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Alternative Truths
Alternative Truths is a look at the post-election America that is, or will be, or could be. We attach no manacles to the word truth to bind it to our visions. Instead we free it to find its own way through the minds of the two dozen writers who have shared their vision of the future in either sensitively written allegorical tales such as Relics by Louise Marley, a woman who grew up bucking hay in Montana and moved on to a talented musical performer and successful novelist; or the raw humor of Adam Troy-Castro in his Q & A, which takes on the verbal veracity of Donald J. Trump.
Jim Wright (of Stonekettle Station) imagines Trump giving the Gettysburg Address. Blaze Ward, Daniel Kimmel, Janka Hobbs and I explore dystopias. Marleen Barr and Adam Troy-Castro envision humorous, kinky, and scatological endings. What can I say? It rocks.
Jim Wright (of Stonekettle Station) imagines Trump giving the Gettysburg Address. Blaze Ward, Daniel Kimmel, Janka Hobbs and I explore dystopias. Marleen Barr and Adam Troy-Castro envision humorous, kinky, and scatological endings. What can I say? It rocks.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2017
84 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Irene Radford
31 books4 followersSee main profile under Irene Radford.
Phyllis Irene Radford Karr was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1950.
Phyllis Irene Radford Karr was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1950.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 7, 2017
‘In a post-truth world, basic facts are subject to dispute, rather than simply to interpretation.’
In this anthology of twenty-four short stories, authors explore what post-election America might look like in a post-truth world, where alternative truths have provided new versions of reality. This anthology was put together by editors Phyllis Irene Radford and Bob Brown during the first one hundred days of Donald Trump’s presidency, and it is well worth reading.
In different ways, authors have explored what post-election America might become. Consider the possibility of Donald Trump’s wall between the USA and Mexico, and then read ‘Relics: A Fable’ by Louise Marley. Think about our fear of terrorism, and read ‘Raid at 817 Maple Street’. And when you’ve finished reading it, think about how government agencies share information with the public.
If you want something lighter(!), based on ‘The Nightingale’ by Hans Christian Andersen, I can recommend ‘The Trumperor and the Nightingale’ by Diana Hauer.
There is something for everyone in this anthology: ‘Altered to Truth’ by Irene Radford makes me laugh, nervously, while ‘We’re Still Here’ by Rebecca McFarland Kyle seems horrifyingly possible.
And it shouldn’t:
‘We’d told the truth and they’d turned the lie into a reality.’
In ‘Pinwheel Party’ by Victor D. Phillips, you might laugh but you could equally cry:
‘Even optimists, with their cups half full, were left with nothing more than broken handle shards between shaking thumbs and forefingers.’
These are not just stories for readers in the USA: alternative truths seem to be spreading around the world. Some of the detail is particularly American, but many of the scenarios could be (shudder) far more international. Read it and weep, and then think about the next hundred days, and the next four years.
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this anthology for review purposes. I am glad I did.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this anthology of twenty-four short stories, authors explore what post-election America might look like in a post-truth world, where alternative truths have provided new versions of reality. This anthology was put together by editors Phyllis Irene Radford and Bob Brown during the first one hundred days of Donald Trump’s presidency, and it is well worth reading.
In different ways, authors have explored what post-election America might become. Consider the possibility of Donald Trump’s wall between the USA and Mexico, and then read ‘Relics: A Fable’ by Louise Marley. Think about our fear of terrorism, and read ‘Raid at 817 Maple Street’. And when you’ve finished reading it, think about how government agencies share information with the public.
If you want something lighter(!), based on ‘The Nightingale’ by Hans Christian Andersen, I can recommend ‘The Trumperor and the Nightingale’ by Diana Hauer.
There is something for everyone in this anthology: ‘Altered to Truth’ by Irene Radford makes me laugh, nervously, while ‘We’re Still Here’ by Rebecca McFarland Kyle seems horrifyingly possible.
And it shouldn’t:
‘We’d told the truth and they’d turned the lie into a reality.’
In ‘Pinwheel Party’ by Victor D. Phillips, you might laugh but you could equally cry:
‘Even optimists, with their cups half full, were left with nothing more than broken handle shards between shaking thumbs and forefingers.’
These are not just stories for readers in the USA: alternative truths seem to be spreading around the world. Some of the detail is particularly American, but many of the scenarios could be (shudder) far more international. Read it and weep, and then think about the next hundred days, and the next four years.
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this anthology for review purposes. I am glad I did.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 28, 2017
Jim Wright (of Stonekettle Station) imagines Trump giving the Gettysburg Address. Blaze Ward, Daniel Kimmel, and Janka Hobbs explore dystopias. Marleen Barr and Adam Troy-Castro envision humorous, kinky, and scatological endings. What can I say? This book rocks.
Disclaimer: My dystopian tale "Patti 209" is in this anthology.
Disclaimer: My dystopian tale "Patti 209" is in this anthology.
April 30, 2017
This is quite a collection; while many of the 24 stories are definitely dystopian, I also found a few that offer hope for a non-dystopian future -- especially Diana Hauer's tale of The Nightingale. It's a bit difficult to keep from over-drawing the stranger-than-fiction times in which we live. Most, but not all, of these efforts succeed in doing so, however. And even those which do go overboard are enjoyable reads.
In places I'm reminded of Bradbury's "Farenheit 451" and in others of Swift's essay offering a solution to the Irish problem. Those are high bars, but this anthology approaches that level.
The editors are to be commended for an excellent job! My only complaint is that the book is too small. I'm a speedy reader, and it lasted me only a few hours. I understand that the 100-day deadline, start to release, kept it small, but I hope to see more of this as time passes.
In places I'm reminded of Bradbury's "Farenheit 451" and in others of Swift's essay offering a solution to the Irish problem. Those are high bars, but this anthology approaches that level.
The editors are to be commended for an excellent job! My only complaint is that the book is too small. I'm a speedy reader, and it lasted me only a few hours. I understand that the 100-day deadline, start to release, kept it small, but I hope to see more of this as time passes.
June 14, 2017
Got this because I'm a fan of Jim Wright and his writing, and his story was short, but good. Some of the other stories were just weird, some were bad, but some were really good. Some were already out of date by the time I read them, because they were based on things that had since changed in the political landscape. I'm impressed it was thrown together quite as quickly as it was.
February 20, 2018
Prior to the potential election win of Donald Trump, a group of writers imaged the new social climate for the people of the United States. In this wonderful collection of short stories, the reader is treated to how the change has impacted people in the United States.
Sara Codair's "Melanoma America" paints a sad picture of how the average American with standard medical insurance navigates trying to get treatment.
In "The Trumperor and the Nightingale", the writer cleverly uses Hans Christian Anderson's well known story but inserts Trump in the story and illustrates how his behaviour affects even his family.
On the whole, the collection is enjoyable but paints a sad picture of the current state of America.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
January 7, 2018
Basic Premise: Stories based on speculations surrounding the Trump presidency.
Three was a wide variety of stories in this book, ranging from fairy tales, to satirical comedies, to dystopian horror. Some were depressing, some hilarious, some hopeful. All were quality work and definitely reflect the fears and concerns of those of us concerned with the current political situation. I imagine that a book like this would only piss off a Trump supporter, so I definitely wouldn't recommend it to those. However, if you have a brain, care about human rights, believe in science and objective facts, and agree that 45 is a disgrace to the office of POTUS, you're going to love this book.
Three was a wide variety of stories in this book, ranging from fairy tales, to satirical comedies, to dystopian horror. Some were depressing, some hilarious, some hopeful. All were quality work and definitely reflect the fears and concerns of those of us concerned with the current political situation. I imagine that a book like this would only piss off a Trump supporter, so I definitely wouldn't recommend it to those. However, if you have a brain, care about human rights, believe in science and objective facts, and agree that 45 is a disgrace to the office of POTUS, you're going to love this book.
May 4, 2017
Fabulous anthology, scary and funny and thought-provoking. My favorite stories were Letter from the Heartland by Janka Hobbs (a tale of family advice), The History Book by Voss Foster (all too-believable), and We're Still Here (which might have happened last week, or maybe tomorrow). I recommend it highly.
May 28, 2017
Alternative Truths indeed
I follow Jim Wright, a minion. When he told us about this book, I went to my Kindle and got it. The stories are all good, some are funny, some are sad, but all based on the what if of the 45th president. Truthfully, if you vote r, you probably won't be amused, but yields truths are there to be seen.
I follow Jim Wright, a minion. When he told us about this book, I went to my Kindle and got it. The stories are all good, some are funny, some are sad, but all based on the what if of the 45th president. Truthfully, if you vote r, you probably won't be amused, but yields truths are there to be seen.
November 8, 2017
I'm not super into short stories but seeing as I submitted a story and know one of the publishers/editors of this anthology, I gave it a try. It did not disappoint. All the stories are great, especially in our current political climate. Even if you voted for Trump you might find something to like in this anthology
July 27, 2017
I bought the hard copy because electrons can be changed or disappear. And because Jim Wright recommended it and had a short piece in it. The book
was hard to put down. It feels like some of these stories are true now, or may become true. Excellent read.
was hard to put down. It feels like some of these stories are true now, or may become true. Excellent read.
September 2, 2019
The early stories were too close to reality so I took pauses between them. (Jim Wright's parody of Trump in particular.) Later stories had enough hopeful notes that I give it 5 stars and a strong recommendation.
July 29, 2017
Amusing, frightening, satirical, weird...it's got it all :)
May 14, 2017
Darkly amusing
Darkly amusing says it all. They want more but, really, there isn't anything else to say. It was entertaining in just the manner a book on this topic should be.
Darkly amusing says it all. They want more but, really, there isn't anything else to say. It was entertaining in just the manner a book on this topic should be.
June 25, 2017
Great short stories that might or might not be fiction.
September 27, 2017
Creative stories with unique perspectives voicing the fears and hopes many Americans feel after the 2016 election.
July 17, 2018
Compendium of political lies. Fairly well documented.
September 29, 2018
Lots of good stuff in here. Some of it scary and/or depressing, but still a good read.
December 10, 2021
These are all terrific, but my favorite (and it was difficult to choose), was the story “The Frame”
April 13, 2018
I am a follower of one of the authors in this anthology of essays, Jim Wright, which is why I initially bought the book. It also fits the #22 prompt -An essay anthology for the Read Harder 2018 book challenge. This is very much a collection of essays that is of the currently political times. The collection is engaging, funny, dystopian, frustrating, and at times downright depressing but each piece is well written and fits well with the overall theme. If you find The 45th POTUS's governance to be frustrating or concerning you will probably enjoy this collection of essays.
September 17, 2017
A collection of short stories written just after Trump was elected and published before his first 100 days in office by some very talented writers including Jim Wright. Many of the stories are almost prophetic. Some are a frightening glimpse into what could be if we don't do something soon, while others are humorous. Jim Wright rewrites the Gettysburg Address as if Trump was there to give it, while another writes a story in the style of "The Nightingale."
The book itself only takes a few hours to read, but some of the stories definitely stay with you.
The book itself only takes a few hours to read, but some of the stories definitely stay with you.
May 19, 2022
Many different styles of storytelling so everyone should find one story they like. Quite a view of the reality we find ourselves in with the current political situation. A must read if you care anything about the US and its future.
August 26, 2020
Superb book.
May 3, 2017
Very good. From humorous to serious to scary, these well written stories explore what may happen with Donald Trump as president.
May 3, 2017
A little bit of horror, a little bit of humor, and a little bit of hope.
June 20, 2017
Often, out of troubled times, great art is created. Alternative Truths are a collection of stories inspired by the fears and apprehension over the election of president #45.
Jim Wright, whose promotion on his Facebook page urged me to download the book, knocks it out of the park with #45s rendition of the Gettysburg Address.
Stories range from dystopic, to sci-fi and thriller, to downright Twilight Zone, making me laugh, provoking thought, and giving me hope.
Jim Wright, whose promotion on his Facebook page urged me to download the book, knocks it out of the park with #45s rendition of the Gettysburg Address.
Stories range from dystopic, to sci-fi and thriller, to downright Twilight Zone, making me laugh, provoking thought, and giving me hope.
July 3, 2017
This was a most intriguing group of short stories....all the authors shared the starting point of what the world is/will be like following the election of our current President. Entertaining while disturbing.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews