.
“The Guardian from the Sea” is a sprawling narrative poem that closes out Phantasma. Sexual fantasies run the gamut, of course, and somewhere along that spectrum, certain fictitious entities hold a great deal of allure. The trickier it might be to have sex with them (cartoons, vampires, robots, aliens), the more men seem to want to give it a try. Enter Meredith, the central figure of the poem, a wheelchair-bound mermaid who works in an adult bookstore and has lots of sex with her tank-topped, six-packed, entirely human boyfriend Ozzie. But this poem is much more than a masturbatory musing.
Readers are steeped in garish Southern California, with its HamletMarts and holy roller bladers and “the kind of Cali burnball sun that even the shadow side of you goes gilded… [and]Under each thing the near sense of its searing somewhere above.” The poem in places adopts the bare roughness of a punk song (“Wives performed miracles/Traffic lights inconvenienced street pissers/The beach was gravy”) and in others soars operatically: “the china…came crashing downward gorgeously and sharded grace light in pinwheel figurines across the floor.” Some of this imagery is achingly beautiful.
The tale demonstrates a fascinating preoccupation, fixation almost, with the body – certainly Meredith’s, for obvious reasons, but also Ozzie’s, who’d “eat ice cream dogs and his hardline figure only pulled tauter.” And it is punctuated throughout by observations that press down on that place inside where oceanic love and longing and loneliness reside.
Phantasma is a worthy investment of your time. It helped dismantle some of my bias against the sci-fi genre and showed me the flimsiness of my understanding of all that it can encompass.
This review is based on an advanced reader's copy provided in an exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2015
This collection reminds me of science fiction magazines I read in my youth. Mostly capable, largely entertaining, the stories are a collage of my favorite fantasy and science fiction elements.
The stand-outs are Akiko,The Adoption and Pitch, two of which are fantasy and one, The Adoption, the perfect example of what science fiction is supposed to be: thought-provoking and wrought with the morality of technological advancement. Akiko dabbles into the crime genre, in an enjoyable way. Pitch, the highlight of the book, blends the innocence of youth and its polar opposite of evil incarnate, and is a full-flushed environ even in its brevity.
Unique among the collection is The Guardian of the Sea, a poem about a mermaid living on land, working at an adult video store. While it's an entertaining read, its inclusion in an electronic book makes for an inconvenient layout problem - perhaps a meta-example of science fact colliding with the traditional experience of reading a book. I have a hard time with poetry, I'll admit, and this one demands a reread with a dictionary in hand (another convenience of e-books is I can use my built-in one).
Even while The Adoption and Pitch shine, they suffer from "gotcha" twists the reader may see coming. Nearly all of the stories do, to a broad spectrum of success. Pro Patria Mori suffers from the same fate, but the subject is of a lore that I don't find personally interesting - Celtic faeries - so the whole affair was an eye-roller.
Undercurrents barely scratches the surface of its potential, and while I hoped for more from that story as a stand-alone piece, I'm intrigued by its potential to set an interesting character loose on the world in which she lives.
The collection is hopefully only the first of many, and I look forward to the e-book convenience of grabbing a copy of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction off the rack - now that those racks are few and far between.
The stand-outs are Akiko,The Adoption and Pitch, two of which are fantasy and one, The Adoption, the perfect example of what science fiction is supposed to be: thought-provoking and wrought with the morality of technological advancement. Akiko dabbles into the crime genre, in an enjoyable way. Pitch, the highlight of the book, blends the innocence of youth and its polar opposite of evil incarnate, and is a full-flushed environ even in its brevity.
Unique among the collection is The Guardian of the Sea, a poem about a mermaid living on land, working at an adult video store. While it's an entertaining read, its inclusion in an electronic book makes for an inconvenient layout problem - perhaps a meta-example of science fact colliding with the traditional experience of reading a book. I have a hard time with poetry, I'll admit, and this one demands a reread with a dictionary in hand (another convenience of e-books is I can use my built-in one).
Even while The Adoption and Pitch shine, they suffer from "gotcha" twists the reader may see coming. Nearly all of the stories do, to a broad spectrum of success. Pro Patria Mori suffers from the same fate, but the subject is of a lore that I don't find personally interesting - Celtic faeries - so the whole affair was an eye-roller.
Undercurrents barely scratches the surface of its potential, and while I hoped for more from that story as a stand-alone piece, I'm intrigued by its potential to set an interesting character loose on the world in which she lives.
The collection is hopefully only the first of many, and I look forward to the e-book convenience of grabbing a copy of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction off the rack - now that those racks are few and far between.
September 7, 2015
***I received a e-ARC in exchange for a honest review***
What is Phantasma? I had to google the true meaning of the word. I found the definition stating something that appears in perception only. This collection of short stories and a poem will deliver just that, second guessing your perception and frighten you. This collection of stories feature a series of authors unfamiliar to me except J.D. Horn. In the end, i have saved all of these authors to see what else they are doing. Each of the authors created a story i wished had a little more because they were really good.
A couple of the authors stood out to me that captivated my mind with their stories. Roberta Trahan with her story "Undercurrents" a tale of what are bodies really are trying to tell us. Jodi McIssac with her story "Pro Patria Mori" a crazy tale of war and supernatural entities that back fire to create a situation too bare-able for anyone. J.D. Horn's crazy scary tale of the devil that could be in anyone you know titled "Pitch". All of the stories had amazing content and strong characters but these stories really got to me. Kate Maruyama's "Akiko" was the best story of them all. A tale of ancient artifacts and supernatural aspects that whirl wind a creation i wished was a full on novel.
I am glad that all these short stories came into one book. This book will continue to have you thinking about what is real and what is not real. I would say that is a collection i would recommend to anyone who loves being mind-warped into not knowing if any of these tale's were non-fiction or fiction. Thank you to the AMAZING author's who wrote and share their crazy amazing stories with us. This is a definite must read!
Justin Longino
What is Phantasma? I had to google the true meaning of the word. I found the definition stating something that appears in perception only. This collection of short stories and a poem will deliver just that, second guessing your perception and frighten you. This collection of stories feature a series of authors unfamiliar to me except J.D. Horn. In the end, i have saved all of these authors to see what else they are doing. Each of the authors created a story i wished had a little more because they were really good.
A couple of the authors stood out to me that captivated my mind with their stories. Roberta Trahan with her story "Undercurrents" a tale of what are bodies really are trying to tell us. Jodi McIssac with her story "Pro Patria Mori" a crazy tale of war and supernatural entities that back fire to create a situation too bare-able for anyone. J.D. Horn's crazy scary tale of the devil that could be in anyone you know titled "Pitch". All of the stories had amazing content and strong characters but these stories really got to me. Kate Maruyama's "Akiko" was the best story of them all. A tale of ancient artifacts and supernatural aspects that whirl wind a creation i wished was a full on novel.
I am glad that all these short stories came into one book. This book will continue to have you thinking about what is real and what is not real. I would say that is a collection i would recommend to anyone who loves being mind-warped into not knowing if any of these tale's were non-fiction or fiction. Thank you to the AMAZING author's who wrote and share their crazy amazing stories with us. This is a definite must read!
Justin Longino
September 18, 2015
As another reviewer mentioned, this anthology was like stepping into the Twilight Zone. Within the Sci-Fi genre, there was something for everyone to enjoy— dystopia, fantasy, futuristic Sci-Fi, etc.
For my tastes, I was especially drawn in by “The Adoption” and “Undercurrents.” Both are bit more in-line with what makes this genre enjoyable for me— a story setting which you feel is relatable to your life, except for the eerie feeling that something is off.
Both stories provide an ending that will surprise if not shock you. Further, they will provide you with a sense of reflection as you consider and reconsider some of the underlying messages within the tales.
For my tastes, I was especially drawn in by “The Adoption” and “Undercurrents.” Both are bit more in-line with what makes this genre enjoyable for me— a story setting which you feel is relatable to your life, except for the eerie feeling that something is off.
Both stories provide an ending that will surprise if not shock you. Further, they will provide you with a sense of reflection as you consider and reconsider some of the underlying messages within the tales.
September 23, 2015
I am a huge fan of science fiction, and fantasy, and this book of short stories, and a poem, did not let me down. I was enthralled from start to finish.
Each of the five short stories in Phantasma are well written and follow along with the theme of the book. The poem is beautifully written, bordering on the erotic. They are all terrifying, in their own unique ways. I thoroughly enjoyed them all.
If you are a fan of science fiction/fantasy/thrillers, Phantasma is a must read book.
I received a complimentary advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that I loved it!
https://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/...
Each of the five short stories in Phantasma are well written and follow along with the theme of the book. The poem is beautifully written, bordering on the erotic. They are all terrifying, in their own unique ways. I thoroughly enjoyed them all.
If you are a fan of science fiction/fantasy/thrillers, Phantasma is a must read book.
I received a complimentary advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that I loved it!
https://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/...
September 30, 2015
Thought Provoking
A collection of short stories and a poem. They don't directly relate to one another except in the fact that they are fantasy or fantasy/horror. Time periods are not consistent nor are locations. However, each story has a strong life all its own. I enjoyed each piece of this collective on different levels. I remain spooked by each piece. A great collection.
A collection of short stories and a poem. They don't directly relate to one another except in the fact that they are fantasy or fantasy/horror. Time periods are not consistent nor are locations. However, each story has a strong life all its own. I enjoyed each piece of this collective on different levels. I remain spooked by each piece. A great collection.
February 9, 2016
An excellent anthology from a group of talented writers. I highly recommend this for fans of horror fiction with a literary flavor. Because of this collection I've been tempted to seek out other work by many of the authors. I haven't been disappointed yet!
October 1, 2016
"Pro Patria Mori" & "Pitch" are great stories, not entirely in the sci-fi realm. Akiko is definitely the standout though: a beautifully melancholy story tied to Japanese folklore.
The rest... meh.
The rest... meh.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews