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Stars in Jars: Strange and Fantastic Stories
A girl collects stars to prove her love, a boy changes his parents when he feels like it, laser beams threaten to destroy the world, the Blade of Virtuous Water fights monsters, and a father and daughter plan a trip to the heavens.
In this book, Dean Francis Alfar and Sage Alfar (a father and daughter team) collect their speculative fiction for younger adult readers—spinning fantasy, science fiction, and the worlds of wonder in between.
In this book, Dean Francis Alfar and Sage Alfar (a father and daughter team) collect their speculative fiction for younger adult readers—spinning fantasy, science fiction, and the worlds of wonder in between.
57 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 25, 2021
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Strange lang hindi ganong ka-fantastic.
Strange lang hindi ganong ka-fantastic.
March 16, 2019
I absolutely adored the stories. The last one made me cry!
My favorites:
- Packing for the Moon
- The Blade of Virtuous Water
- Stars in Jars
- How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
My favorites:
- Packing for the Moon
- The Blade of Virtuous Water
- Stars in Jars
- How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
May 15, 2021
3.5
WOOHOO i read this one day!! thats the first to happen in quite a while
this super easy to read book was written by him and his daughter (SO CUTE) and i'll just quickly talk about the stories i liked.
The Blade of Virtuous Water - 5/5
FAVORITE STORY!!! IT'S SO GOOD ❤️ might use this as a peg when i write a story too. i love dean francis alfar's worlds they really are my cup of tea. it's also quite a heartwarming story ❤️
ASHI > Fix This - 2/5
i have no idea whats going on in this book but it's cute because im pretty sure sage had a fun time writing this one
Packing for the Moon - 3.5/5
SO WHOLESOME.....I LOVE THESE KINDS OF WORKS...
dean francis alfar is my favorite Filipino writer so far and i'm more than willing to buy all this books! his sci-fi works sometimes are miss for me, but his strange, fantasy stories always makes me happy. this book is a lot more wholesome than his other short story collection that i read and i love this one even more ❤️
WOOHOO i read this one day!! thats the first to happen in quite a while
this super easy to read book was written by him and his daughter (SO CUTE) and i'll just quickly talk about the stories i liked.
The Blade of Virtuous Water - 5/5
FAVORITE STORY!!! IT'S SO GOOD ❤️ might use this as a peg when i write a story too. i love dean francis alfar's worlds they really are my cup of tea. it's also quite a heartwarming story ❤️
ASHI > Fix This - 2/5
i have no idea whats going on in this book but it's cute because im pretty sure sage had a fun time writing this one
Packing for the Moon - 3.5/5
SO WHOLESOME.....I LOVE THESE KINDS OF WORKS...
dean francis alfar is my favorite Filipino writer so far and i'm more than willing to buy all this books! his sci-fi works sometimes are miss for me, but his strange, fantasy stories always makes me happy. this book is a lot more wholesome than his other short story collection that i read and i love this one even more ❤️
January 19, 2019
“But instead you have this guy clearly thinking you ought to feel lucky he’s practically forcing you to marry him, just because he seems to think he’s important and you’re not. He barely even knows you, and you feel he’s rather stupid to assume you’d be willing to marry someone who only thinks you look cute and dance all right.”
The ones I like the best are stories of sacrifing for people you consider your family.
I think it is a reflection of the Alfars... and I salute them for it.
I love the retelling of Cinderella with a radical, independent woman. I love it.
Nothing as emotional as any other compilations I have ever read than what sir Francis packed with this little gem. The deep wells of my emotion are stirred and tempted to come out. Arrgh.
It's indeed a strange and fantastic adventure with the father and daughter tandem.
The ones I like the best are stories of sacrifing for people you consider your family.
I think it is a reflection of the Alfars... and I salute them for it.
I love the retelling of Cinderella with a radical, independent woman. I love it.
Nothing as emotional as any other compilations I have ever read than what sir Francis packed with this little gem. The deep wells of my emotion are stirred and tempted to come out. Arrgh.
It's indeed a strange and fantastic adventure with the father and daughter tandem.
May 7, 2020
nasa 3 na istorya lang ata yung talagang nagustuhan ko. siguro kasi 'di talaga ako mahilig sa sci-fi lmao. so ba't ko ba 'to binili????? malamang maganda cover e
April 4, 2021
4.5
Loved most of the stories in this collection. The power of imaginaaation never ceases to amaze.
Loved most of the stories in this collection. The power of imaginaaation never ceases to amaze.
June 19, 2022
unfortunately when it comes to fiction you can't say that it's only the thought that counts. execution matters big time. I'd rather read the story of the most ordinary woman crossing the street written by an excellent writer than a fantastical epic of various mythological worlds relinguishing each other in gritty modern setting if it's written by another idiot who's only read one genre his whole life spoiled by peers who tell him "dude thats sick as fuuuccckk!".
not that that's the problem here. this is a pretty fair book content-wise. granted, most plots were the type #NeilGaiman would have come up with when he was six, or when your overachiever classmate submits for a Creative Writing contest, AND maybe it's just my internalized self-hatred for being Filipino or my urgent desire for quality local reading material that makes me so critical of Philippine literature, but when i read locally published texts i can't help but workshop it in my head somehow.
many lines here could have been fixed for crisper texture. for example, about a stoic protagonist's thoughts on an apocalypse >
"...he'll be long dead by the time they hit anyway, so who cares?"
< the 'who cares' remark here is expendable. there are many sassy-fying remarks in many paragraphs that actually would be charismatic without so.
i really was like: "are these entries for a 13-17 year-olds only ~sPeCuLatiVe~ fiction-writing contest? and i was half-right: in the father and child authorship, the latter is in HS.
kids of parents with connections are so lucky even their mediocre work can be so gloriously rewarded. i can imagine daddy Dean stroking his offspring's hair telling them Very Good! over these texts that felt more like komiks pitchlines than actual 'stories'. not that Dean Alfar's works were better. most of them were trying too hard to be clever+quick.
NOW, if this book is actually marketed to very young readers i would say it's an OK collection (and less than 60 pgs. thank you). but nowhere is it remarked that this is for such demographic, so im reviewing it now as i would any other book.
i also wish ph lit.scene would stop precumming everytime somebody says "speculative fic." please.
not that that's the problem here. this is a pretty fair book content-wise. granted, most plots were the type #NeilGaiman would have come up with when he was six, or when your overachiever classmate submits for a Creative Writing contest, AND maybe it's just my internalized self-hatred for being Filipino or my urgent desire for quality local reading material that makes me so critical of Philippine literature, but when i read locally published texts i can't help but workshop it in my head somehow.
many lines here could have been fixed for crisper texture. for example, about a stoic protagonist's thoughts on an apocalypse >
"...he'll be long dead by the time they hit anyway, so who cares?"
< the 'who cares' remark here is expendable. there are many sassy-fying remarks in many paragraphs that actually would be charismatic without so.
i really was like: "are these entries for a 13-17 year-olds only ~sPeCuLatiVe~ fiction-writing contest? and i was half-right: in the father and child authorship, the latter is in HS.
kids of parents with connections are so lucky even their mediocre work can be so gloriously rewarded. i can imagine daddy Dean stroking his offspring's hair telling them Very Good! over these texts that felt more like komiks pitchlines than actual 'stories'. not that Dean Alfar's works were better. most of them were trying too hard to be clever+quick.
NOW, if this book is actually marketed to very young readers i would say it's an OK collection (and less than 60 pgs. thank you). but nowhere is it remarked that this is for such demographic, so im reviewing it now as i would any other book.
i also wish ph lit.scene would stop precumming everytime somebody says "speculative fic." please.
February 12, 2018
Mixed bag of stories. Very short and some feel like sketches rather than fully formed tales. Favorites are “ASHI > fix this,” “How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball,” “Stars in Jars,” and “Packing for the Moon.”
March 29, 2018
“Stars in Jars: Strange and Fantastic Stories” by Dean Francis Alfar, Sage Alfar and Galera Fernandez (Illustrator) contained eight (8) short stories with a hint of fantasy, science-fiction, and magical realism.
Even though not all of these stories had become new favorites, I still adored these stories, because of the originality of the ideas. For me, that would always count: The premise, the idea itself, and how these authors came up with something like that. Not all stories were capable of making me feel, however, these stories made me see. The location, the creatures, the skies and star ships. It took me to unrecognizable places, to new locations, and to magical realms. I fell in love with these stories. But most of all, I fell in love with the authors’ ideas. Overall, this short story collection was stunning.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I could not help but notice how the illustrator’s name, Galera Fernandez, was not in the book cover. I wish it was there, because, well, he was the illustrator. In addition, the illustrations were wonderful. The cover of this book was one of the most stunning book covers that I had ever seen. My favorite illustration in the book itself was the illustration for the short story entitled “Think”. Beautiful.
Even though not all of these stories had become new favorites, I still adored these stories, because of the originality of the ideas. For me, that would always count: The premise, the idea itself, and how these authors came up with something like that. Not all stories were capable of making me feel, however, these stories made me see. The location, the creatures, the skies and star ships. It took me to unrecognizable places, to new locations, and to magical realms. I fell in love with these stories. But most of all, I fell in love with the authors’ ideas. Overall, this short story collection was stunning.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I could not help but notice how the illustrator’s name, Galera Fernandez, was not in the book cover. I wish it was there, because, well, he was the illustrator. In addition, the illustrations were wonderful. The cover of this book was one of the most stunning book covers that I had ever seen. My favorite illustration in the book itself was the illustration for the short story entitled “Think”. Beautiful.
July 26, 2022
Just an easy read and maybe looking into the very first story now in the context of the happening of the great devastating panini, it felt very Don’t Look Up (the movie) type of concept and to think it was written by someone very young in 2017 (young meaning someone probably half my age) that in itself is notable to me?
There are definitely good stories from this collection of flash fiction. Concepts can be unique which I think if given more depth and maybe explored more then I would’ve probably enjoyed it a little bit further. I thinking about certain movies I can attach to these stories might be a bad sign for this poses a question on originality. Always a consideration really, when it comes to writing anything sci-fi or fantasy. You always have to ask is this high or low fantasy? High concept or low concept? But sometimes you don’t have to think about those, you can just enjoy a quick read and appreciate a particular text exists at that moment, and it brought you something to feel or think about.
There are definitely good stories from this collection of flash fiction. Concepts can be unique which I think if given more depth and maybe explored more then I would’ve probably enjoyed it a little bit further. I thinking about certain movies I can attach to these stories might be a bad sign for this poses a question on originality. Always a consideration really, when it comes to writing anything sci-fi or fantasy. You always have to ask is this high or low fantasy? High concept or low concept? But sometimes you don’t have to think about those, you can just enjoy a quick read and appreciate a particular text exists at that moment, and it brought you something to feel or think about.
August 13, 2021
I learned from a famous writer and a Ted Talk that to write something extraordinary, one has to eavesdrop in conversations. After reading this anthology, I think that is also what happens when we read stories. As it is like in eavesdropping in conversations on trains or buses, we get to know people and their story with just a little context we get. Still, we feel that we know them for long, we understand what they are going through, and somewhat we share the same space somewhere in between.
I don't read so much fiction nowadays not only because they are long while I am busy, but also I find it difficult to focus lately. This anthology Stars in Jars allowed me to escape and eavesdrop in less than an hour. The story makes me want to find the same ladder or hope that I have my own. I find the last story equally important because stories really matter, and the ones who tell them are important.
I don't read so much fiction nowadays not only because they are long while I am busy, but also I find it difficult to focus lately. This anthology Stars in Jars allowed me to escape and eavesdrop in less than an hour. The story makes me want to find the same ladder or hope that I have my own. I find the last story equally important because stories really matter, and the ones who tell them are important.
August 14, 2023
This is the first time I'm reading Sage Alfar's writing (being more familiar with her father's), and I must say that her works were equally as intriguing and captivating as Dean Francis Alfar's. There is a theme, it seems, with the collection: one wrapped around family and love.
It can be seen in The Blade of Virtuous Water, ASHI > Fix This, and Packing for the Moon. It's even noticeable in the first story and Think. I think it's a testament to their relationship, or perhaps even their feelings towards family and their relationships.
My favorites among them are:
1. ASHI > Fix This
2. Packing for the Moon
3. How to Make The Least of a Royal Ball
4. Super Mega Death Rays Can Only Travel Through Space So Fast
For a more in-depth review, see my upcoming post on Instagram about it!
It can be seen in The Blade of Virtuous Water, ASHI > Fix This, and Packing for the Moon. It's even noticeable in the first story and Think. I think it's a testament to their relationship, or perhaps even their feelings towards family and their relationships.
My favorites among them are:
1. ASHI > Fix This
2. Packing for the Moon
3. How to Make The Least of a Royal Ball
4. Super Mega Death Rays Can Only Travel Through Space So Fast
For a more in-depth review, see my upcoming post on Instagram about it!
March 29, 2021
"Maybe she and her friends are trying to hard to find a reason as to why things are suddenly the way they are"
"In the event of a fire on the Starship, do you evacuate the crowd, or evacuate Isaac from the premises?"
"There is nothing wrong with hoping, for some, it is all they have."
---
Relevant thoughts especially during these trying times. Stars in Jars is a collection of short stories varying from fantasy, science fiction and other speculative fiction. Simple and short read it may seem, but it poses big questions for you to ponder on.
My favorite story: How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
"In the event of a fire on the Starship, do you evacuate the crowd, or evacuate Isaac from the premises?"
"There is nothing wrong with hoping, for some, it is all they have."
---
Relevant thoughts especially during these trying times. Stars in Jars is a collection of short stories varying from fantasy, science fiction and other speculative fiction. Simple and short read it may seem, but it poses big questions for you to ponder on.
My favorite story: How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
Read
October 13, 2019Sa manipis na babasahin, dadalhin tayo nina Dean at Sage Alfar sa kawing-kawing na mga istoryang puno ng mistipikasyon, mahika, hikmat, at may saglit na pasilip sa reyalidad. Tatanungin tayo ng libro: Paano kung bukas, o bukas makalawa, katapusan na nga ng mundo? Handa ka bang akyatin ang kalangitan at manguha ng bituin para sa pagmamahal? Handa ka bang tanggapin na may mga bagay na hindi saklaw ng ating limitasyon? Ang libro, sa pisikal na anyo nito, ay napakagaan. Ngunit ang inihahatid nitong alindog at pantasya ay walang kasimbigat.
February 4, 2023
I just finished reading it. Maybe it's the after feel of reading a book and enjoying it but I don't think I'll regret rating this five stars. The short stories were so cute and well, fantastical. I especially liked the cinderella retelling. Very funny!!
The last story made me tear up, as short as it was, I just knew what was about to happen when the climax approached and I started bawling.
I love that this was written by a father and daughter duo! so cool!!
That's all, the first story was a bit slow, but the last few ones were all so well written :)
The last story made me tear up, as short as it was, I just knew what was about to happen when the climax approached and I started bawling.
I love that this was written by a father and daughter duo! so cool!!
That's all, the first story was a bit slow, but the last few ones were all so well written :)
August 27, 2020
Bought this book because of three things: (1) The cover is so pretty, (2) I wanted to support more of the Filipino authors and (3) I love short stories. And while the stories are not bad, I feel like the stories were incomplete: no climax, no tension, and "that's it?” kind of feeling of ending. The stories got potential though. And I would love a novel version of The Blade of Virtuous Water. The story of The Four Wounds and The Tear is pretty interesting.
June 25, 2021
Wanted to read something light, and a little nonsensical, and I got just that. Stars in Jars is a compilation of very short stories, many of then putting into reality/words the creative imagination of this father-daughter duo. I enjoyed how these short stories brought to life some out-of-this world ideas, without having to build up too complicated a storyline.
The stories I especially enjoyed reading were: How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball, Packing for the Moon, and Stars in Jars.
The stories I especially enjoyed reading were: How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball, Packing for the Moon, and Stars in Jars.
March 30, 2018
5 out of the 8 stories are good, for me. The stories can be said to be "universal" in their settings: that is, not knowing where the book came from, one would think that they could have happened in any place, in any country. I felt that the opportunity to instill a "Filipino flavor" was lost although the authors were likely not looking to do that.
November 28, 2018
"Peopke can't get stars."
"Of course they can. They just have to try hard enough."
This book is like an English kung Alam Nyo Lang by Ricky Lee. Though there are more characters and more stories. Plus there are different ages of characters but mostly teen and pre-teen. You'll learn a lot from this book! Plus lol I love stars so yeah. Btw, it's a short story compilation
"Of course they can. They just have to try hard enough."
This book is like an English kung Alam Nyo Lang by Ricky Lee. Though there are more characters and more stories. Plus there are different ages of characters but mostly teen and pre-teen. You'll learn a lot from this book! Plus lol I love stars so yeah. Btw, it's a short story compilation
August 25, 2020
Super Mega Death Rays Can Only Travel Through Space So Fast-2 stars
The Blade of Virtuous Water-2.5 stars
Think-2 stars
ASHI > Fix This-3 stars
Escape-2 stars
How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball-2.5 stars
Stars in Jars-3 stars
Packing for the Moon-3 stars
don’t judge the book by its cover hahaha nagandahan lang talaga ako sa cover kaya ko ‘to binili tapos naka-sale pa yung adarna house. :(((
The Blade of Virtuous Water-2.5 stars
Think-2 stars
ASHI > Fix This-3 stars
Escape-2 stars
How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball-2.5 stars
Stars in Jars-3 stars
Packing for the Moon-3 stars
don’t judge the book by its cover hahaha nagandahan lang talaga ako sa cover kaya ko ‘to binili tapos naka-sale pa yung adarna house. :(((
June 18, 2022
The last 3 stories are golden and the very last one made me shed a tear. The premise of the entire collection is also very cute, but a couple of stories could have been better with substantive editing. Would love to read more of Sage’s stories in the future, though!
February 23, 2025
I particularly enjoyed three stories from this collection:
1. Think
2. How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
3. Packing for the Moon
Of these, Packing for the Moon is my fave. It kinda has an O. Henry vibe, although I think this one leans more toward realism.
1. Think
2. How to Make the Least of a Royal Ball
3. Packing for the Moon
Of these, Packing for the Moon is my fave. It kinda has an O. Henry vibe, although I think this one leans more toward realism.
April 14, 2018
My favorites are:
1. The Blade of Virtuous Water
2. Ashi > Fix This
3. Packing for the Moon
1. The Blade of Virtuous Water
2. Ashi > Fix This
3. Packing for the Moon
December 11, 2018
Quick, Quirky and Lovely Best matched with Kopiko
February 28, 2019
I loved the last two stories; they're definitely worth my time. The rest...meh.
October 11, 2019
Nth Dean Francis Alfar book I've picked up and devoured this year. I an clearly now a fan.
October 14, 2019
I almost threw my first book across the room. That’s all I’ll say.
January 13, 2021
reads like a wattpad blog.
March 1, 2021
A good speculative fiction book as a stimulus to a philosophy for children (p4c) discussion.
July 26, 2021
This book includes eight short stories. Kudos to its originality.
"How To Make the Least of a Royal Ball" and "Packing for the Moon" stood out for me.
"How To Make the Least of a Royal Ball" and "Packing for the Moon" stood out for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews