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As Told by Things
Ordinary objects. Extraordinary tales.
As Told by Things is a lighthearted, multi-genre collection of short stories and flash fiction, each told from the perspective of an inanimate object. Fun, witty, and full of charm, As Told by Things will capture your imagination—as well as your heart.
What objects do you think have stories to tell?
Contributors:
Z. Ahmad, E.D.E. Bell, Kella Campbell, Steve Carr, John Darling, Robert Dawson, Evan Dicken, Geoff Dutton, Jasre' Ellis, N.S. Evans, BethAnn Ferrero, C. Flynt, Avily Jerome, Laura Johnson, Tom Jolly, B.C. Kalis, Debra Krauss, Grace Keating, T.J. Lockwood, Donnie Martino, Alanna McFall, Holly Schofield, Terry Sanville, and Stephanie Vance.
Edited by E.D.E. Bell.
As Told by Things is a lighthearted, multi-genre collection of short stories and flash fiction, each told from the perspective of an inanimate object. Fun, witty, and full of charm, As Told by Things will capture your imagination—as well as your heart.
What objects do you think have stories to tell?
Contributors:
Z. Ahmad, E.D.E. Bell, Kella Campbell, Steve Carr, John Darling, Robert Dawson, Evan Dicken, Geoff Dutton, Jasre' Ellis, N.S. Evans, BethAnn Ferrero, C. Flynt, Avily Jerome, Laura Johnson, Tom Jolly, B.C. Kalis, Debra Krauss, Grace Keating, T.J. Lockwood, Donnie Martino, Alanna McFall, Holly Schofield, Terry Sanville, and Stephanie Vance.
Edited by E.D.E. Bell.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2018
4 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
E.D.E. Bell
36 books211 followersE.D.E. Bell (she/her or e/em) loves fantasy fiction, and enjoys blending classic and modern elements. A passionate vegan and earnest progressive, she feels strongly about issues related to equality and compassion. Her works often explore conceptions of identity and community, including themes of friendship, family, and connection. She lives in Ferndale, Michigan, where she writes stories and revels in garlic. You can follow her adventures at edebell.com.
Bell was born in the year of the fire dragon during a Cleveland blizzard. After a youth in the Mitten, an MSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, three wonderful children, and nearly two decades in Northern Virginia and Southwest Ohio developing technical intelligence strategy, she started the indie press Atthis Arts. Working through mental disorders and an ever-complicated world, she now tries to bring light and love as she can through fantasy fiction, as a proud part of the Detroit arts community.
Bell was born in the year of the fire dragon during a Cleveland blizzard. After a youth in the Mitten, an MSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, three wonderful children, and nearly two decades in Northern Virginia and Southwest Ohio developing technical intelligence strategy, she started the indie press Atthis Arts. Working through mental disorders and an ever-complicated world, she now tries to bring light and love as she can through fantasy fiction, as a proud part of the Detroit arts community.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 4, 2018
As Told by Things is an anthology of short stories, each told from the perspective of an inanimate object. As with any collection, especially those comprising offerings from multiple authors, some of the stories were more miss than hit. I think, though, that each reader would likely come away with different impressions of which stories were the hits ;-)
Before starting the book, I had the impression that the stories would be of the sort that slowly reveal which object is telling the tale. That was not always the case, and I would have preferred the collection if there had been more of the cheeky playfulness on display in E.D.E. Bell's Tragedia. I did find others I enjoyed (or at least appreciated), though -- some managed to pack quite a bit of emotion into very short pieces.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book.
Before starting the book, I had the impression that the stories would be of the sort that slowly reveal which object is telling the tale. That was not always the case, and I would have preferred the collection if there had been more of the cheeky playfulness on display in E.D.E. Bell's Tragedia. I did find others I enjoyed (or at least appreciated), though -- some managed to pack quite a bit of emotion into very short pieces.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book.
May 26, 2018
OMG! So good! Where to begin...? Another great book of short stories told from the unique perspective of object, things. I loved Start Again by Alanna McFall; POV is from starter, as in starter for sour dough bread! Lady At the Bar by B.C. Kalis was a hoot! I didn't suspect the "Thing" until the end and it gave me a good laugh! Elevated by Tom Jolly, The Pea and the Princess by Jasre' Ellis, Peter and the Paper Clip.... all great tales! And all the other couple dozen stories in all, are wonderful reads. So many talented writers with such fabulous imaginations. You can't go wrong with this book, it's perfect to read if time is short.
I received a Kindle ARC in exchange for a fair review from NEtgalley.
I received a Kindle ARC in exchange for a fair review from NEtgalley.
May 1, 2018
I am so proud to present this collection to you, comprised of lighthearted, unique tales from talented authors all over the US and Canada.
This multi-genre set of short stories and flash fiction presents twenty-five different angles on what tales an object might have to tell. The stories are fun, light, and witty—and they are all quite different. Some are silly, some are sexy, and some are inspiring.
The stories are short, so you can read the collection all at once, like an art exhibit, or you can take in a story here or there, in line, on the bus, or at home for a break. I hope you'll enjoy!
This multi-genre set of short stories and flash fiction presents twenty-five different angles on what tales an object might have to tell. The stories are fun, light, and witty—and they are all quite different. Some are silly, some are sexy, and some are inspiring.
The stories are short, so you can read the collection all at once, like an art exhibit, or you can take in a story here or there, in line, on the bus, or at home for a break. I hope you'll enjoy!
August 11, 2020
// Thanks to Atthis Arts, LLC and Netgalley for the ARC to review //
“No matter what their differences were, in shape, size, or how they came to be in this place, everyone felt rather certain that their futures would be interwinded somehow.”
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*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
overall
~ As Told by things is a compilation of short stories from different authors, but still revolving around the same theme: the fact that each story is told from the perspective of an inanimate object.
I found this to be really intriguing once I actually started reading it. But as usual, the problem I always encounter with books like these is that there are always those stories that you LOVE but then there are those stories that are just meh.
And I would always need to put these things into consideration when rating and reviewing the books.
some of the stories were just uninteresting for me, but others had emotion packed in every page. There were stories that just got me thinking of how they can be related to how people feel if they were in the place of those objects. It made me really consider the objects as people while I was reading the story and it really made me so much more aware of the people around me.
Sometimes the people we don’t notice that much are the ones who notice the most
writing style
~ most of the writing were descriptive enough
Even though there were some stories that were not my favorite, they still kept me reading to find out what was the object for that story. It also helped that most of the stories were actually pretty unique and were written creatively for me.
They were diverse in a way that the stories were meant to be humorous with some philosophical ideas here and there.
I also find it to be pretty cool to have some insight to what everyday things could be thinking about. They were interesting topic. This is also a topic that my dad and I talk about, which made it that more intriguing.
There were objects that never came to my mind but it was just as fascinating to read.
“No matter what their differences were, in shape, size, or how they came to be in this place, everyone felt rather certain that their futures would be interwinded somehow.”
⟹ MY BLOG ⟸
⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
overall
~ As Told by things is a compilation of short stories from different authors, but still revolving around the same theme: the fact that each story is told from the perspective of an inanimate object.
I found this to be really intriguing once I actually started reading it. But as usual, the problem I always encounter with books like these is that there are always those stories that you LOVE but then there are those stories that are just meh.
And I would always need to put these things into consideration when rating and reviewing the books.
some of the stories were just uninteresting for me, but others had emotion packed in every page. There were stories that just got me thinking of how they can be related to how people feel if they were in the place of those objects. It made me really consider the objects as people while I was reading the story and it really made me so much more aware of the people around me.
Sometimes the people we don’t notice that much are the ones who notice the most
writing style
~ most of the writing were descriptive enough
Even though there were some stories that were not my favorite, they still kept me reading to find out what was the object for that story. It also helped that most of the stories were actually pretty unique and were written creatively for me.
They were diverse in a way that the stories were meant to be humorous with some philosophical ideas here and there.
I also find it to be pretty cool to have some insight to what everyday things could be thinking about. They were interesting topic. This is also a topic that my dad and I talk about, which made it that more intriguing.
There were objects that never came to my mind but it was just as fascinating to read.
July 6, 2018
As Told by Things is another galley I was behind on, and it was a quick, easy read to catch up on. It’s a short story collection from a small press and each story is told from the point of view of an object. I requested it because I found the premise intriguing, and it was really interesting to see what objects authors chose to write stories about.
The collection was really varied and just a delight to read. There were stories from the points of view of a starter to make bread, a mirror, a twenty-sided die, and many other objects. The stories told were mostly happy, with some sad interludes entertwined, but all were entertaining and a delight to read. Just as there are a diverse array of stories, I also enjoyed the diverse array of authors, many of whom I now want to read more from. I felt like all of the stories were very creative and a lot of them also incorporated social issues and diversity in surprising ways.
I had different emotions while reading this book as well. Some of the stories made me chuckle, some made me a little teary-eyed, and all of them awed me with the interesting things the authors did. It was just a really fun & enjoyable reading experience. I feel like if I say too much more, I’ll start spoiling the experience, but if you like interesting, diverse, & multi-genre short stories, I really think you’ll enjoy this collection a lot. I, for one, will also be checking out more of what this press has to offer and what the authors in the collection likewise have to offer.
Note: I received this book from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The collection was really varied and just a delight to read. There were stories from the points of view of a starter to make bread, a mirror, a twenty-sided die, and many other objects. The stories told were mostly happy, with some sad interludes entertwined, but all were entertaining and a delight to read. Just as there are a diverse array of stories, I also enjoyed the diverse array of authors, many of whom I now want to read more from. I felt like all of the stories were very creative and a lot of them also incorporated social issues and diversity in surprising ways.
I had different emotions while reading this book as well. Some of the stories made me chuckle, some made me a little teary-eyed, and all of them awed me with the interesting things the authors did. It was just a really fun & enjoyable reading experience. I feel like if I say too much more, I’ll start spoiling the experience, but if you like interesting, diverse, & multi-genre short stories, I really think you’ll enjoy this collection a lot. I, for one, will also be checking out more of what this press has to offer and what the authors in the collection likewise have to offer.
Note: I received this book from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 4, 2018
The love I possess for stories told from the perspectives of the inanimate objects probably says a lot of me as a reader and as a person. But whatever that means for my irregular psyche, it’s a great fun in general to check out the world from such different perspectives. Something (forgive the pun) objectively different and exciting about the worlds of objects. This is actually a second collection of such stories I’ve read (the first one being a terrific Inanimates I edited by Katherine Marzinsky) and what a great read. This is a fairly light collection as far as the general mood goes, some (quite unusual) romances, some genuinely sweet stories and all are very good, with soul and cleverness and a certain zest for life that real life protagonists often don’t offer. The editor contributes two short stories of the toilet nature, but otherwise the objects range far and wide and their singular perspectives engage me thoroughly. It’s also a very modern collection in that gender neutral, politically correct sort of way, if you’re into that sort of thing. The most incredible thing is how entertaining and lovely this book turned out without a single recognizable name involved. Way to find and assemble talent. Kudos to the editor and publishers. This book was an absolute delight and its animated inanimates can and do charm the reader with their tales completely. What a thought...you are never alone, things are all around you with stories to tell. Thanks Netgalley.
July 15, 2018
I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. As someone who enjoys finding books that aren't covering topics that are completely played out (books with "Girl" in the title anyone?), I was very excited to dive into this collection of short stories. Each is told from the perspective of an inanimate object. While I did enjoy the anticipation of figuring out what the object in each story was, I found was that there were more stories that didn't land, than ones that did. I truly enjoyed some of them though which is why I gave the book 3 stars. I thought the opening story called "Elevated" told by "starter dough" was very interesting! My favorite of the bunch was the sexy, very short story "The Lady at the Bar", It is narrated by a shot glass of unnamed booze being savored by a beautiful woman. I would be very curious as to which stories were enjoyed by who, and why they liked them. This book is very interesting in that regard. While I found the story "Flowers by the Pond" beautiful, did someone else find it boring? I found the story, (if you'd even call it that) "The Malkin andThel Tarot Catalog" to be unreadable, but maybe I missed something? This book was cute, and fun to read in anticipation of the next story. I really enjoyed that each author had a short bio at the end of their entry. It added a cool introspective into their writing. Also, cute cover!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Find this and other reviews at www.BookItForward.blog
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Find this and other reviews at www.BookItForward.blog
May 14, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
As Told By Things is a fun take on storytelling told by a lot of things we take for granted - inanimate objects that make our day easier, look good, etc.
Of the 26 stories, I was only not interested in about 6. That leaves an almost 70% hit rate, which is pretty good for a short story collection.
My favourites were "Elevated", "Paris Mug", "Twenty Sides to Every Tale" (Go Western!), "Cashmere" and "What I See".
I probably won't be treating any inanimate object any differently... but it does make you think :)
As Told By Things is a fun take on storytelling told by a lot of things we take for granted - inanimate objects that make our day easier, look good, etc.
Of the 26 stories, I was only not interested in about 6. That leaves an almost 70% hit rate, which is pretty good for a short story collection.
My favourites were "Elevated", "Paris Mug", "Twenty Sides to Every Tale" (Go Western!), "Cashmere" and "What I See".
I probably won't be treating any inanimate object any differently... but it does make you think :)
May 22, 2018
First off, thanks to netgalley/author and publisher for giving me an opportunity to read this book.
Awesome is how i would describe this book in a word!
As told by things, just like the title describes, is a collection of short shorties that are narrated by "things" themselves. What we see around us, anything without a pulse, we collectively call them things and dont pay much heed to them. Some of them have been with us for quite some time and some we dont appreciate its importance but would never give up .The stories give us the perspective of these objects. Names of some of the stories gave away what it was about and some of them were teasers giving enough information to guess. (the latter was my favorite).
Ruby, Peter the paper clip, Cashmere,What i see, Growing as you're walking past are my favorites.
Awesome is how i would describe this book in a word!
As told by things, just like the title describes, is a collection of short shorties that are narrated by "things" themselves. What we see around us, anything without a pulse, we collectively call them things and dont pay much heed to them. Some of them have been with us for quite some time and some we dont appreciate its importance but would never give up .The stories give us the perspective of these objects. Names of some of the stories gave away what it was about and some of them were teasers giving enough information to guess. (the latter was my favorite).
Ruby, Peter the paper clip, Cashmere,What i see, Growing as you're walking past are my favorites.
June 7, 2018
While every story won't be for every reader, I enjoyed the majority of short stories in "As Told by Things". I also appreciated that stories weren't dragged on and on simply for word count purposes. I appreciated the stories where I had to try to guess what the object was before it was fully revealed. It made it more fun for me as a reader.
If I had to pick just two favorites other than E.D.E. Bell's two short stories (which were so different, yet so well done!), it would be "Anything Nice" by Steve Carr and "The Pea and the Princess" by Stephanie Vance. I liked the perspectives and tones of those objects, and one being a common fairytale item was just too cool.
This is a unique idea for an anthology - not at all what I'm used to. It stretched me as a reader.
If I had to pick just two favorites other than E.D.E. Bell's two short stories (which were so different, yet so well done!), it would be "Anything Nice" by Steve Carr and "The Pea and the Princess" by Stephanie Vance. I liked the perspectives and tones of those objects, and one being a common fairytale item was just too cool.
This is a unique idea for an anthology - not at all what I'm used to. It stretched me as a reader.
July 2, 2018
Charming collection of short stories
I enjoyed this book. It's an anthology of 25 very short stories told from the unique perspective of inanimate objects. In many of the stories, the author does not immediately reveal the nature of the inanimate object and it is a lot of fun trying to figure it out. Most of the stories are of a lighter nature but a couple were serious. There really isn’t science fiction/fantasy in these books, other than inanimate objects telling stories but as a big fan of the genre, this didn’t bother me at all.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
I enjoyed this book. It's an anthology of 25 very short stories told from the unique perspective of inanimate objects. In many of the stories, the author does not immediately reveal the nature of the inanimate object and it is a lot of fun trying to figure it out. Most of the stories are of a lighter nature but a couple were serious. There really isn’t science fiction/fantasy in these books, other than inanimate objects telling stories but as a big fan of the genre, this didn’t bother me at all.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
May 18, 2018
This fun and quirky book, is great for times when you don’t have a lot of time to read, you can’t get into a book you want to read, you are between books, your attention span is low or you just want something a bit different. Basically this book is great to read whenever. Made up of mini stories this book is a little game in itself as you have to try and guess what the object is that is the main focus of the storyline. Quirky, fun and fabulous this book has it all. I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend to all. No matter what genre you usually read.
July 12, 2018
As Told by Things is a collection of short stories by different authors told from the viewpoint of inanimate objects.
I liked this book exactly as much as I thought I would! I only ended up not enjoying and skipping two or three of them, and the rest I found completely charming and heart warming. This is a quick read and great if you need something to read before bed, or in between some heavier reading. I'm so glad this book exists!
I liked this book exactly as much as I thought I would! I only ended up not enjoying and skipping two or three of them, and the rest I found completely charming and heart warming. This is a quick read and great if you need something to read before bed, or in between some heavier reading. I'm so glad this book exists!
May 22, 2018
This is such a charming collection of stories. Each one, whether told in first person or third person, is from the perspective of an inanimate object. And while you’d think maybe the gimmick would get old, it never does, and never feels like a gimmick. Because each story is unique, and most are downright endearing.
May 30, 2018
This is a book full of everyday items that see the beauty of the world they're in and mostly want one thing: to be useful, and occasionally to be loved for it. There are perspectives that can help us grow as people and see the best in each other, to appreciate the good in everyday objects. I'm glad that I've read this book.
December 31, 2022
This book has really interesting stories about ''things'' I like the unique concept. Reading stories about the inanimate object and their feelings is amazing. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.
May 15, 2018
What a sweet little collection of stories that we are seeing from the perspective of inanimate objects.
Funny, sad, lonely. All human emotions are here.
Funny, sad, lonely. All human emotions are here.
October 1, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I jumped at the opportunity to read this flash fiction and short story anthology. The premise of this anthology is brilliant: stories told from the perspectives of objects.
What I admire about this anthology are a handful of the stories whose authors chose interesting objects. I really enjoyed 'The Playful Protector' by Jasre' Ellis, who writes about a scarf. I'd love to read more of their work.
As great a theme as this is, there were certain elements that distracted me as a reader. The object narrators are very self-aware, and don't feel as if they've been developed as characters, so at times these stories feel like a "guess what I am" rather than a story. This often relates in storytelling that feels predictable and self-involved, very "tell" and not enough "show". Around three of the objects describe themselves as "beautiful".
There's also a sense of limitation when telling a story from the perspective of an object that I feel wasn't wholly considered. For example, in 'Elevated' the elevator-narrator talks about the type of music played in an elevator in the building next to her; how on earth could this elevator possibly know this information? For some readers, I imagine this wouldn't be an issue, but if I'm to believe the reality of this perspective, I need details that won't challenge my suspension of belief. The rest of this story, in fact, is rather entertaining, but I kept thinking over that detail throughout.
All things considered, I wanted to really like this anthology, but it didn't live up to my expectations. This anthology is great if you're wanting an easy read that has its moments, but it just didn't do it for me. There are plenty of other books (and online magazines) with stories, images, and characters with more resonance.
I jumped at the opportunity to read this flash fiction and short story anthology. The premise of this anthology is brilliant: stories told from the perspectives of objects.
What I admire about this anthology are a handful of the stories whose authors chose interesting objects. I really enjoyed 'The Playful Protector' by Jasre' Ellis, who writes about a scarf. I'd love to read more of their work.
As great a theme as this is, there were certain elements that distracted me as a reader. The object narrators are very self-aware, and don't feel as if they've been developed as characters, so at times these stories feel like a "guess what I am" rather than a story. This often relates in storytelling that feels predictable and self-involved, very "tell" and not enough "show". Around three of the objects describe themselves as "beautiful".
There's also a sense of limitation when telling a story from the perspective of an object that I feel wasn't wholly considered. For example, in 'Elevated' the elevator-narrator talks about the type of music played in an elevator in the building next to her; how on earth could this elevator possibly know this information? For some readers, I imagine this wouldn't be an issue, but if I'm to believe the reality of this perspective, I need details that won't challenge my suspension of belief. The rest of this story, in fact, is rather entertaining, but I kept thinking over that detail throughout.
All things considered, I wanted to really like this anthology, but it didn't live up to my expectations. This anthology is great if you're wanting an easy read that has its moments, but it just didn't do it for me. There are plenty of other books (and online magazines) with stories, images, and characters with more resonance.
May 27, 2018
I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed this anthology. I thought the concept was really cool, fresh and interesting.
As it is always with anthologies for me, there were stories I loved - thankfully, the ratio of them was higher in this collection than in most others I read recently. But there were a few that I did not enjoy that much (any of the more abstract or tech-y ones like B.H.S.) or simpy did not get (those were mostly because of me being a non-native speaker (like Tuff, Tragedia, Stewardship, Imago Mundi, Start Again).
The ones I really enjoyed were mostly the most contemporary and really emotional / funny ones, namely Ruby (if I have to choose, this one is my favourite), Anything Nice, Fast Glass, The Playful Protector, Cashmere, Paris Mug (I literally cried on that one), Twenty Sides to Every Tale (even though I am not into MMORPG), Elevated.
I also loved how inclusive the anthology was and how it included POC characters in a really natural, organic way.
I quite enjoyed this anthology. I thought the concept was really cool, fresh and interesting.
As it is always with anthologies for me, there were stories I loved - thankfully, the ratio of them was higher in this collection than in most others I read recently. But there were a few that I did not enjoy that much (any of the more abstract or tech-y ones like B.H.S.) or simpy did not get (those were mostly because of me being a non-native speaker (like Tuff, Tragedia, Stewardship, Imago Mundi, Start Again).
The ones I really enjoyed were mostly the most contemporary and really emotional / funny ones, namely Ruby (if I have to choose, this one is my favourite), Anything Nice, Fast Glass, The Playful Protector, Cashmere, Paris Mug (I literally cried on that one), Twenty Sides to Every Tale (even though I am not into MMORPG), Elevated.
I also loved how inclusive the anthology was and how it included POC characters in a really natural, organic way.
August 12, 2019
(This review originally appeared at Mad Scientist Journal.)
As Told by Things, edited by E. D. E. Bell, is a collection of twenty-five stories told from the perspective of inanimate objects. The stories range in tone from humorous to dark, and all are short pieces that can easily be devoured in even a brief amount of time, making the book a quick read overall, and also perfect for those who like short doses of cleverly written stories.
Some of the stories are quite forthcoming with the object telling the story, while others make you tease it out of their language. The items themselves range from commonplace to rare, but all of the stories treat the objects as important. Two stories dealing with common items in a touching and poignant way are “Growing as You’re Walking Past” by Donnie Martino and “The Playful Protector” by Jasre’ Ellis.
My favorite story in the collection was “Imago Mundi” by Evan Dicken, telling the story of a map over time. The story weaves together the political changes in the lands depicted by the map with the map’s own views on its existence. I also greatly enjoyed “The Pea and the Princess,” by Stephanie Vance, which was a fun flip on a fairy tale from the perspective of the pea stuffed between the mattresses of the visiting princess. And “The Malkin and Thel Tarot Catalog (Midsummer’s Ever, 2018)” by Robert Dawson is easily the most entertaining catalog I’ve ever read.
If you enjoy bite-sized stories and unique ways of telling those stories, you’ll enjoy As Told by Things!
As Told by Things, edited by E. D. E. Bell, is a collection of twenty-five stories told from the perspective of inanimate objects. The stories range in tone from humorous to dark, and all are short pieces that can easily be devoured in even a brief amount of time, making the book a quick read overall, and also perfect for those who like short doses of cleverly written stories.
Some of the stories are quite forthcoming with the object telling the story, while others make you tease it out of their language. The items themselves range from commonplace to rare, but all of the stories treat the objects as important. Two stories dealing with common items in a touching and poignant way are “Growing as You’re Walking Past” by Donnie Martino and “The Playful Protector” by Jasre’ Ellis.
My favorite story in the collection was “Imago Mundi” by Evan Dicken, telling the story of a map over time. The story weaves together the political changes in the lands depicted by the map with the map’s own views on its existence. I also greatly enjoyed “The Pea and the Princess,” by Stephanie Vance, which was a fun flip on a fairy tale from the perspective of the pea stuffed between the mattresses of the visiting princess. And “The Malkin and Thel Tarot Catalog (Midsummer’s Ever, 2018)” by Robert Dawson is easily the most entertaining catalog I’ve ever read.
If you enjoy bite-sized stories and unique ways of telling those stories, you’ll enjoy As Told by Things!
May 27, 2018
AS TOLD BY THINGS is a collection of flash fiction and short stories told from the perspective of every day things. As with any collection, there will be some standouts. Growing as You’re Walking Past is a great piece on growing up and one’s relationship with their body image. This story really sounded like it was told from the object’s perspective and was thought provoking as a mother. Elevated is another strong piece of social commentary from the perspective of an elevator. It made me laugh and read like a solid short story. Anything Nice made me think of the house in my neighborhood growing up with all the trinkets. It made me think of friendships and rivalries. The stories that weren’t as successful seemed like they were forcing the object’s perspective or seemed so serious in a collection that was much more lighthearted. I didn’t have any problem with the writing in these stories, they just read drier than the others. This is my first collection of flash fiction and I think fans of the genre will enjoy a majority of this collection.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2018
A collection of short stories, especially one by multiple authors, is something I often approach with a hint of trepidation, it is exceedingly rare to find one where I like all the stories, but conversely there is often one or two that really stand out. As Told By Things caught my eye because of the premise of the stories, each is written from the perspective of an inanimate object. Ranging in size from a paperclip to a car, authors have crafted stories around a diverse variety of objects, some more successfully than others. Particular highlights for me were The Playful Protector by Jasre' Ellis, Ruby by Terry Sanville and Twenty Sides to Every Tale by Laura Johnson, with a special shout out to Robert Dawson, whose contribution The Malking and Thel Tarot Catalogue had me laughing with each new entry.
A variety of writing styles and the interesting uniqueness of the ideas mean that most readers should find something to tickle their fancy in this diverse collection.
A variety of writing styles and the interesting uniqueness of the ideas mean that most readers should find something to tickle their fancy in this diverse collection.
July 15, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
This book is an ambitious anthology of short stories by various authors that are written from the perspective of a variety of inanimate objects. Some stories are odd, some stories were surprisingly sexual, and some stories were subtly heartwarming. It can sometimes be a scavenger hunt to figure out what the inanimate object of the story is, which worked well for most of the stories, but others not so much.. After a couple reads, I still could not figure out what the object in the first story was supposed to be.
These short stories are written by different authors, so the writing style varies from story to story. and each story is relatively short. and light, so there is no need to read multiple stories in one sittings. Not to be crude, but this is a good bathroom read - it's noncommittal and is easy to pick up where you left off.
This book is an ambitious anthology of short stories by various authors that are written from the perspective of a variety of inanimate objects. Some stories are odd, some stories were surprisingly sexual, and some stories were subtly heartwarming. It can sometimes be a scavenger hunt to figure out what the inanimate object of the story is, which worked well for most of the stories, but others not so much.. After a couple reads, I still could not figure out what the object in the first story was supposed to be.
These short stories are written by different authors, so the writing style varies from story to story. and each story is relatively short. and light, so there is no need to read multiple stories in one sittings. Not to be crude, but this is a good bathroom read - it's noncommittal and is easy to pick up where you left off.
April 7, 2019
Thank you NetGalley for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review. I chose this book because of its unique concept-short stories told by a variety of authors in the perspectives of a variety of objects. I don’t typically read short stories, so I had a hard time getting into the book. However, I enjoyed the different stories and some of them were about such mundane and typical objects but told with such creativity that I found myself enjoying the book as a whole. There are some mature stories, so I would recommend to adults who are looking for something different and creative.
June 10, 2019
This is a great collection of short little stories. Each is told from the perspective of an object. I loved most of them, with just a couple that I thought were strange. Anyway, I just loved the book!
May 28, 2022
This is a lovely collection. It's lighthearted, but some of the stories still punched me in the heart (lightly). If you've ever had a beloved toy or scarf or car or really any beloved object, you will find something to relate to in this anthology.
May 10, 2018
I was expecting something different with this book. However, it was a quick read and it was fun to try and figure out which object was being written about.
June 11, 2018
ARC copy. A grouping of short stories that are told by objects. While some of the stories were interesting, the writing did not keep me interested. I do like the "what has this object seen" idea.
August 30, 2022
It without a doubt takes a certain stretch of the imagination to read not just one, but several stories from the perspective of an inanimate object. At its core, As Told By Things explores a uniquely fascinating concept that many have either never considered or entirely discount. Writing from an object's point of view teeters a fine line, between far too human/literal or far too abstract (and thus, unrelatable). If too entrenched in the former (whether intentionally or by accident), the content can come off as downright cheesy ("The Pea and the Princess") and/or cliché (the respective endings of "Ruby" and "Cashmere"). And if too much the latter, the reader could resort to abandoning the story altogether (which I unfortunately did more than once) for a number of reasons: too niche ("Twenty Sides to Every Tale," "Peter the Paperclip"), too abstract ("Imago Mundi," "Stewardship," "The Malkin and Thel Tarot Catalog (Midsummer's Eve, 2018)"), maintaining the ruse for far too long to the point of never actually revealing the identity of the actual object ("Tuff") - the makings of a story that involves too much effort to follow.
The true dilemma is that employing this storytelling approach is by no means an easy feat. I definitely don't pretend to know the algorithm for executing it effectively or well (an answer I was actually hoping I'd find among the pages and stories of As Told By Things). Even so, it was disheartening not feeling that I could definitively identify a standout among the collection's 25 stories.
The perspective explored is a definite novelty initially, but then admittedly started to make me kind of batty as I started to overthink a lot of the details and approaches. Oftentimes, the objects were a bit too familiar with human concepts ("engagement" - "A Day in the Life of a Gigolo"), pop culture references ("The Grateful Dead" - "Petit Mal," "Hotel California" - "B.H.S."), symbolism ("peace symbols" - "Ruby"), awareness of other or kindred objects they've never met or seen ("Stella, the elevator in the building next door" - "Elevated"), and the passage of time ("twenty-five years" - "Ruby"). I frequently wasn't satisfied with the objects just "knowing" things that seemed outside of their realm of understanding or exposure - I wanted an actual explanation of how that came to be. And as easy or seemingly fitting as it might be to assign gender to objects, this idea bugs me too. For example, how and why does a dice have a name ("Twenty Sides to Every Tale"), and how do we know it would be female?! Just seems weird and unnecessary.
An aspect I did like, was the exploration of and difference in presentation of owned ("Ruby," "Fast Glass," "Anything Nice," "Paris Mug," "Violet Sparkle," "Cashmere") versus owner-less ("The Lady at the Bar," "Elevated," "A Day in the Life of a Gigolo") objects. And in terms of stories, I found "Elevated," "Love Letter," and "The Playful Protector" decent or at the very least, having latent potential topic-wise. As Told By Things opened something of a Pandora's box for me, since now I'm on committed to finding a truly engaging, well-executed object perspective story that vanquishes the sub-genre's familiar pitfalls (any recommendation would be appreciated!). I've since stumbled upon the Everything Is Alive podcast, and hope that at least tides me over in the meantime.
The true dilemma is that employing this storytelling approach is by no means an easy feat. I definitely don't pretend to know the algorithm for executing it effectively or well (an answer I was actually hoping I'd find among the pages and stories of As Told By Things). Even so, it was disheartening not feeling that I could definitively identify a standout among the collection's 25 stories.
The perspective explored is a definite novelty initially, but then admittedly started to make me kind of batty as I started to overthink a lot of the details and approaches. Oftentimes, the objects were a bit too familiar with human concepts ("engagement" - "A Day in the Life of a Gigolo"), pop culture references ("The Grateful Dead" - "Petit Mal," "Hotel California" - "B.H.S."), symbolism ("peace symbols" - "Ruby"), awareness of other or kindred objects they've never met or seen ("Stella, the elevator in the building next door" - "Elevated"), and the passage of time ("twenty-five years" - "Ruby"). I frequently wasn't satisfied with the objects just "knowing" things that seemed outside of their realm of understanding or exposure - I wanted an actual explanation of how that came to be. And as easy or seemingly fitting as it might be to assign gender to objects, this idea bugs me too. For example, how and why does a dice have a name ("Twenty Sides to Every Tale"), and how do we know it would be female?! Just seems weird and unnecessary.
An aspect I did like, was the exploration of and difference in presentation of owned ("Ruby," "Fast Glass," "Anything Nice," "Paris Mug," "Violet Sparkle," "Cashmere") versus owner-less ("The Lady at the Bar," "Elevated," "A Day in the Life of a Gigolo") objects. And in terms of stories, I found "Elevated," "Love Letter," and "The Playful Protector" decent or at the very least, having latent potential topic-wise. As Told By Things opened something of a Pandora's box for me, since now I'm on committed to finding a truly engaging, well-executed object perspective story that vanquishes the sub-genre's familiar pitfalls (any recommendation would be appreciated!). I've since stumbled upon the Everything Is Alive podcast, and hope that at least tides me over in the meantime.
January 12, 2022
As Told By Things is the delightful Atthis Arts flash fiction anthology that inspired me to own and read ALL the rest from this small press, and I’m working on it.
Every story entertained me and spoke to me and made me feel something—awed, amused, soothed, contemplative, wistful, anxious (very rarely, and they usually end well), surprised, and most often of all, empathetic. There’s such a wonderful cross-section of voices and characters too, across ages, genders, races, and bodies.
I will celebrate all twenty-five tales the best way I know how—with puns.
Note: Sometimes the narrating object is mysterious and not identified till the end of its tale, so I’ll begin my impressions of those with the warning [SECRET OBJECT] in case you want to avoid hints.
I read editor E.D.E. Bell’s first, so I’ll start with her glorious two, and review the rest in actual order of appearance.
#25. “What I See” makes my eyes mist at the finale every time, wistful and wry musings by a deeply gracious bathroom mirror that looks forward to Comic Con cosplayers every year and imagines what it would reveal if it could speak.
&
#14. [SECRET OBJECT] “Tragedia” starts out momentous and flows into a chuckle-out-loud encounter where more than one ego deflates by the end.
#1. “Start Again” by Alanna McFall, told by bread starter, rises to the occasion beautifully with tender, bittersweet, wonder-filled observations on its evolving existence, including the ups and downs with the human couple it knows only as “Honey” and “Babe.”
#2. [SECRET OBJECT] “The Lady at the Bar” by B.C. Kalis deftly spills a thirsty tale of mutual desire between strangers longing for the sweet surrender of touching lips.
#3. “Ruby” by Terry Sanville narrated by a nostalgic, cheeky maroon Ford car about its beloved owners along for the ride of their lifetimes.
#4. “Growing as You’re Walking Past” by Donnie Martino is a mirror’s sympathetic, reflective tale of watching its reserved human grow from fraught childhood into confidence and freedom as a transgender new adult.
#5. “Imago Mundi” by Evan Dicken features a map covering vast, somber territory in expanding drafts and developing history, and delivering profound truths about how, in spite of humans and their maps, the land knows no boundaries.
#6. “Elevated” by Tom Jolly told by a wisecracking elevator that meddles in the lives of the tenement building’s tenants is sheer uplifting fun.
#7. “Stewardship” by Holly Schofield stars a comically literal and precise maintenance program of ruthlessly calculating efficiency faced with a human intruder in the wildlife preserve that its bots patrol.
#8. “Fast Glass” by T.J. Lockwood offers snapshots of a day in the life of a prickly yet poetic 35mm camera dutifully serving to capture memories after being passed from father to talented daughter.
#9. “Anything Nice” by Steve Carr amuses with the pithy observations of a haughty porcelain lady figurine with fittingly rigid opinions on everything from her fellow curios to her owner’s rambunctious pair of sons.
#10. [SECRET OBJECT] The passionate narrator of “Love Letter” by Avily Jerome has it rough, getting used and abandoned—this melancholy entry scratches the surface of human self-absorption and ingratitude and wastefulness.
#11. “Petit Mal” by Geoff Dutton is a tense tale by a library computer’s snarky, persnickety program trying to signal to its “doofus” operator that he’s been hacked before it’s too late to save.
#12. “Paris Mug” by Debra Krauss serves up a dignified souvenir mug’s pleasant but unfulfilled years as a musician’s displayed curio—will it never know the warmth of liquid and soft lips?
#13. “The Malkin and Thel Tarot Catalogue,” clever and macabre and surreal, improves on multiple readings, when you realize these advertised tarot cards won’t stand for having their fates determined by mere humans anymore.
#15. “A Day in the Life of a Gigolo” by N.S. Evans, by a feisty slot machine who knows it’s got game, drops hot gossip on its most and least worthy patrons, and on the humorless men in suits trying to keep everyone in line.
#16. In the idyllic “Flowers at the Pond” by Grace Keating a bookish bronze memorial statue of a literacy advocate and local hero fondly muses about past chapters in her human life and her sequel as a statue in whom some visitors confide.
#17. [SECRET OBJECT] In “B.H.S.” by BethAnn Ferrero sly wordplay from a pompous and ominous narrator warn of its dark hunger and growing reach, until the inescapable final reveal.
#18. In “The Pea and the Princess” by Stephanie Vance, the sassy pea that tested one fairy tale princess’ bona fides will either thwart the snooty queen’s scheme to test a resourceful newcomer, or see its ambitions squashed.
#19. “Tuff” by the duo of C. Flynt evokes profound wonder at the natural world through the rocky evolution of the ancient earth itself from volcano to mountain to split stone to dust to however it may rise again.
#20. “Playful Protector” by Jasre’ Ellis tugs at your funny bone and heart with a vivacious scarf that loves securing her small human’s lovely 3b or 4c hair but also enjoys pranking her—till one joke too many might make it all unravel.
#21. “Twenty Sides to Every Tale” by Laura Johnson shows it’s great having other plucky dice at your side, but not all fun and games when gamers get rude—can one d20 change her fate or must she roll with it?
#22. “Violet Sparkle” by Kella Campbell brings giddy tail-wagging bliss with a proudly purple and glittery rubber bone and her canine bestie Brutus, until the arrival of a new ball makes her worry their friendship won’t rebound.
#23. John Darling’s “Peter the Paper Clip” is a bright, happy-go-lucky narrator that knows not to get too attached and makes new friends wherever he goes—even when a trip to the recycling plant gets him bound on a final adventure that’s so bizarre it’s out of this world.
#24. “Cashmere” by Z. Ahmad weaves the poignant, full circle tale of a queenly green hand-stitched scarf and the lives she’s privileged to observe draped on the shoulders of Esther and wrapped as the hijab of Huma, two strong, outspoken, and independent dreamers.
WHEN A SHORT STORY COLLECTION REALLY MAKES THE YOU SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SPEAK UP—BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Every story entertained me and spoke to me and made me feel something—awed, amused, soothed, contemplative, wistful, anxious (very rarely, and they usually end well), surprised, and most often of all, empathetic. There’s such a wonderful cross-section of voices and characters too, across ages, genders, races, and bodies.
I will celebrate all twenty-five tales the best way I know how—with puns.
Note: Sometimes the narrating object is mysterious and not identified till the end of its tale, so I’ll begin my impressions of those with the warning [SECRET OBJECT] in case you want to avoid hints.
I read editor E.D.E. Bell’s first, so I’ll start with her glorious two, and review the rest in actual order of appearance.
#25. “What I See” makes my eyes mist at the finale every time, wistful and wry musings by a deeply gracious bathroom mirror that looks forward to Comic Con cosplayers every year and imagines what it would reveal if it could speak.
&
#14. [SECRET OBJECT] “Tragedia” starts out momentous and flows into a chuckle-out-loud encounter where more than one ego deflates by the end.
#1. “Start Again” by Alanna McFall, told by bread starter, rises to the occasion beautifully with tender, bittersweet, wonder-filled observations on its evolving existence, including the ups and downs with the human couple it knows only as “Honey” and “Babe.”
#2. [SECRET OBJECT] “The Lady at the Bar” by B.C. Kalis deftly spills a thirsty tale of mutual desire between strangers longing for the sweet surrender of touching lips.
#3. “Ruby” by Terry Sanville narrated by a nostalgic, cheeky maroon Ford car about its beloved owners along for the ride of their lifetimes.
#4. “Growing as You’re Walking Past” by Donnie Martino is a mirror’s sympathetic, reflective tale of watching its reserved human grow from fraught childhood into confidence and freedom as a transgender new adult.
#5. “Imago Mundi” by Evan Dicken features a map covering vast, somber territory in expanding drafts and developing history, and delivering profound truths about how, in spite of humans and their maps, the land knows no boundaries.
#6. “Elevated” by Tom Jolly told by a wisecracking elevator that meddles in the lives of the tenement building’s tenants is sheer uplifting fun.
#7. “Stewardship” by Holly Schofield stars a comically literal and precise maintenance program of ruthlessly calculating efficiency faced with a human intruder in the wildlife preserve that its bots patrol.
#8. “Fast Glass” by T.J. Lockwood offers snapshots of a day in the life of a prickly yet poetic 35mm camera dutifully serving to capture memories after being passed from father to talented daughter.
#9. “Anything Nice” by Steve Carr amuses with the pithy observations of a haughty porcelain lady figurine with fittingly rigid opinions on everything from her fellow curios to her owner’s rambunctious pair of sons.
#10. [SECRET OBJECT] The passionate narrator of “Love Letter” by Avily Jerome has it rough, getting used and abandoned—this melancholy entry scratches the surface of human self-absorption and ingratitude and wastefulness.
#11. “Petit Mal” by Geoff Dutton is a tense tale by a library computer’s snarky, persnickety program trying to signal to its “doofus” operator that he’s been hacked before it’s too late to save.
#12. “Paris Mug” by Debra Krauss serves up a dignified souvenir mug’s pleasant but unfulfilled years as a musician’s displayed curio—will it never know the warmth of liquid and soft lips?
#13. “The Malkin and Thel Tarot Catalogue,” clever and macabre and surreal, improves on multiple readings, when you realize these advertised tarot cards won’t stand for having their fates determined by mere humans anymore.
#15. “A Day in the Life of a Gigolo” by N.S. Evans, by a feisty slot machine who knows it’s got game, drops hot gossip on its most and least worthy patrons, and on the humorless men in suits trying to keep everyone in line.
#16. In the idyllic “Flowers at the Pond” by Grace Keating a bookish bronze memorial statue of a literacy advocate and local hero fondly muses about past chapters in her human life and her sequel as a statue in whom some visitors confide.
#17. [SECRET OBJECT] In “B.H.S.” by BethAnn Ferrero sly wordplay from a pompous and ominous narrator warn of its dark hunger and growing reach, until the inescapable final reveal.
#18. In “The Pea and the Princess” by Stephanie Vance, the sassy pea that tested one fairy tale princess’ bona fides will either thwart the snooty queen’s scheme to test a resourceful newcomer, or see its ambitions squashed.
#19. “Tuff” by the duo of C. Flynt evokes profound wonder at the natural world through the rocky evolution of the ancient earth itself from volcano to mountain to split stone to dust to however it may rise again.
#20. “Playful Protector” by Jasre’ Ellis tugs at your funny bone and heart with a vivacious scarf that loves securing her small human’s lovely 3b or 4c hair but also enjoys pranking her—till one joke too many might make it all unravel.
#21. “Twenty Sides to Every Tale” by Laura Johnson shows it’s great having other plucky dice at your side, but not all fun and games when gamers get rude—can one d20 change her fate or must she roll with it?
#22. “Violet Sparkle” by Kella Campbell brings giddy tail-wagging bliss with a proudly purple and glittery rubber bone and her canine bestie Brutus, until the arrival of a new ball makes her worry their friendship won’t rebound.
#23. John Darling’s “Peter the Paper Clip” is a bright, happy-go-lucky narrator that knows not to get too attached and makes new friends wherever he goes—even when a trip to the recycling plant gets him bound on a final adventure that’s so bizarre it’s out of this world.
#24. “Cashmere” by Z. Ahmad weaves the poignant, full circle tale of a queenly green hand-stitched scarf and the lives she’s privileged to observe draped on the shoulders of Esther and wrapped as the hijab of Huma, two strong, outspoken, and independent dreamers.
WHEN A SHORT STORY COLLECTION REALLY MAKES THE YOU SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SPEAK UP—BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews