Badlands

by Alyson Faye

‘Badlands’ is a collection of flash fiction pieces, from drabbles of 100 words to longer pieces up to 1000 words. Many have been published on line and in anthologies, and short-listed or been placed in competitions. They have all been written during the last three years, the oldest pair being ‘Chestnuts for my Sweet’ and ‘A Guy for the Children’, both written in the autumn.

These short shorts reflect an interest in ghost stories, history especially the Victorians, old movies, derelict buildings, real life issues such as homelessness, and just the ‘what if’ factor of when a seemingly normal situation starts to tilt off centre, dangerously so.

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2018

Reviews

[Catherine McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection of flash fiction! I read it in two sessions and really enjoyed it.
As with any collection, there will be favorites and these were mine:
Nest of Bones – loved the contrast of delicate imagery and scare. So evocative!
Mermaid - This piece said so much in so few words.
Shadow Thief – for its atmospheric detail. This for example - “...a huge vanilla scented drawing pad and a twiggy bunch of charcoal sticks.” The concept behind this piece was really creepy, too.
Doll Man – loved the little girl in this, and the animate use of a plastic bag.
Scarecrow – loved the conflict of emotion in the child in this one.
Going Home – the attention to detail, and skills of observation were incredible here.
No Home For Holly – that friendship that comes out of being kindred spirits.
Visiting Mum – poignant and real. Very moving.
There were none I didn’t enjoy, and there were moments of sheer brilliance throughout.
Highly recommended.

[Allison Symes · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAKING YOUR BLOOD RUN COLD

There are more twists in Alyson Faye's fiction than there are on a helter-skelter. Dark, sad, and moving stories can all be found in Badlands. The front cover image is a brilliant match to the tone of the tales in this collection.

My favourite story is Bookworm, but given I'm a reader with a big collection of book, as well as being a fellow flash fiction writer, this is no real surprise! Well done, Alyson, for a great collection of stories here. If you like your blood to run cold when reading, you're in for a treat here! Likewise, if you're a fan of twist tales and quirky characters as I am.

[Paula R C R. C. Readman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising collection of creepy tales. I just downloaded and was hooked. Tales so twisted, you won’t want to read them at night. I didn’t I read them in an afternoon. They are brilliant, Alyson. I look forward to reading your next collection.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Badlands is a collection of short stories and flash fiction with lengths within the range of 100 to 1,000 words. Most of the stories had some element of horror or creep to them. I don't have much experience reading or writing works as short as flash fiction, but this collection was a beautiful introduction for me.

The stories I liked most within this collection were the ones that left me saying, "Whoa..." to myself upon completion. These are the stories where if you don't read them all (although I would advocate that you would), you have to at least read these. Don't put down this book without reading "Mother Love," "Doll Man," and "Belladonna."

Others tugged at my heartstrings, reminding me of some sort of longing or loss. For me, these stories include "Each Other's World," "Treasure Hunt," and "The Last Walk."

There were some stories that really did nothing for me. Not to say that they weren't well-written or original...they simply didn't resonate with me or perhaps I didn't understand them enough to be moved by them. These stories include "3D Audrey" and "Peacocks."

This is my first time reading Alyson Faye, and I look forward to reading more of her work!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and published some of Alyson's work at HorrorTree.Com and read her contribution to the Women In Horror Annual 2, I was looking forward to this collection of hers. I am pleased to say it doesn't disappoint. Comprising 36 stories of flash it takes us into a world of tragedy and darkness relieved by some well-written black humour. The stories vary in length from drabble form (100 words) to longer flash, up to 1000 words. Tales are told against backdrops varying from the trenches of World War I to post-apocalyptic settings. There are ghosts and evil children, assassins and abused women, with styles ranging from the gothic to a nod to the Brothers Grimm. I enjoyed all the stories but particularly the opener Children's Games and its treatment of the horror of homelessness, No Home for Holly and its emerging love story between two damaged souls, and Scarecrow with its tale of grim revenge. A truly enjoyable book to dip into - trouble is you won't just dip into it, you will stay and turn the pages as I did.

[Mabs Halton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badlands is an interesting and original collection of tales of the ghostly, the macabre, and the unexpected. The stories are short, but certainly not sweet, and some of them are so unsettling that they haunt you. I was particularly chilled by Scarecrow - a tale of merciless revenge.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

These scary stories pack a powerful punch - I should have guessed as much from the title! With a range of voices from children to adults, I found I was thinking about the characters long after reading the story. Very well done to the author, Alyson Faye.