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Writers in Lockdown
Writers in Lockdown is an anthology of fiction short stories, not about the coronavirus itself but representing a broad range of genres and subjects, all written when their authors were confined at home during the first three months of ‘lockdown’, from late March to late June 2020. Fitting the something for everyone description, this collection should also be taken as an historical snapshot of creative minds across borders, still producing quality works of thought-provoking fiction during a time of global paralysis. When someone asks “What did you do in lockdown?”, well, 27 authors around the world combined to make this.
279 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2020
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116 people want to read
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August 31, 2020
This is going to be a “multi-part” review. Full disclosure, I contributed one of the short stories to this book. And even though I’m immensely proud to have done so, I’m not going to discuss or review it. Instead I’m going to focus on the others and the remarkable thing that editor Faith Jones has set out to do by putting this out into the world. In going through the bios at the end, the authors come from and live all over the world. It’s a book that has gotten published for charity.
What This Book Is
Writers in Lockdown, as you have probably seen from other reviews, is a compilation of short stories that a bunch of different authors have contributed that were written during the Covid-19 “lockdown” that so many places enacted in valiant effort to save lives. And as other reviews have said before me (and probably more eloquently) is that there is something in here for just about any type of literary taste and genre. There’s horror, sci-fi, modern fiction, historical romance, and some seriously trippy ideas. I loved it. A few of them are set during the Covid-19 pandemic, but most aren’t. There was no “theme” requirements when Faith Jones decided to put this together.
What the Stories Are
The book starts out with Trout Ticklers by Kristyna Corres. Must confess, this one was a bit mysterious for me at first. Then when I finished this and went back again, I see it. Or at least what it told me. It tells the reader of life enjoying the pleasures of simple interaction with nature and people enjoying nature. There’s some other stuff in there too, but that’s what spoke to me in this one.
Adoption by Dale Lehman. This was a cool story with space pirates! I wanted to dump the boss out an airlock, but it somehow managed to convey some complex emotion in just a little bit of space.
Perry Lake’s Blood Curse told a classic gothic-esque vamper and werewolf tale. Had some good world-building in there.
In The Hospitaller by Mike Sherer was a very cool idea about destiny and passing a sort of torch. I liked this one a lot.
Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres had this narrative about a linguistic debate. That one was pretty mysterious for me too. Interesting ideas about how we use words. Which, you know, is kinda important.
RN40 by Magnus Stanke told a “creepy, dude-don't-get-out-of-the-car-and-wander-into-the-woods-what-are-you-crazy” kind of horror story.
Oberbootsman Becker by Stephen Mills tells of a soldier in WWII. Manages to convey how teachers we value in our lives, even though we might hate them at one point because they are hard on us, and how they stick with us. This was one of my favorites.
Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen told an extraordinarily touching intergenerational tale of a developing friendship and caring for a neighbor. Loved this one. Was really touching.
The 7th Dimension by Paul Sloop was one of the (well done) trippy stories that follows a couple in a twilight zone kind of story that brings new meaning to the term “exploring nature.”
L. Jay Mozdy’s Form gave me a surreal drive-thru experience. Been through one of those a time or two in my life so that was a wild literary ride for me.
Gaia by Casey Sloop offered a highly entertaining and imaginative tale of celestial humor.
I found J. Drew Brumbaugh's story, Isolation, a harrowing vicarious take of a man’s experience trying to endure a hurricane. Found it all too believable.
An anonymous writer supplied Something the Matter with Alpha Centauri, a 2001-esque sci-fi tale of resilience.
The Arrival by P.L. Tavormina provided me with a frightening yet moving tale about a disease and its affects on those it leaves behind—one way or another.
I liked Ville Kokko's Scars, a tragic story about discovering more about a beloved spouse.
Sherri Moorer's Light got right to the point and was really good. It tells a story about the people affected by a lockdown in a hospital.
Saj Brodie's Digital Nomad had a trippy tech feel to it that really made me think about life and existence and how some people function on a whole other level within yet outside societal norms.
Thor Carlsson's The Aviary delivered a pretty powerful emotional gut punch that left me reeling right at the end. Liked this one a lot.
I liked M.L. Roberts' The Morpheus Tower. It was a cool story with magic. I’m always a sucker for those!
Carolyn Geduld's Who Shall Profit offered a thriller-esque story about a tensions in a ghostwriting agreement and other precognitive services being offered.
The ambitious Faith Jones added her own story (in addition to all work putting this volume out I must say—quite amazing) with Genealogy Club. Interesting perspective on human interaction and—I suppose—development. I’ll never look at labwork the same way again!
In A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake, by Leticia Toracia, gives you just a little taste of a sci-fi story with a dragon. It left me wanting to read more. Hopefully someday I will.
Then, Time Out by Eileen Moynihan just emotionally knocked me on my butt. As a guy who’s obsessively worked on jigsaw puzzles a time or two and loves their spouse, this one, I thought was so good it kind of left me speechless. Boy, I sure hope someday there’s more coming from this writer.
And then I really enjoyed the classic style sci-fi story, Help Us, by Jim Hamilton. Kind a of cool take on first contact with aliens.
I found Julia Davenport’s Lunar Illusion had a chilling and tragic sort of tone to it. Well done story taking place in an asylum.
The stories ostensibly end with a second well written disaster story, The Final Chapter by Hakon Gunnarsson. At least he had some “chemical” help to ease the situation.
The book then kindly gives the author bios and then Perry Lake had a sort of after credits story that continued the vamper v. wolf storyline. That was an interesting touch how Faith did that.
Why I Personally Think This Book Matters
Life often is difficult, horrifying, and uncertain.
But sometimes we can show each other that we care, will support each other, and most importantly persevere and carry on.
Maybe this humble compendium of stories won’t make it into the annals of the greatest literature ever. But they are very good and represent one of the greatest traits we as people can have. A willingness and determination to see ourselves through this. For my money, a bunch of people willing to press on and do what they love and tell stories—which is ultimately a reflection of the human condition—despite everything going on right now earns this book five stars from me for a job well done.
What This Book Is
Writers in Lockdown, as you have probably seen from other reviews, is a compilation of short stories that a bunch of different authors have contributed that were written during the Covid-19 “lockdown” that so many places enacted in valiant effort to save lives. And as other reviews have said before me (and probably more eloquently) is that there is something in here for just about any type of literary taste and genre. There’s horror, sci-fi, modern fiction, historical romance, and some seriously trippy ideas. I loved it. A few of them are set during the Covid-19 pandemic, but most aren’t. There was no “theme” requirements when Faith Jones decided to put this together.
What the Stories Are
The book starts out with Trout Ticklers by Kristyna Corres. Must confess, this one was a bit mysterious for me at first. Then when I finished this and went back again, I see it. Or at least what it told me. It tells the reader of life enjoying the pleasures of simple interaction with nature and people enjoying nature. There’s some other stuff in there too, but that’s what spoke to me in this one.
Adoption by Dale Lehman. This was a cool story with space pirates! I wanted to dump the boss out an airlock, but it somehow managed to convey some complex emotion in just a little bit of space.
Perry Lake’s Blood Curse told a classic gothic-esque vamper and werewolf tale. Had some good world-building in there.
In The Hospitaller by Mike Sherer was a very cool idea about destiny and passing a sort of torch. I liked this one a lot.
Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres had this narrative about a linguistic debate. That one was pretty mysterious for me too. Interesting ideas about how we use words. Which, you know, is kinda important.
RN40 by Magnus Stanke told a “creepy, dude-don't-get-out-of-the-car-and-wander-into-the-woods-what-are-you-crazy” kind of horror story.
Oberbootsman Becker by Stephen Mills tells of a soldier in WWII. Manages to convey how teachers we value in our lives, even though we might hate them at one point because they are hard on us, and how they stick with us. This was one of my favorites.
Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen told an extraordinarily touching intergenerational tale of a developing friendship and caring for a neighbor. Loved this one. Was really touching.
The 7th Dimension by Paul Sloop was one of the (well done) trippy stories that follows a couple in a twilight zone kind of story that brings new meaning to the term “exploring nature.”
L. Jay Mozdy’s Form gave me a surreal drive-thru experience. Been through one of those a time or two in my life so that was a wild literary ride for me.
Gaia by Casey Sloop offered a highly entertaining and imaginative tale of celestial humor.
I found J. Drew Brumbaugh's story, Isolation, a harrowing vicarious take of a man’s experience trying to endure a hurricane. Found it all too believable.
An anonymous writer supplied Something the Matter with Alpha Centauri, a 2001-esque sci-fi tale of resilience.
The Arrival by P.L. Tavormina provided me with a frightening yet moving tale about a disease and its affects on those it leaves behind—one way or another.
I liked Ville Kokko's Scars, a tragic story about discovering more about a beloved spouse.
Sherri Moorer's Light got right to the point and was really good. It tells a story about the people affected by a lockdown in a hospital.
Saj Brodie's Digital Nomad had a trippy tech feel to it that really made me think about life and existence and how some people function on a whole other level within yet outside societal norms.
Thor Carlsson's The Aviary delivered a pretty powerful emotional gut punch that left me reeling right at the end. Liked this one a lot.
I liked M.L. Roberts' The Morpheus Tower. It was a cool story with magic. I’m always a sucker for those!
Carolyn Geduld's Who Shall Profit offered a thriller-esque story about a tensions in a ghostwriting agreement and other precognitive services being offered.
The ambitious Faith Jones added her own story (in addition to all work putting this volume out I must say—quite amazing) with Genealogy Club. Interesting perspective on human interaction and—I suppose—development. I’ll never look at labwork the same way again!
In A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake, by Leticia Toracia, gives you just a little taste of a sci-fi story with a dragon. It left me wanting to read more. Hopefully someday I will.
Then, Time Out by Eileen Moynihan just emotionally knocked me on my butt. As a guy who’s obsessively worked on jigsaw puzzles a time or two and loves their spouse, this one, I thought was so good it kind of left me speechless. Boy, I sure hope someday there’s more coming from this writer.
And then I really enjoyed the classic style sci-fi story, Help Us, by Jim Hamilton. Kind a of cool take on first contact with aliens.
I found Julia Davenport’s Lunar Illusion had a chilling and tragic sort of tone to it. Well done story taking place in an asylum.
The stories ostensibly end with a second well written disaster story, The Final Chapter by Hakon Gunnarsson. At least he had some “chemical” help to ease the situation.
The book then kindly gives the author bios and then Perry Lake had a sort of after credits story that continued the vamper v. wolf storyline. That was an interesting touch how Faith did that.
Why I Personally Think This Book Matters
Life often is difficult, horrifying, and uncertain.
But sometimes we can show each other that we care, will support each other, and most importantly persevere and carry on.
Maybe this humble compendium of stories won’t make it into the annals of the greatest literature ever. But they are very good and represent one of the greatest traits we as people can have. A willingness and determination to see ourselves through this. For my money, a bunch of people willing to press on and do what they love and tell stories—which is ultimately a reflection of the human condition—despite everything going on right now earns this book five stars from me for a job well done.
Read
April 28, 2022I think that in my mind this anthology will always be connected to Covid-19, and it was obviously written during that time, but in fact most of the stories have nothing to do with that, some are funny, some scary, exciting, or touching.
Like with other books that I have stories in I will not rate this one, but in my view this was a very well edited anthology, with a lot of good stories. I have my favourites, "Lockdown Hero" by Jenny Torniainen for example is a great one.
My story is called "The Final Chapter". It's not a about Covid-19, but when I read it a year after publication I was struck by the mood of it which speaks volumes about the time it was written, the tone is more apocalyptic than comic which my stories often are. I'm bias, obviously, but I like this book, and not just because it has one of my stories in it.
Like with other books that I have stories in I will not rate this one, but in my view this was a very well edited anthology, with a lot of good stories. I have my favourites, "Lockdown Hero" by Jenny Torniainen for example is a great one.
My story is called "The Final Chapter". It's not a about Covid-19, but when I read it a year after publication I was struck by the mood of it which speaks volumes about the time it was written, the tone is more apocalyptic than comic which my stories often are. I'm bias, obviously, but I like this book, and not just because it has one of my stories in it.
July 3, 2021
The best anthology I've ever worked on. // Update! // I thought you might like to hear that for the authors who opted into making an audio version of their Writers in Lockdown story, those have now been made and put on the 'Writers in Lockdown' YouTube channel. Please leave comments! The full menu is here: https://havingfaith.medium.com/audiob...
July 9, 2020
This is what a set of short stories should be like, where you read a good one and then the next good one rolls through like a wave up the beach, suggesting another and another queuing up behind. It’s unfair to pick out a few for special mention but I’d say for me the most edgy and haunting is RN40 by Magnus Stanke, which reads like an episode of The Twilight Zone, although The Aviary comes close with its flinch for an ending, then the most touching experience is Jenny Torniainen’s suburban tale Lockdown Hero. The stories which read like the first chapter of a novel I’d want to continue reading are Blood Curse by Perry Lake and The Hospitaller by Mike Sherer. I very much appreciated Gaia and also The 7th Dimension, by Casey and Paul Sloop, respectively, because those followed the classic theme of secret worlds behind this one, which always works so well in fiction. I do like a bit of new mythology. The book has a lot of choice so is just the thing for anyone who enjoyed The Arabian Nights when they were younger. I think it counterpoints a generous list of thrilling and fantastic stories on one hand with a few notes of melancholy around human nature on the other, which left me with a feeling of having passed through a conflicting spectrum of emotions. Comedy and tragedy are said to be two sides of the same coin. I’m going to read this book again but methodically in the order that was intended in paperback, not jumping around between stories in the ebook which made me feel I might have missed something.
July 3, 2020
An interesting read with a wide variety of stories to suite all tastes. You will enjoy this eclectic array of stories and perspectives from writers creating new work during the pandemic.
July 19, 2020
I really enjoyed "Writers in Lockdown", a compilation of shorts from various writers from around the globe. The stories are thoughtful and humorous: a couple on a harmless nature hike who wind up in the 7th dimension, an angel of a sorts whose job it is to save people—until it's time to pass that torch to another; a couple of naughty students who create a fake Celtic dialect. The stories are warm and imaginative, with a pastiche of unusual characters and themes. The entire collection is well worth a read.
July 13, 2020
(Confession: I'm one of the authors listed herein. My review is about the other stories in the book.)
“Lockdown” has something for everyone, ranging from sword & sorcery to science-fiction, from horror to humor, and from fantasy to modern suspense. Although the anthology has no particular theme beyond the time period in which it was written, the events of our time made its way into six of the stories.
Here are some gems that stand out:
The Trout Ticklers: Well, a 74-word, run-on sentence is perhaps not the best way to begin any story, let alone a book. That's a shame, because there's a real charm to the opening story in this collection and its characters. I especially love the way the little girl Fen speaks, jumping from one sentence to another without being broken up into paragraphs, just as a child her age would speak.
Mad Language Broadcasting: This bemusing tale of a couple of slackers who invent their own language seems to end abruptly. My copy skips from page 57 to page 65, but I'm not sure that's an error. It's a shame, because these two scoundrels and their love interest are fun—though I can't help but be reminded of Beavis, Butthead, and Daria. (The editor has been notified of the technical error and apparently the Kindle version is being updated. I've been given the final third of the story and it's just as fun and charming as the first part.)
RN40: A road trip in the Patagonian highlands goes bad when three fratboys have a run-in with a nocturnal inhabitant. Bonus points for leaving the mystery intact.
Oberbootsman Becker: The horrors of war come vividly to life in this tale of a Unterseeboot during the Great War, over one hundred years ago.
Lockdown Hero: Here's a story about the actual quarantine of 2020, comparing our trials to an earlier tribulation. Told from a child's POV, it's scary, hopeful, and even charming.
Scars: In a medieval realm, with curses and evil plots, the somewhat thick hero, Erdinan must learn the dark secret his new bride holds. Points just for this line: “He held his hands in front of him and his fingers danced together like spider legs.” Plus the ending is nicely asymmetrical for most Sword & Sorcery tales.
The Aviary: A very different tale of abuse and healing, nicely done.
Who Shall Profit: The coronavirus is a bargaining chip in a duel of two opportunists. This is so clever, I wish I'd thought of it. But the story sets up an outcome that's never resolved.
Genealogy Club: A quirky and inventive piece about fame, arrogance, deceit, cold-hearted science, even colder business practices, and maybe maternal instincts. Told in a unique style, it's well worth a look
Help Us: Shipwrecked visitors from an alien world must look to a Ufologist to help them. Amusing and clever.
A very few of the stories didn't work that well for me, but everyone is different and you might consider them gems. It's well worth a look.
4.5 stars, rounded up for having heart.
“Lockdown” has something for everyone, ranging from sword & sorcery to science-fiction, from horror to humor, and from fantasy to modern suspense. Although the anthology has no particular theme beyond the time period in which it was written, the events of our time made its way into six of the stories.
Here are some gems that stand out:
The Trout Ticklers: Well, a 74-word, run-on sentence is perhaps not the best way to begin any story, let alone a book. That's a shame, because there's a real charm to the opening story in this collection and its characters. I especially love the way the little girl Fen speaks, jumping from one sentence to another without being broken up into paragraphs, just as a child her age would speak.
Mad Language Broadcasting: This bemusing tale of a couple of slackers who invent their own language seems to end abruptly. My copy skips from page 57 to page 65, but I'm not sure that's an error. It's a shame, because these two scoundrels and their love interest are fun—though I can't help but be reminded of Beavis, Butthead, and Daria. (The editor has been notified of the technical error and apparently the Kindle version is being updated. I've been given the final third of the story and it's just as fun and charming as the first part.)
RN40: A road trip in the Patagonian highlands goes bad when three fratboys have a run-in with a nocturnal inhabitant. Bonus points for leaving the mystery intact.
Oberbootsman Becker: The horrors of war come vividly to life in this tale of a Unterseeboot during the Great War, over one hundred years ago.
Lockdown Hero: Here's a story about the actual quarantine of 2020, comparing our trials to an earlier tribulation. Told from a child's POV, it's scary, hopeful, and even charming.
Scars: In a medieval realm, with curses and evil plots, the somewhat thick hero, Erdinan must learn the dark secret his new bride holds. Points just for this line: “He held his hands in front of him and his fingers danced together like spider legs.” Plus the ending is nicely asymmetrical for most Sword & Sorcery tales.
The Aviary: A very different tale of abuse and healing, nicely done.
Who Shall Profit: The coronavirus is a bargaining chip in a duel of two opportunists. This is so clever, I wish I'd thought of it. But the story sets up an outcome that's never resolved.
Genealogy Club: A quirky and inventive piece about fame, arrogance, deceit, cold-hearted science, even colder business practices, and maybe maternal instincts. Told in a unique style, it's well worth a look
Help Us: Shipwrecked visitors from an alien world must look to a Ufologist to help them. Amusing and clever.
A very few of the stories didn't work that well for me, but everyone is different and you might consider them gems. It's well worth a look.
4.5 stars, rounded up for having heart.
July 16, 2020
This is a wonderful collection of short stories made all the more amazing because all of them were written within the span of about 60 days while much of the world was confined to home. Since each author had total freedom to write whatever they wanted, this is an eclectic collection and only a few of the stories are connected to the corona virus pandemic. Just about every genre you can think of is represented and there isn’t a clinker in the lot, though there were one or two that I thought could be longer works because the ending left enough unsaid that I didn’t think the story was over.
I won’t comment on my own story or that of either family member who also had stories included. Here are thoughts on a few that I especially liked.
“Trout Ticklers” was a great start to the book. The whole idea of being able to tickle a trout set my imagination on overdrive. Having spent time trout fishing in various streams, this one hooked me from the beginning.
I loved “Mad Language Broadcasting.” The premise and conclusion were so unique and the story well told, that I couldn’t help chuckling throughout. Well, done.
“Oberbootsmann Becker” was for me one of the very best, a brutal take on war so well written that my stomach was churning as I read it. And the ending – well no spoilers – fitting and mind blowing.
“Lockdown Hero” was a cute story that reminded us of the good-news stories that have come out of the pandemic. People doing things to help others without expecting even a thank you. Inspiring.
“Something the Matter with Alpha Centari” reminded me a lot of scifi from a past era and though I did see the ending coming, it was a fun read.
“Digital Nomad” was another one that I liked, not for any particular reason, just because I found it entertaining and the character kind of likeable in an offbeat way.
“The Aviary” was interesting though again I saw the ending coming. Still written well enough to keep me reading and not feel cheated when the story ended as expected.
And there’s “A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake.” Short, quick to the point and just plain fun.
All in all, this book has got to be one of the better collections of short stories that’s come out recently. A huge kudo to the editor, Faith Jones. I don’t know how she managed to put together such a professional collection in such a short time.
I won’t comment on my own story or that of either family member who also had stories included. Here are thoughts on a few that I especially liked.
“Trout Ticklers” was a great start to the book. The whole idea of being able to tickle a trout set my imagination on overdrive. Having spent time trout fishing in various streams, this one hooked me from the beginning.
I loved “Mad Language Broadcasting.” The premise and conclusion were so unique and the story well told, that I couldn’t help chuckling throughout. Well, done.
“Oberbootsmann Becker” was for me one of the very best, a brutal take on war so well written that my stomach was churning as I read it. And the ending – well no spoilers – fitting and mind blowing.
“Lockdown Hero” was a cute story that reminded us of the good-news stories that have come out of the pandemic. People doing things to help others without expecting even a thank you. Inspiring.
“Something the Matter with Alpha Centari” reminded me a lot of scifi from a past era and though I did see the ending coming, it was a fun read.
“Digital Nomad” was another one that I liked, not for any particular reason, just because I found it entertaining and the character kind of likeable in an offbeat way.
“The Aviary” was interesting though again I saw the ending coming. Still written well enough to keep me reading and not feel cheated when the story ended as expected.
And there’s “A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake.” Short, quick to the point and just plain fun.
All in all, this book has got to be one of the better collections of short stories that’s come out recently. A huge kudo to the editor, Faith Jones. I don’t know how she managed to put together such a professional collection in such a short time.
October 25, 2020
An eclectic assortment of short stories
There were a few dozen tales in this collection. They ranged from bad to meh to great. I'm sure individual readers will find different stories belonging in each category. As a sci-fi and fantasy fan, my favorites were How the Raven Met the Angel, Isolation, The Morpheus Tower, and The Genealogy Club. Hands down, the most amazing story was Scars. It had the right mix of standard fantasy and realistic actions I enjoy. Congratulations to the authors who turned out These stories during the opening weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were a few dozen tales in this collection. They ranged from bad to meh to great. I'm sure individual readers will find different stories belonging in each category. As a sci-fi and fantasy fan, my favorites were How the Raven Met the Angel, Isolation, The Morpheus Tower, and The Genealogy Club. Hands down, the most amazing story was Scars. It had the right mix of standard fantasy and realistic actions I enjoy. Congratulations to the authors who turned out These stories during the opening weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 27, 2021
Some beautiful, stunning, thought-provoking, and very well-written short stories from some new and up-and-coming writers during lockdown. Read it in one night it was that engrossing. Have a read, you won't be disappointed by this pool of talent. Faith Jones has done a great job of putting this little gem of a book together.
August 3, 2020
This book is something that is quite hard to find. It is a collection of short stories that are not only all very good, but that cater for the likes of everyone. You discover stories of all genres that keep you turning the pages effortlessly. I would like to mention a few that stood out for me in particular. The first was Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres, this story is about two students who have the bright idea to create a made up language to broadcast on a show and make some money. Hilarity ensues, as quite unexpectedly the show becomes a hit, and scrutiny into their language follows. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s wonderful humour, style of writing, and the concept of it all.
Another story that I really enjoyed was, Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen. It is told from the viewpoint of ten year old Danny. It is a more current account of things and tells how Danny, who is worried about his elderly neighbour Eileen who lives on her own, starts to write letters to her. It is wonderfully written and really pulls at your heart strings. It seems to capture what is good about our world in the most beautiful way.
Other mentions go to The Aviary by Thor S. Carlsson, which is a thought provoking, sad but fantastically written story. RN40 by Magnus Stanke, brought intrigue and suspense. It is based in Patagonia, and having been there myself, it was described perfectly! I also found the writing of The Trout Ticklers by Kristyna Corres absolutely breathtaking, what a fantastic piece of literature!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. The above are just a few of the excellent stories included.
Another story that I really enjoyed was, Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen. It is told from the viewpoint of ten year old Danny. It is a more current account of things and tells how Danny, who is worried about his elderly neighbour Eileen who lives on her own, starts to write letters to her. It is wonderfully written and really pulls at your heart strings. It seems to capture what is good about our world in the most beautiful way.
Other mentions go to The Aviary by Thor S. Carlsson, which is a thought provoking, sad but fantastically written story. RN40 by Magnus Stanke, brought intrigue and suspense. It is based in Patagonia, and having been there myself, it was described perfectly! I also found the writing of The Trout Ticklers by Kristyna Corres absolutely breathtaking, what a fantastic piece of literature!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. The above are just a few of the excellent stories included.
August 15, 2020
Disclaimer - my rating doesn't apply to my own story in this collection, naturally.
Another disclaimer - I'm still in the middle of reading these, and they're swell. Faith Jones did an amazing job finding the authors, the stories and putting it all together. There's no underlying, unifying theme other than that all the entries were written during lockdown, but somehow it jells beautifully.
PS. I've finished the book, all of them. Every time I went down to the beach this summer I read a few. Naturally I liked some more than others, but I'm properly impressed with the width and the scope of themes, writers and genres that are assembled under this roof. While I certainly don't hope there'll be the necessity for a sequel (I mean another lockdown...) I actually feel inspired and can't get back to writing again.
Another disclaimer - I'm still in the middle of reading these, and they're swell. Faith Jones did an amazing job finding the authors, the stories and putting it all together. There's no underlying, unifying theme other than that all the entries were written during lockdown, but somehow it jells beautifully.
PS. I've finished the book, all of them. Every time I went down to the beach this summer I read a few. Naturally I liked some more than others, but I'm properly impressed with the width and the scope of themes, writers and genres that are assembled under this roof. While I certainly don't hope there'll be the necessity for a sequel (I mean another lockdown...) I actually feel inspired and can't get back to writing again.
February 28, 2021
An enjoyable read - pick what you like, lots of variety...
My favorite story was Hákon Gunnarsson's Final Chapter. I look forward to reading more of his stories. This book is just packed full of all kinds of short stories. Interesting!
My favorite story was Hákon Gunnarsson's Final Chapter. I look forward to reading more of his stories. This book is just packed full of all kinds of short stories. Interesting!
December 27, 2020
Wow - this collection of short stories was amazing! There were only 2 or 3 I didn't care for, but they were all well written. A few of them I wanted to continue reading - they should be developed into novels. A few blew me away.
August 11, 2020
Writers in Lockdown is a collection of twenty-eight short stories (all written from late March to late June 2020) written during the Coronavirus outbreak and whilst everyone was required to stay at home for a lockdown period. These short stories are not necessarily about the pandemic but are from a range of genres like horror, thriller, comedy, drama, and many more. Considering this short story anthology was written within a span of sixty days, it is a great piece of literature! There is truly something for everyone in this anthology, and I would highly recommend it to everyone regardless of your book preferences.
All of the short stories are unique gems in their individual way, and some people will prefer certain stories over others due to their genre preferences. For me, some stood out more than others - Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen, Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres, and Who Shall Profit by Carolyn Geduld.
Mad Language Broadcasting is a story about two students who create their own Celtic language to broadcast on a TV show which becomes successful! This story is humorous and an odd concept that is extremely entertaining. The students even come under legal examination! The story ends rather suddenly and you will be left wanting more. Overall, this story feels warm and is hilarious - something to keep you distracted away from Coronavirus!
Lockdown Hero is about a ten-year-old boy named Danny who writes to his elderly neighbor during the lockdown period. Danny and his family deal with relatable problems, and this story is hopeful yet scary. Danny’s neighbor Eileen grew up during World War 2 and she details her experiences to Danny, they start a beautiful friendship and it is truly heart-warming to read about cross-generational relationships as they relate to each other.
Who Shall Profit is an interesting short story that centers around a professor (who is aging but has struggled with his sexuality) and a ghostwriter. The ghostwriter - Larry - is a source to the professor about different milestones in the Coronavirus pandemic like when the first case will occur, when the university should close, when there will be a statewide lockdown. However, the information comes at a price… The story ends unresolved, but it will stick in your mind long after you have finished it.
All in all, I think everyone should get their hands on a copy of this short story anthology, there is truly something for everyone in it. It goes from one wonderful story to the next, and the quality of all of the stories are consistent and personality oozes from each character.
All of the short stories are unique gems in their individual way, and some people will prefer certain stories over others due to their genre preferences. For me, some stood out more than others - Lockdown Hero by Jenny Torniainen, Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres, and Who Shall Profit by Carolyn Geduld.
Mad Language Broadcasting is a story about two students who create their own Celtic language to broadcast on a TV show which becomes successful! This story is humorous and an odd concept that is extremely entertaining. The students even come under legal examination! The story ends rather suddenly and you will be left wanting more. Overall, this story feels warm and is hilarious - something to keep you distracted away from Coronavirus!
Lockdown Hero is about a ten-year-old boy named Danny who writes to his elderly neighbor during the lockdown period. Danny and his family deal with relatable problems, and this story is hopeful yet scary. Danny’s neighbor Eileen grew up during World War 2 and she details her experiences to Danny, they start a beautiful friendship and it is truly heart-warming to read about cross-generational relationships as they relate to each other.
Who Shall Profit is an interesting short story that centers around a professor (who is aging but has struggled with his sexuality) and a ghostwriter. The ghostwriter - Larry - is a source to the professor about different milestones in the Coronavirus pandemic like when the first case will occur, when the university should close, when there will be a statewide lockdown. However, the information comes at a price… The story ends unresolved, but it will stick in your mind long after you have finished it.
All in all, I think everyone should get their hands on a copy of this short story anthology, there is truly something for everyone in it. It goes from one wonderful story to the next, and the quality of all of the stories are consistent and personality oozes from each character.
June 26, 2023
This collection of more than two dozen short stories contains a great variety of tales: from sci-fi to contemporary (a few even set during the pandemic) to paranormal, from historical fiction to horror (with perhaps even a ghost story) to humor. There didn’t seem to be any single overriding theme, although many of the stories contained elements of love, loss, perseverance, and survival, as well as mental/physical health (or lack thereof) and considerations of people's perceptions of things.
While a few of the stories read more like vignettes or just the beginnings of longer works rather than complete short stories, all of them were entertaining and each one was unique. Some that particularly stood out for me were: "The Trout Ticklers" by Kristýna Corres (beauty in everyday things, wonderful imagery and words), "Mad Language Broadcasting" by Adam Corres (imaginative and humorous), "Oberbootsman Becker" by Stephen Mills (a tense, historical war story), "Lockdown Hero" by Jenny Torniainen (valuable learning during the pandemic), "Gaia" by Casey D. Sloop (a very different view of the pandemic), "Isolation" by J. Drew Brumbaugh (a harrowing experience), "The Arrival" by P.L. Tavormina (a gentle story about different kinds of love (and an author whose writing I've enjoyed before)), and "A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake" by Leticia Toraci (a different sci-fi tale (that had me shouting "Yes!" toward the end)).
Overall, this collection is an entertaining read and a wonderful way to sample the writings of authors that might be new-to-you to find some new favorites. I know I've found some new-to-me authors whose other works I want to read.
While a few of the stories read more like vignettes or just the beginnings of longer works rather than complete short stories, all of them were entertaining and each one was unique. Some that particularly stood out for me were: "The Trout Ticklers" by Kristýna Corres (beauty in everyday things, wonderful imagery and words), "Mad Language Broadcasting" by Adam Corres (imaginative and humorous), "Oberbootsman Becker" by Stephen Mills (a tense, historical war story), "Lockdown Hero" by Jenny Torniainen (valuable learning during the pandemic), "Gaia" by Casey D. Sloop (a very different view of the pandemic), "Isolation" by J. Drew Brumbaugh (a harrowing experience), "The Arrival" by P.L. Tavormina (a gentle story about different kinds of love (and an author whose writing I've enjoyed before)), and "A Glorious Piece of Chocolate Cake" by Leticia Toraci (a different sci-fi tale (that had me shouting "Yes!" toward the end)).
Overall, this collection is an entertaining read and a wonderful way to sample the writings of authors that might be new-to-you to find some new favorites. I know I've found some new-to-me authors whose other works I want to read.
August 12, 2020
First a disclaimer. This is a collection of 27 short stories written in the days of the COVID-19 lock-down. One of the stories, "Adoption," was written by yours truly. I won't tell you what I think of that story. (Take a wild guess.) This review is about the other 26.
The project was initiated by editor and author Faith Jones, who wanted to capture a snapshot of what authors were thinking and writing about during the lock-down. However, the stories are not about the pandemic, although a few of them do use it as a backdrop. Rather, they run the gamut from mainstream to horror to science fiction. Some are serious, some humorous, some terrifying, some sweet. You get a little bit of everything here. The ideas and situations are all unique and interesting, and on the whole the stories are well-told.
That said, we are all indie authors, and as one might expect the quality of the writing varies from story to story. I didn't find any painful writing here, but in some cases I thought it could have been better. (I might even make an edit or two to my story before it goes anywhere else.) That didn't detract too much from the overall experience, though, and I'm happy to give the collection four stars and a recommendation to anyone who likes to read a variety of genres or who might be interested in seeing what "quarantined" writers get up to.
The project was initiated by editor and author Faith Jones, who wanted to capture a snapshot of what authors were thinking and writing about during the lock-down. However, the stories are not about the pandemic, although a few of them do use it as a backdrop. Rather, they run the gamut from mainstream to horror to science fiction. Some are serious, some humorous, some terrifying, some sweet. You get a little bit of everything here. The ideas and situations are all unique and interesting, and on the whole the stories are well-told.
That said, we are all indie authors, and as one might expect the quality of the writing varies from story to story. I didn't find any painful writing here, but in some cases I thought it could have been better. (I might even make an edit or two to my story before it goes anywhere else.) That didn't detract too much from the overall experience, though, and I'm happy to give the collection four stars and a recommendation to anyone who likes to read a variety of genres or who might be interested in seeing what "quarantined" writers get up to.
January 4, 2021
Everyone spent their "lockdown" doing different things. For one group of writers it was an opportunity to come together and provide a smorgasbord of tales from the imagination.
If you like short stories, then this is a great collection to entertain you. Whatever your favorite genre, or taste in reading you are sure to find at least one story here you will like, if not more, and having read one or two, you will definitely feel compelled to read the rest.
A space faring pirate, stories of plague, happiness, confusion, an unhappy ending and success. This is an eclectic mix of short stories which have just two things in common.
They were written during lock down
They showcase the amazing raw talent of the authors within
The themes are eclectic and most do not speak directly about COVID, yet COVID feeds the imagination in more ways than the obvious. Some of the stories have a darkness in them that perhaps reflects that. On the other hand, some shine the light at the end of the tunnel and provide distracting entertainment. In particular, the one story that is directly set in COVID times is all about the small heroes of the world.
These writers have dug deep to entertain, enthuse, educate and thrill the audience with stories written, a great read to dip into or become engrossed in.
If you like short stories, then this is a great collection to entertain you. Whatever your favorite genre, or taste in reading you are sure to find at least one story here you will like, if not more, and having read one or two, you will definitely feel compelled to read the rest.
A space faring pirate, stories of plague, happiness, confusion, an unhappy ending and success. This is an eclectic mix of short stories which have just two things in common.
They were written during lock down
They showcase the amazing raw talent of the authors within
The themes are eclectic and most do not speak directly about COVID, yet COVID feeds the imagination in more ways than the obvious. Some of the stories have a darkness in them that perhaps reflects that. On the other hand, some shine the light at the end of the tunnel and provide distracting entertainment. In particular, the one story that is directly set in COVID times is all about the small heroes of the world.
These writers have dug deep to entertain, enthuse, educate and thrill the audience with stories written, a great read to dip into or become engrossed in.
September 16, 2020
A great collection of varied short stories. There are some lockdown themes for sure, but the stories are not all about lockdown. They offer something to most people from stories featuring trout to spacecraft, vampires to zombies, photochemicals to gods, the supernatural and people who can see the future, aliens to higher dimensional entities. They contain surprising plot twists, strong characters and nicely constructed stories. Some are very imaginative too, such as Mad Language Broadcasting by Adam Corres that features a made-up language and Genealogy Club by Faith Jones that explores a murky world of designer babies. I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2020
There is much more to it than what you see.
As a writer listed in this anthology, Writers in Lockdown, I first digitally met author, reviewer and editor Faith Jones on an obscure website, which was simply a list of links to book reviewers’ web sites. I submitted my first novel and there she was.
Some people can throw a 9 ¼ inch, 5 ¼ ounce sphere through a strike zone 60’ 6” away. Then there are those who can put enough speed and spin on such a sphere that it flies, literally flies through the zone; an 18,900-pound jet rocketing through the sky, carrying someone’s hindquarters from the Mississippi Delta beyond a continent. This is what Faith Jones can do; what she can do with words that make ideas, images spinning in our thoughts, a reality.
Most people don’t get past the intricacies of quality between cookies on the shelf at Walmart. After reading the vast amount of reviews Faith Jones has published here on Goodreads, the conclusion has been that not only does this person care about and know the genres within Writers in Lockdown, she can read beyond the mere elements into the stories’ derivatives. Knowing the genres, the writers, the stories, recognizing originality, Faith Jones has done and does the incredible amount of work it takes to bring authors and their stories together, from all over the world, to this book, Writers in Lockdown. If we don’t recognize and express the value and dedication and knowledge of such a person and writer, we damn well better.
As an author, I’m very grateful to be a part of Writers in Lockdown among others who give us a place to put ourselves; real places to be that are beyond our four bare walls, if we even have those. “The Trout Ticklers” down here in Mississippi reach right in, wiggle a few fingers and pull catfish clean out of the water, truly. That “Something the Matter With Alpha Centauri” is certainly an aspect of this man’s life right about now. Yea, we write stories, stories like “Lunar Illusion,” where the pain, hate and loss is so great that it’s beyond our capacity. Spilling our minds’ illusions; we fight, we fight everything to win, win a life back that some don’t even want, because getting nothing is impossible. We do the work to get back up and reach for a moment without the pain and just…
This is where it starts. We are the passionate ones, who will never forget there is much more to it than what you see.
As a writer listed in this anthology, Writers in Lockdown, I first digitally met author, reviewer and editor Faith Jones on an obscure website, which was simply a list of links to book reviewers’ web sites. I submitted my first novel and there she was.
Some people can throw a 9 ¼ inch, 5 ¼ ounce sphere through a strike zone 60’ 6” away. Then there are those who can put enough speed and spin on such a sphere that it flies, literally flies through the zone; an 18,900-pound jet rocketing through the sky, carrying someone’s hindquarters from the Mississippi Delta beyond a continent. This is what Faith Jones can do; what she can do with words that make ideas, images spinning in our thoughts, a reality.
Most people don’t get past the intricacies of quality between cookies on the shelf at Walmart. After reading the vast amount of reviews Faith Jones has published here on Goodreads, the conclusion has been that not only does this person care about and know the genres within Writers in Lockdown, she can read beyond the mere elements into the stories’ derivatives. Knowing the genres, the writers, the stories, recognizing originality, Faith Jones has done and does the incredible amount of work it takes to bring authors and their stories together, from all over the world, to this book, Writers in Lockdown. If we don’t recognize and express the value and dedication and knowledge of such a person and writer, we damn well better.
As an author, I’m very grateful to be a part of Writers in Lockdown among others who give us a place to put ourselves; real places to be that are beyond our four bare walls, if we even have those. “The Trout Ticklers” down here in Mississippi reach right in, wiggle a few fingers and pull catfish clean out of the water, truly. That “Something the Matter With Alpha Centauri” is certainly an aspect of this man’s life right about now. Yea, we write stories, stories like “Lunar Illusion,” where the pain, hate and loss is so great that it’s beyond our capacity. Spilling our minds’ illusions; we fight, we fight everything to win, win a life back that some don’t even want, because getting nothing is impossible. We do the work to get back up and reach for a moment without the pain and just…
This is where it starts. We are the passionate ones, who will never forget there is much more to it than what you see.
November 21, 2020
Although I did not read all the stories in this anthology (I seldom read all of the stories in any anthology), the ones I did read were of superb literary quality. Highly recommended for those wanting to read excellent prose by talented authors.
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July 8, 2021I won't give this a star rating because I'm one of the contributors, but I can tell you what I think.
This is an interesting collection of quite different stories written during lockdown, and a few of them are about it, too, though most aren't. One thing very nearly all the stories have in common in my opinion is that they show promise but all are still missing something in terms of premise or execution or both. (That's also kind of how I felt about my own story "Scars" when I sent it in, but I won't say anything more about that other than that if you get the feeling there are a lot of commas missing in this version, I'd agree with you.) Still, I did enjoy reading the book almost all the time.
In a couple of positive highlights: The best story is clearly "Lockdown Hero", which is about ordinary people during the lockdown; in contrast with what I said above, it feels totally professional and finished. My favourite might still be "Mad Language Broadcasting". Even though it needs a bit of polishing - the witty language trips over itself and becomes confusing, and the conclusion comes too hastily - it sounds like the author is going to be a hilarious humorous writer with a bit more practice. I do realise I'm saying that about someone whose bio indicates him to be much more experienced than myself.
This is an interesting collection of quite different stories written during lockdown, and a few of them are about it, too, though most aren't. One thing very nearly all the stories have in common in my opinion is that they show promise but all are still missing something in terms of premise or execution or both. (That's also kind of how I felt about my own story "Scars" when I sent it in, but I won't say anything more about that other than that if you get the feeling there are a lot of commas missing in this version, I'd agree with you.) Still, I did enjoy reading the book almost all the time.
In a couple of positive highlights: The best story is clearly "Lockdown Hero", which is about ordinary people during the lockdown; in contrast with what I said above, it feels totally professional and finished. My favourite might still be "Mad Language Broadcasting". Even though it needs a bit of polishing - the witty language trips over itself and becomes confusing, and the conclusion comes too hastily - it sounds like the author is going to be a hilarious humorous writer with a bit more practice. I do realise I'm saying that about someone whose bio indicates him to be much more experienced than myself.
October 12, 2020
According to Goodreads, "Writers in Lockdown is an anthology of fiction short stories, not about the coronavirus itself but representing a broad range of genres and subjects, all written when their authors were confined at home during the first three months of ‘lockdown’, from late March to late June 2020. "
These contributors came from all over the world and certainly accomplished more during lockdown than I did. I liked the length and variety of stories, but none stood out as something I'd like to reread. I was disappointed in most of the story endings.
These contributors came from all over the world and certainly accomplished more during lockdown than I did. I liked the length and variety of stories, but none stood out as something I'd like to reread. I was disappointed in most of the story endings.
December 17, 2021
A Reflection on Isolation
At least I assume that isolation is what these stories have in common. Whatever the genre, and these stories pretty much run the gamut, they are vignettes with no real beginning and no resolution. They're also almost uniformly depressing. Again, that could be a reflection of the writers' state of mind. Most of them also need the services of a good proofreader and copy editor.
At least I assume that isolation is what these stories have in common. Whatever the genre, and these stories pretty much run the gamut, they are vignettes with no real beginning and no resolution. They're also almost uniformly depressing. Again, that could be a reflection of the writers' state of mind. Most of them also need the services of a good proofreader and copy editor.
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