Spark: A Creative Anthology, Volume VIII

by Brian James Lewis (Editor), Peter Orulllian (Contributor), Luke Spooner (Illustrator)

Gabriel Griffin - Red Riding-hood’s Garden
Louis Rakovich - People-like Trees in the Night
Charles Henke - Vessel
Karen Resta - Beer, Bait, Tackle
Bo Balder - She Waxes While We Wane
Michael Haynes - Worlds Apart
India Stronach - The Woods
Sarah L. Johnson - I Am Lost
GennaRose Nethercott - Each Uisge
Janet E. Irvin - A Principle of Light
Dany G. Zuwen - Black Tears in Heaven
Floris M. Kleijne - A Cold Welcome
Alix E. Harrow - Patience and Not-Forsaken
Alexis A. Hunter - Goodbye Stranger
Beth Cato - Clockwork Girl
Jeff Bowles - Luna Incognita
Brian Fence - The Eighth Bible Of New Egypt
Crystal Lynn Hilbert - Dawnsong
Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach - Medusa recalls her last day as a woman
Francis Marion Soty - Prince Ahmad and the Love-Struck Jinni
Marina J. Lostetter - The Stem
Olivia R. Burton - Afflicted with Existence
Dustin Brown - Da Capo al Fine
Brynn MacNab - Warm
John Vicary - Under Skin and Spike
Kristen Skerry - Andrews Basilisk
James Aquilone - The Great Work
Layla Carr - Stomach of Iron, Heart of Glass
Michael Garrett Ashby II - Women, Rings, and Little Furry Things
Lily Iona MacKenzie - Priscilla the Python
George Wells - Make Less the Depth
W. P. Johnson - Glass and Jelly
Andrew Hook - Cold Water Killer
Tom Crosshill - A Well-Adjusted Man
Melissa Cannon - Yellow Taxi

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Mike Jansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

disclaimer: I received a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

This anthology contains stories and poems by over thirty authors. Quite a lot for the number of pages, meaning several stories are short or very short. My personal taste is for somewhat longer short stories or even novelettes in which authors can really display their worlds and characters. No wonder then that several of the longer stories appealed to me more, with 'The Eighth Bible of New Egypt' by Brian Fence really weirding me out in a pleasurable way. There is no real theme to the Spark Anthology, except maybe a drive for publishing high quality material and that shows: most of the stories were well written, well constructed and neatly polished, making the book a pleasure to read in all its diversity.

For me the book is just shy of five stars, due to a few stories that seemed to miss -pun intended- the creative spark I had come to expect after the first dozen stories or so. Apart from these -for me, your taste may be different- this book is a great read, highly recommended.

[Chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read Alix E. Harrow's Patience and Not-Forsaken and I absolutely loved it. I love how Alix E. Harrow could embody so many distinct and interesting identities, such as in this instance: a motherless child who is somewhat forsaken, but realising that the new house she and her father move into, holds more secrets and mysteries than she expected.

[Elizabeth Joss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I've been so busy reading old voices, I must admit that I've rather forgotten to examine new ones. So I was very happy to come across the short stories and poetry in the new 'Spark: A Creative Anthology' (Monsters and Marvels theme). In particular, I loved Floris M. Kleijne's short story 'A Cold Welcome' which takes the reader on an intriguing journey full of emotions from the very onset. It situates you directly in the protagonist's situation, grappling with themes of love, pain, torment and murder, all in the space of four pages and a tight narrative. Kleijne has a poetic writing style and a clear knack for drawing the reader in and then leaving him/her with an impactful ending. I don't want to give it away of course! Nonetheless, I can't wait to read more of his work and to also finish reading the entire anthology.

[Beth Cato]

Not a review. Includes my poem "Clockwork Girl."

[Sockich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience and Not-Forsaken by Alix E. Harrow only.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patience and Not-Forsaken by Alix E. Harrow

[Floris Kleijne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this anthology contains a story of my own, I shouldn't really review it at all, because bias. Let's just say that I really enjoyed reading the other stories; both the quality of writing and the mostly dark and grim themes and subjects really lodged in my mind. I can understand now why my flash ghost story, poetic in language but dark in tone, found a place among these excellent tales. Highly recommended!