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Around the Dark Dial: Science fiction, Horror, and Mystery Short Stories
Take a trip around the dark dial with eleven original and thought-provoking short stories that invoke the wonder and mystery of old-time radio dramas. Forget all that you know about modern sci-fi. In Around the Dark Dial, it’s all about the unexpected."Around the Dark Dial is good old-fashioned science fiction, full of twists and surprises and the sense of wonder, but leavened with modern sensibilities – there's a lot to recommend here, with stories ranging from the present day to the far future, from the promise of new technology to the dystopic future we all dread." - David Wellington, author of The Last Astronaut.Around the Dark Dial is a collection of 11 science fiction stories in an ode to Old-Time Radio There – 100 years ago the Yellowstone super volcano exploded, only to be contained by a mysterious field that blocked off the area. Now the field is fading, and a top military team is going in to explore. Caller Four – A late night radio program takes phone calls on alien abductions, with frightening results.The Simulant – A loner sentient AI named Haro is caught up in the investigation of a recent Mossback eco-terrorist attack. (This story is collected to J.D. Sanderson's A Footstep Echo series)Headline – A rookie newspaper reporter in the 1950's investigates government corruption with possible alien connections.Daughter – A desperate father races to save his daughter who was left inexplicably on the side of a cliff by their neighbor.Hello Again – A team encounters what might be a new form of life in Yellowstone park.The Snowstorm – An elderly nurse meets a young man who is desperate to keep his baby safe from plagues that have depopulated much of the planet.The Circus Peanut Gallery – A Mumbai scientist fits several animals with communication devices, with hilarious results.Rearing – Two sentient AIs are activated. One is raised in a lab, and one is raised with a family.Choice – A young team at an astronomical observatory receive what could the first real concrete proof of extraterrestrial life.Welcome – A team of scientists try to find what happened to their friend who vanished while on an expedition for new life in Yellowstone park.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 30, 2023
Anthologies and short story collections really are great, aren’t they? I’ve come to enjoy them over the last couple of years, and it’s one of the more unexpected things to come out of my journey back into reading science fiction. Especially from fellow independent authors. There’s a goldmine of great ideas and exceptional work to be read, that all too often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson is another such work. The book is packed full of emotional, thought-provoking, poignant stories that evoke the classic feeling of something like the Twilight Zone, but through a modern lens.
I have to admit, I’m not familiar with the vibe of episodic radio dramas from the 1950s, which is mainly why I made the comparison to the Twilight Zone, which I am a little more knowledgeable about. So I can’t tell you if this short story collection fits in with that, but I feel like I got an inkling of it in some of the more historically set science fiction pieces - particularly in the story Headline, which was all about a reporter uncovering government corruption in the 1950s, or in the really creepy Caller Four.
The collection as a whole gave me the same feeling as when I played the videogame, Control, which was itself inspired by things like Twin Peaks and the Twilight Zone. A lot of the stories in the book focused on the smaller scale, around ordinary people dealing with extraordinary problems. There’s a lot of sci-fi staples like artificial intelligence and the friction of a co-existing android society, akin to something like Detroit: Become Human or the Will Smith I, Robot movie, or even the Million Machine March short from the Animatrix.
There’s also really fantastic first-contact story that evolves over the course of the book, interspersed with the one-shots. It evokes a strong ethereal sense of awe and wonder. I love it when short stories become otherworldly and almost abstract - like the beach aliens at start of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, or anything by Luc Besson, really. This is kind of what I mean when i describe things as “like a John Harris painting”.
One story in particular - Daughter - hit hard, emotionally. As a father to younger kids, I’ve found that I get choked up quite easily when these kinds of storylines pop up. Bravo for that one, it was very powerful.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Around the Dark Dial, and it gets a high recommendation from me.
I have to admit, I’m not familiar with the vibe of episodic radio dramas from the 1950s, which is mainly why I made the comparison to the Twilight Zone, which I am a little more knowledgeable about. So I can’t tell you if this short story collection fits in with that, but I feel like I got an inkling of it in some of the more historically set science fiction pieces - particularly in the story Headline, which was all about a reporter uncovering government corruption in the 1950s, or in the really creepy Caller Four.
The collection as a whole gave me the same feeling as when I played the videogame, Control, which was itself inspired by things like Twin Peaks and the Twilight Zone. A lot of the stories in the book focused on the smaller scale, around ordinary people dealing with extraordinary problems. There’s a lot of sci-fi staples like artificial intelligence and the friction of a co-existing android society, akin to something like Detroit: Become Human or the Will Smith I, Robot movie, or even the Million Machine March short from the Animatrix.
There’s also really fantastic first-contact story that evolves over the course of the book, interspersed with the one-shots. It evokes a strong ethereal sense of awe and wonder. I love it when short stories become otherworldly and almost abstract - like the beach aliens at start of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, or anything by Luc Besson, really. This is kind of what I mean when i describe things as “like a John Harris painting”.
One story in particular - Daughter - hit hard, emotionally. As a father to younger kids, I’ve found that I get choked up quite easily when these kinds of storylines pop up. Bravo for that one, it was very powerful.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Around the Dark Dial, and it gets a high recommendation from me.
December 29, 2020
More reviews at undertheradarsffbooks.com
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for a honest review. Around the Dark Dial is a collection of short stories containing elements of sci-fi, mystery, and thrillers. This was just the novel I needed to recharge my brain before continuing on with my big epic novels coming down the road. 2020 has affected us all in devastating ways including the publishing industry. The publisher for this book shut down and the author has taken it upon himself to relaunch his book with a second edition. I am honored to review this book and I will do everything I can to help indie authors achieve their goals, even if it is just one review at a time!
Around the Dark Dial consists of 11 short stories with each one flowing seamlessly into the next. The pacing of each story was excellent and I never got the feeling of being annoyed or sad that a story ended. I would like to quote the author and how he describes his work. “Take a trip around the dark dial with eleven original and thought-provoking short stories that invoke the wonder and mystery of old-time radio dramas. Forget all that you know about modern sci-fi. In Around the Dark Dial, it’s all about the unexpected.” I was floored at the creativity, care, and spooky moments J.D. Sanderson brings to the page and it only made me eager for the next installment.
I will briefly discuss my two favorite short stories of the 11 and they so happen to be the first and second stories on the book. The first story, Hello there, revolves around a man named Gerren entering a bio-dome type structure that has manifested out of the blue. He is tasked with taking samples and photographs of the environment until something catches his eye that only he can see. The thriller feeling I got reading this story was the equivalent of me reading a great mystery novel even if it was short lived. The second story, Caller four, revolves around a late night talk show host who runs a show where calls dial in to discuss spooky and unexplainable events. When one call dials in to discuss her weird experience, the host starts to hear a voice in his head to stop the interview and change topics. At first the host thinks it is his manager, but he soon discovers he may be hearing voices in his head. Are they friendly? You will have to read and find out!
There is an overlap in tone throughout the 11 stories and some of the stories have direct sequels in what the author has called his “hidden trilogy”. My mom always told me that the proof is in the pudding and J.D. Sanderson’s writing is all the proof I need to keep his novels on my radar for the foreseeable future! The holiday season may be behind us but if you have just one goal for the new year, let it be to support more indie authors. This novel is just over 200 pages and I finished it in no time at all. Give Around the Dark Dial a go and you will have a smashing time even if you have to keep the lights on to do it!
Cheers!
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for a honest review. Around the Dark Dial is a collection of short stories containing elements of sci-fi, mystery, and thrillers. This was just the novel I needed to recharge my brain before continuing on with my big epic novels coming down the road. 2020 has affected us all in devastating ways including the publishing industry. The publisher for this book shut down and the author has taken it upon himself to relaunch his book with a second edition. I am honored to review this book and I will do everything I can to help indie authors achieve their goals, even if it is just one review at a time!
Around the Dark Dial consists of 11 short stories with each one flowing seamlessly into the next. The pacing of each story was excellent and I never got the feeling of being annoyed or sad that a story ended. I would like to quote the author and how he describes his work. “Take a trip around the dark dial with eleven original and thought-provoking short stories that invoke the wonder and mystery of old-time radio dramas. Forget all that you know about modern sci-fi. In Around the Dark Dial, it’s all about the unexpected.” I was floored at the creativity, care, and spooky moments J.D. Sanderson brings to the page and it only made me eager for the next installment.
I will briefly discuss my two favorite short stories of the 11 and they so happen to be the first and second stories on the book. The first story, Hello there, revolves around a man named Gerren entering a bio-dome type structure that has manifested out of the blue. He is tasked with taking samples and photographs of the environment until something catches his eye that only he can see. The thriller feeling I got reading this story was the equivalent of me reading a great mystery novel even if it was short lived. The second story, Caller four, revolves around a late night talk show host who runs a show where calls dial in to discuss spooky and unexplainable events. When one call dials in to discuss her weird experience, the host starts to hear a voice in his head to stop the interview and change topics. At first the host thinks it is his manager, but he soon discovers he may be hearing voices in his head. Are they friendly? You will have to read and find out!
There is an overlap in tone throughout the 11 stories and some of the stories have direct sequels in what the author has called his “hidden trilogy”. My mom always told me that the proof is in the pudding and J.D. Sanderson’s writing is all the proof I need to keep his novels on my radar for the foreseeable future! The holiday season may be behind us but if you have just one goal for the new year, let it be to support more indie authors. This novel is just over 200 pages and I finished it in no time at all. Give Around the Dark Dial a go and you will have a smashing time even if you have to keep the lights on to do it!
Cheers!
December 24, 2020
I received an e-copy of Around The Dark Dial: Inspired by 1950’s Radio Dramas, authored by J. D. Sanderson, for review consideration ahead of its re-release in January of 2021, since 2020 has been cruel to, well, everything and everyone. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.
I rated this collection 5 stars. The foreword mentioned The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Star Trek while growing up. Mine was The Outer Limits and Tales From the Crypt. I would watch them on this 12” TV with foil wrapped bunny ears, late at night when they would have several in a row. It was heaven to me growing up.
HELLO THERE
This brought to mind The Southern Reach Trilogy, authored by Jeff VanderMeer, in that there is a barrier from unknown origin, and within, our world has been changed. This read more as science fiction than horror, which The Southern Reach Trilogy leaned into.
CALLER FOUR
X-Files! I completely forgot about the X-Files, and this had that feel, that vibe. And that truthful reality that if you poke at something, and it’s badder than you...
THE SIMULANT
That there can be so many stories showing the mistrust people can have against someone/thing different than them is sad because of how steeped in truth they are; will we ever evolve past this?
HEADLINE
I had chills by the end of this one.
DAUGHTER
And I got a bit sniffly during this one; wonderfully written, one of my favorite.
HELLO AGAIN
This is connected to Hello There and Welcome, creating the only serial type story in this collection. We learn more about what moves within the barrier. Another favorite of mine.
THE SNOWSTORM
My absolute favorite, also the most terrifying. Think Nick Cutter’s The Acolyte scary.
THE CIRCUS PEANUT GALLERY
I thought it was such a lovely idea, but by the end was left feeling that humanity as a whole was once again failing this big exam.
REARING
Nature vs. Nurture isn’t the correct way to label this, but it’s the closest I can come up with at the moment. Another favorite.
CHOICE
Loved this one too, I know which way I would decide but can understand the other side as well. Maybe if I get old enough, or see enough, my choice would be different, you never know.
WELCOME
The end of the serial story, at least in this publication. It made me think of how we would have reacted, as a people, in their place. Would we have been so stalwart in fixing our mistake when no one could point fingers?
I rated this collection 5 stars. The foreword mentioned The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Star Trek while growing up. Mine was The Outer Limits and Tales From the Crypt. I would watch them on this 12” TV with foil wrapped bunny ears, late at night when they would have several in a row. It was heaven to me growing up.
HELLO THERE
This brought to mind The Southern Reach Trilogy, authored by Jeff VanderMeer, in that there is a barrier from unknown origin, and within, our world has been changed. This read more as science fiction than horror, which The Southern Reach Trilogy leaned into.
CALLER FOUR
X-Files! I completely forgot about the X-Files, and this had that feel, that vibe. And that truthful reality that if you poke at something, and it’s badder than you...
THE SIMULANT
That there can be so many stories showing the mistrust people can have against someone/thing different than them is sad because of how steeped in truth they are; will we ever evolve past this?
HEADLINE
I had chills by the end of this one.
DAUGHTER
And I got a bit sniffly during this one; wonderfully written, one of my favorite.
HELLO AGAIN
This is connected to Hello There and Welcome, creating the only serial type story in this collection. We learn more about what moves within the barrier. Another favorite of mine.
THE SNOWSTORM
My absolute favorite, also the most terrifying. Think Nick Cutter’s The Acolyte scary.
THE CIRCUS PEANUT GALLERY
I thought it was such a lovely idea, but by the end was left feeling that humanity as a whole was once again failing this big exam.
REARING
Nature vs. Nurture isn’t the correct way to label this, but it’s the closest I can come up with at the moment. Another favorite.
CHOICE
Loved this one too, I know which way I would decide but can understand the other side as well. Maybe if I get old enough, or see enough, my choice would be different, you never know.
WELCOME
The end of the serial story, at least in this publication. It made me think of how we would have reacted, as a people, in their place. Would we have been so stalwart in fixing our mistake when no one could point fingers?
October 30, 2021
I remember reading Ray Bradbury as a kid and being totally captivated. That rush of immediate childish wonder - of starry nights and worlds out there to be discovered, and lurking in the sidelines, the terror of the unknown, the darkly magical, and just what could be out there, waiting.
The same Bradbury-infused mood, harkening back to the flip-flopping of fear and awe the newness of technology and space travel inspired in the fifties and sixties, permeates this terrific anthology of eleven speculative/science fiction stories. The technology focused on in this collection, mainly concerns AI - and man’s attempts to control, harness, dominate or destroy that which we do not understand. The author smoothly draws parallels into AI’s inevitable overlap with alien intelligence, and the possibilities raised by other worlds populated by fiercely capable alien creatures who, in a heartbeat - could welcome or annihilate us.
The stories are loosely bound by these fascinating themes, as well as the broader question of communication - how do we, (will we, can we) reach out and connect with other intelligences (alien, artificial, and in one of my very favorite stories, every-day animals, who are surprisingly and oh so charmingly, articulate) , and if we could just put aside our fear, what common bonds, including the emotive, are to be found? Or, what, as may be more likely, are we on a trajectory to mess up entirely?
An offshoot theme, and certainly a timely one, concerns “fake news”, and other forms of coercive and distorted “scientific” communication gone wild. The world expressed by the author is truly disturbing, and sadly, not all that improbable.
I loved these stories, losing myself entirely to a wonderfully nostalgic journey into imagined worlds where science and magic both chill and inspire.
A big thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
The same Bradbury-infused mood, harkening back to the flip-flopping of fear and awe the newness of technology and space travel inspired in the fifties and sixties, permeates this terrific anthology of eleven speculative/science fiction stories. The technology focused on in this collection, mainly concerns AI - and man’s attempts to control, harness, dominate or destroy that which we do not understand. The author smoothly draws parallels into AI’s inevitable overlap with alien intelligence, and the possibilities raised by other worlds populated by fiercely capable alien creatures who, in a heartbeat - could welcome or annihilate us.
The stories are loosely bound by these fascinating themes, as well as the broader question of communication - how do we, (will we, can we) reach out and connect with other intelligences (alien, artificial, and in one of my very favorite stories, every-day animals, who are surprisingly and oh so charmingly, articulate) , and if we could just put aside our fear, what common bonds, including the emotive, are to be found? Or, what, as may be more likely, are we on a trajectory to mess up entirely?
An offshoot theme, and certainly a timely one, concerns “fake news”, and other forms of coercive and distorted “scientific” communication gone wild. The world expressed by the author is truly disturbing, and sadly, not all that improbable.
I loved these stories, losing myself entirely to a wonderfully nostalgic journey into imagined worlds where science and magic both chill and inspire.
A big thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
April 27, 2025
To me, the best science-fiction postulates the positive and negatives of the future it’s portraying, and both are explored well in AROUND THE DARK DIAL, eleven short stories from J.D. Sanderson that, as intended, feel like scripted dramas from the classic age of the radio play, or early science-fiction anthology television. In fact, reading this book felt like watching an early season of The Twilight Zone.
Of the eleven stories, I have a few favourites. DAUGHTER, one of the most poignant of all the tales, expresses what lengths a father would go to if there was ever a need to do something… radical… to protect his daughter.
I also enjoyed SNOWSTORM. Perhaps the grimmest and one of the most well written of the stories, it shows a future where populism drives behaviour, for better or worse. A prescient telegraphing of today's global geopolitical climate.
THE CIRCUS PEANUT GALLERY, another favourite, is a smart and concise exploration of a possible future where humans and animals can communicate, and a real glimpse of the potential complexities that this would bring to our door.
In REARING, Sanderson channels his inner Asimov as experimental robots become sentient and contemplate the Zeroth law of robotics, which defines perhaps how robots understand that humanity may not be the best arbiter of it’s own future.
The stories in this anthology open the doors briefly to existential questions about humanity, our technological future, and the importance of predicting the emotional rollercoaster humanity is on, as we venture into these new technological territories. J.D. Sanderson is an ideas man, this book proves it, and I’m very much looking forward to investigating more of his work.
Of the eleven stories, I have a few favourites. DAUGHTER, one of the most poignant of all the tales, expresses what lengths a father would go to if there was ever a need to do something… radical… to protect his daughter.
I also enjoyed SNOWSTORM. Perhaps the grimmest and one of the most well written of the stories, it shows a future where populism drives behaviour, for better or worse. A prescient telegraphing of today's global geopolitical climate.
THE CIRCUS PEANUT GALLERY, another favourite, is a smart and concise exploration of a possible future where humans and animals can communicate, and a real glimpse of the potential complexities that this would bring to our door.
In REARING, Sanderson channels his inner Asimov as experimental robots become sentient and contemplate the Zeroth law of robotics, which defines perhaps how robots understand that humanity may not be the best arbiter of it’s own future.
The stories in this anthology open the doors briefly to existential questions about humanity, our technological future, and the importance of predicting the emotional rollercoaster humanity is on, as we venture into these new technological territories. J.D. Sanderson is an ideas man, this book proves it, and I’m very much looking forward to investigating more of his work.
October 14, 2021
I loved it!!
I was raised on comic books and scifi short stories that my Dad would write. I'm a huge need and this took me back!
This author knows how to build tension and write descriptive enough for each tale to be gripping. Old-school and well written! This book would make a good gift. Bravo!
I was raised on comic books and scifi short stories that my Dad would write. I'm a huge need and this took me back!
This author knows how to build tension and write descriptive enough for each tale to be gripping. Old-school and well written! This book would make a good gift. Bravo!
June 29, 2022
Sci-fi at its finest!
A truly fantastic spin on sci-fi that utilizes the classic and modern feel, resulting in a whole cocktail that makes for one hell of an exciting read!
A closer look shows the social and political complexities when AI and untethered technology is used to further our own selfishness.
I won’t give any spoilers, but “The Circus Peanut” was my favorite segment, although “Daughter” took me for an unexpected loop!
I would highly recommend. 10/10!
A truly fantastic spin on sci-fi that utilizes the classic and modern feel, resulting in a whole cocktail that makes for one hell of an exciting read!
A closer look shows the social and political complexities when AI and untethered technology is used to further our own selfishness.
I won’t give any spoilers, but “The Circus Peanut” was my favorite segment, although “Daughter” took me for an unexpected loop!
I would highly recommend. 10/10!
July 14, 2020
This book gave me a fantastic look into the old days of radio and is so well written that at one point I actually screamed at one of the plot twists. The author is talented at leaving you questioning what could be versus what you’ve just read and I highly recommend this collection to any sci fi fans.
April 25, 2023
Around the Dark Dial is such a cool concept, and as an avid fan of both vintage and pulp sci-fi I was excited to dive into it. The promise of stories inspired by 1950s radio dramas is emphatically delivered, and the author does a fantastic job of recreating the mood and pace. Every story draws on an intriguing premise, and by the end of the collection you can see the threads interweaving between them. My only wish is that the writing itself had been a little tighter and more polished – with short stories, I feel wordsmithery is especially important because every word must count for even more than in a novel. I also felt once or twice that I was being called upon to suspend an exorbitant amount of disbelief. However, I maintain that 3 stars = “I liked it”, and like it I did. I’d be excited to see what this author produces as his craft develops.
May 8, 2026
I enjoyed this read very much. A collection of stories that each have a good layer to them and a form of closure, even if that closure leaves you wanting more. But that is the draw of a good story.
Some amazing concepts, many of which I resonate with in my own work.
I also delighted in how well it fitted into my busy life, allowing me to enjoy a good and interesting read one story at a time without missing a beat.
Some amazing concepts, many of which I resonate with in my own work.
I also delighted in how well it fitted into my busy life, allowing me to enjoy a good and interesting read one story at a time without missing a beat.
July 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! This is a link to my spoiler free review!
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January 12, 2021
This is a short story collection unlike any other I’ve read. Evoking a sense of the mysterious, each story had an underlying tension that kept me fascinated. Short story collections can be hit or miss for me; this was a definite hit.
Each story provided a unique take on the sci-fi genre. While there were stories featuring common sci-fi features, they were uniquely done in ways that felt fresh and new. There were what seemed to be hidden connections between some of the stories, more common themes than anything else. I enjoyed the thrill I got from seeing how one might be connected to another. Even the way the stories were ordered added to my enjoyment of the collection.
I particularly liked The Simulant for its take on AI. The humanity that author J.D. Sanderson gave to his Simulant was actually very thought-provoking. The ending gave off a sense of paranoia, much like a good thriller can. In fact, Sanderson knows just when to end a tale, leaving plenty of room for the reader to think and wonder, without suddenly dropping the plot. I don’t like books that stop abruptly, but I also am not a huge fan of things being overexplained. Sanderson tread the fine line between the two with skill.
My absolute favorite of the stories, though, was Caller Four. This one revolved around a radio show that covered the topic of alien abductions. The late-night scene, combined with the question of whether the alien encounter was really happening, made for an engrossing read. I loved how the ending brought the story full-circle. This one will definitely stick with me.
If you’re a fan of creative fiction, or if you enjoyed The Twilight Zone, Around the Dark Dial will be right up your alley. I highly suggest giving this one a go!
Each story provided a unique take on the sci-fi genre. While there were stories featuring common sci-fi features, they were uniquely done in ways that felt fresh and new. There were what seemed to be hidden connections between some of the stories, more common themes than anything else. I enjoyed the thrill I got from seeing how one might be connected to another. Even the way the stories were ordered added to my enjoyment of the collection.
I particularly liked The Simulant for its take on AI. The humanity that author J.D. Sanderson gave to his Simulant was actually very thought-provoking. The ending gave off a sense of paranoia, much like a good thriller can. In fact, Sanderson knows just when to end a tale, leaving plenty of room for the reader to think and wonder, without suddenly dropping the plot. I don’t like books that stop abruptly, but I also am not a huge fan of things being overexplained. Sanderson tread the fine line between the two with skill.
My absolute favorite of the stories, though, was Caller Four. This one revolved around a radio show that covered the topic of alien abductions. The late-night scene, combined with the question of whether the alien encounter was really happening, made for an engrossing read. I loved how the ending brought the story full-circle. This one will definitely stick with me.
If you’re a fan of creative fiction, or if you enjoyed The Twilight Zone, Around the Dark Dial will be right up your alley. I highly suggest giving this one a go!
February 6, 2022
I've review this author's work before, so when he offered me a review copy of this one I was happy to accept!
This entire collection stands as a love letter to the old fashioned radio drama era of science fiction. The short stories, some a stand-alone, some connected, definitely come across as that kind of classic, bleak futurism that you saw with the likes of "War of the Worlds." Few of the stories end on a light note. So the theming of the collection is definitely fitting.
Both the synopsis and the foreward mention that the works are meant to be a mix of classic and modern, although it definitely felt more of the former than the latter. Most of the tropes used are very standard for classic sci-fi. Aliens as futuristic beings superior to humans. A robot deciding it's superior to humans and turning homicidal. Prejudice against artificial humans as an analogy for prejudices against real marginalized groups, and so on. There was a short story discussing anti-vax culture that felt very modern (almost painfully so), but other than that the endings of each short story were about what I expected from years reading the genre.
This is not to say that the stories were poorly written. The dark ambience was on point and you could definitely imagine each of them being told through a radio drama. Anyone that loves that 1950s-60s flavor of science fiction will definitely be interested.
This entire collection stands as a love letter to the old fashioned radio drama era of science fiction. The short stories, some a stand-alone, some connected, definitely come across as that kind of classic, bleak futurism that you saw with the likes of "War of the Worlds." Few of the stories end on a light note. So the theming of the collection is definitely fitting.
Both the synopsis and the foreward mention that the works are meant to be a mix of classic and modern, although it definitely felt more of the former than the latter. Most of the tropes used are very standard for classic sci-fi. Aliens as futuristic beings superior to humans. A robot deciding it's superior to humans and turning homicidal. Prejudice against artificial humans as an analogy for prejudices against real marginalized groups, and so on. There was a short story discussing anti-vax culture that felt very modern (almost painfully so), but other than that the endings of each short story were about what I expected from years reading the genre.
This is not to say that the stories were poorly written. The dark ambience was on point and you could definitely imagine each of them being told through a radio drama. Anyone that loves that 1950s-60s flavor of science fiction will definitely be interested.
June 3, 2022
The stories you will find in this book explore interesting topics, often with moral dilemmas that accompany these, in vintage-refreshing narration style and settings. Among many, I think I enjoyed the AI topics the most. These were explored from different angles, for both society and individuals’ perception, including the AI point of view.
Overall, I found them highly disturbing and thought-provoking. J.D. Sanderson did a great job in bringing new settings quickly to live in each story, making complex scenarios easy to digest. Some stories were truly emotional, other terrifying with just the idea about how the world ‘could look like’.
Fans of short stories who enjoy science-fiction settings won’t be disappointed with this book. I definitely recommend it for those who like various types of open endings that simply make you wonder: ‘what if…’
Overall, I found them highly disturbing and thought-provoking. J.D. Sanderson did a great job in bringing new settings quickly to live in each story, making complex scenarios easy to digest. Some stories were truly emotional, other terrifying with just the idea about how the world ‘could look like’.
Fans of short stories who enjoy science-fiction settings won’t be disappointed with this book. I definitely recommend it for those who like various types of open endings that simply make you wonder: ‘what if…’
January 1, 2021
I did receive a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love reading short SciFi (and I love writing it too!) and this anthology hooked me from the first story. These stories are thought-provoking and addictive. Each story has it's own setting and plot. Much like the experience of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone, readers will be taken with surprising twists and interesting premises.
In the first story, a previously abandoned spot on the Earth is breached again for the first time in many years. It has been closed to the public after a hole swallowed up a section of a field. One scientist enters the area and is met by something he can't explain. It's horrifying, wonderful, and no one but him could see it.
I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of backstory that Sanderson was able to squeeze into these short stories. The characters felt real and interesting. I loved reading about the different reactions they had when met with the mysterious and unexplained.
Another review suggests enjoying each story during coffee breaks. I wasn't that patient. I devoured this book in a few days and some of the stories stuck with me for days after that. I highly recommend this anthology to anyone that loves science fiction for plausible wonders, more than expansive world-building and technological explanations.
December 29, 2021
A collection of eleven short sci-fi stories, inspired by and perhaps in tribute to, radio dramas of the 1950s.
Although the stories are short enough that you can just dip in and out whenever time permits, I read this collection from cover to cover in one go. Compulsive reading, I loved it.
The writing is glorious. JD Sanderson has that rare ability to make you care about a character within the first few sentences. As such, although it’s not a genre I’m particularly drawn to (science is complicated enough for me; throw in some fiction and I’ll rarely know which bits are rooted in reality and which are pure fantasy), I was compelled to read on.
Stories of inaccessible areas of the earth, gone wild, untamed and become home to unknowable life forms flow dynamically into tales of alien abduction, anti-vax governments, sentient robots and eloquent animals, I adored these stories.
The theme running throughout is as old as time itself: misunderstanding of the different or unusual leads, inevitably, to violence and destruction. Beautifully detailed, addictive stuff.
Unfortunately, despite a lovely foreword from the editor of this collection, the proofreading wasn’t great. There were a good number of missing apostrophes, occasional missing words and a couple of misnamed characters. This left me feeling frustrated from tome to time. However, this is a great collection and I’m very pleased to have found a new favourite author.
Although the stories are short enough that you can just dip in and out whenever time permits, I read this collection from cover to cover in one go. Compulsive reading, I loved it.
The writing is glorious. JD Sanderson has that rare ability to make you care about a character within the first few sentences. As such, although it’s not a genre I’m particularly drawn to (science is complicated enough for me; throw in some fiction and I’ll rarely know which bits are rooted in reality and which are pure fantasy), I was compelled to read on.
Stories of inaccessible areas of the earth, gone wild, untamed and become home to unknowable life forms flow dynamically into tales of alien abduction, anti-vax governments, sentient robots and eloquent animals, I adored these stories.
The theme running throughout is as old as time itself: misunderstanding of the different or unusual leads, inevitably, to violence and destruction. Beautifully detailed, addictive stuff.
Unfortunately, despite a lovely foreword from the editor of this collection, the proofreading wasn’t great. There were a good number of missing apostrophes, occasional missing words and a couple of misnamed characters. This left me feeling frustrated from tome to time. However, this is a great collection and I’m very pleased to have found a new favourite author.
November 14, 2022
“You live. You die. You fight over territory and resources. Your tools and buildings grow more sophisticated, but your capacity to appreciate your world does not.” (From Rearing)
Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson is a thought-provoking collection of eleven short stories. Billed as a collection for fans of radio dramas of the 50's, it is that and so much more.
Fans of Sanderson's first two novels (the intriguing Echoverse duology) have come to expect exciting stories that explores the growth (or lack thereof) of humanity. This is a theme that is revisited here in several stories. In Rearing, a sentient AI provides a stinging rebuke to human progress. Daughter explores the lengths a parent will go to protect their child. And Simulant also explores AI in society as well as allowing us another look at the Echoverse.
Another Sanderson trademark, at least so far, are dogs. They show up in several stories here including The Circus Peanut Gallery. A fun story where a black and white border collie named Jake, steals the spotlight. Jake may just be my favorite Sanderson character.
Most impressive is that all eleven stories in this collection hit their mark. There really wasn't a weak one in the bunch.
This was one of the most enjoyable short story collections I have read recently. I highly recommend it!
Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson is a thought-provoking collection of eleven short stories. Billed as a collection for fans of radio dramas of the 50's, it is that and so much more.
Fans of Sanderson's first two novels (the intriguing Echoverse duology) have come to expect exciting stories that explores the growth (or lack thereof) of humanity. This is a theme that is revisited here in several stories. In Rearing, a sentient AI provides a stinging rebuke to human progress. Daughter explores the lengths a parent will go to protect their child. And Simulant also explores AI in society as well as allowing us another look at the Echoverse.
Another Sanderson trademark, at least so far, are dogs. They show up in several stories here including The Circus Peanut Gallery. A fun story where a black and white border collie named Jake, steals the spotlight. Jake may just be my favorite Sanderson character.
Most impressive is that all eleven stories in this collection hit their mark. There really wasn't a weak one in the bunch.
This was one of the most enjoyable short story collections I have read recently. I highly recommend it!
September 29, 2020
J.D. Sanderson's third major sci-fi work is out and its intricate, inventive use of the anthology envelops the reader. It's a 'Science fiction anthology inspired by 1950's radio dramas,' released by Kyanite Publishing.
J.D.'s experience writing novel length works remains in force over the span of his eleven short stories, yet each tale gives him license to move around the sci-fi genre to the delight of the reader.
Three of the eleven stories, sprinkled through the whole, share a plot line and characters. J.D.'s bold love of the future but reflective point of view means layered meaning in his writing, a quality alone that recommends him. However, his stories are full of action, delivering a lively read from beginning to end.
This anthology was a delight.
J.D.'s experience writing novel length works remains in force over the span of his eleven short stories, yet each tale gives him license to move around the sci-fi genre to the delight of the reader.
Three of the eleven stories, sprinkled through the whole, share a plot line and characters. J.D.'s bold love of the future but reflective point of view means layered meaning in his writing, a quality alone that recommends him. However, his stories are full of action, delivering a lively read from beginning to end.
This anthology was a delight.
February 8, 2022
J.D. Sanderson crafts a weaving anthology of near-future science fiction, breathing the same air as The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, and The Outer Limits with short vignettes of highly imaginative worlds not too different from our own but different enough to give pause. I was intrigued with each story as they gave great quick bites of intrigue, technology and ethical questions our future may bring someday. Wonderfully made and an enjoyable read. I give it 4 stars.
June 25, 2022
An excellent collection of short, Outer Limits/Twilight Zone-esque stories, nearly all of which hit home. I read this in a single sitting and highly recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because while one of the stories gets two sequels to help flesh out its narrative, no others do, and there were quite a few I would have loved to have seen get similar treatment, especially the one with the old nurse.
Still, highly recommended!
Still, highly recommended!
February 3, 2021
Interesting collection of short stories
I would recommend this to anyone who likes short sci-fi stories. It's a completion of stories showing how humans react to change, progression, and the Other. The theme reminds me of Battlestar Galactica: all of this has happened before and all of this will happen again.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes short sci-fi stories. It's a completion of stories showing how humans react to change, progression, and the Other. The theme reminds me of Battlestar Galactica: all of this has happened before and all of this will happen again.
April 10, 2021
I enjoyed this collection of short stories. The book took me back to a world of grainy, black & white television broadcasts of shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. J.D. Sanderson does an excellent job of blending suspense with unexpected turns. Many of the short stories left me wanting more... as in "I would love it if he expanded on this and made it the start of a novel." I hope to see more collections like this in the future!
February 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I just completed another five-star read from J.D. Sanderson. A wonderful collection of short pieces that would be enjoyed by fans of the Twilight Zone and Outer Limits. Highly recommended speculative fiction!
June 17, 2021
A unique collection of sci-fi shorts, very enjoyable!
February 27, 2023
A Good Collection of Short Stories
I liked this authors method of storytelling. Each short story was well written and left you wanting to turn the page to read the next story. I highly recommend!
I liked this authors method of storytelling. Each short story was well written and left you wanting to turn the page to read the next story. I highly recommend!
October 2, 2026
Excellent story collection
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. It’s perfect for fans of The Twilight Zone and other sci-fi anthology series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. It’s perfect for fans of The Twilight Zone and other sci-fi anthology series.
December 7, 2020
I very much enjoyed this set of short stories. I think this is my favorite of everything that Sanderson has done. I did note how the writing is influenced by old time radio stories, which I love to listen to. The author has a real knack with stories involving AI and droids. I’d love to read a whole series of stories that specifically focus on these, especially in the world building he did with his first two novels. Nicely done!
March 15, 2023
I took my time with this collection, reading a little each day.
I loved Hello There, Hello Again and Welcome, it brought the book full circle.
My favourite is The Snowstorm it really made me think about our world as it is now and what could become of us.
This collection will stick with me for a long time.
I highly recommend you give this collection of short stories a read.
I loved Hello There, Hello Again and Welcome, it brought the book full circle.
My favourite is The Snowstorm it really made me think about our world as it is now and what could become of us.
This collection will stick with me for a long time.
I highly recommend you give this collection of short stories a read.
January 20, 2022
So despite being an avid reader and blogger of all of these book reviews, I do write. And I have published quite a few short stories and novellas. I ever been successful but with unemployment and craziness of the world nowadays, I have been putting effort into getting my work advertised and have been doing so partially through the Writing Community corner of Twitter. And there I saw an ad for an anthology from another fellow indie author and I thought I would give it a try. So here is my review of Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson.
So what is it about? It is an anthology of scifi short stories, with a very 1950s, almost radio show like campy quality to them. They explore themes of robotics, aliens, and other elements that would not be uncommon in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
What about the good and bad? Let’s starts with the bad. These stories, though some are great, many are predictable and somewhat forgettable. Especially the first few felt bland, having no depth whatsoever. Not bad by any means. Just average. Also, the writing to these stories is quite simple. It had just enough detail to get by. There were many points where I wish that I could picture the world better, but could not because the detail is so lacking. Though annoying, I feel this might be intentional. It reminded me of old HG Wells novels. They were written in the same fashion, so he may be trying to replicate that style. But still I don’t think this style is for everyone.
The good? For every bland story, I think there is good one. There are three stories involving robots which are great. The first story about an expedition is suspenseful, and the tale about talking animals is surprisingly layered. And these better stories are brilliant. Most of these good ones make you stop and think as good as scifi does. One also has a truly exceptional action scene. And the tale The Daughter is the highlight of the entire collection. It's layered, smart, and beautifully tragic.
Overall, it’s a good collection. Sure. Its mix bag. Not every tale is a masterpiece. But the better tales, I feel, are worth the asking price for the book. If you like scifi anthologies, then give this one a shot. It’s a pretty decent collection.
3 1/2 smoothies out of Five
So what is it about? It is an anthology of scifi short stories, with a very 1950s, almost radio show like campy quality to them. They explore themes of robotics, aliens, and other elements that would not be uncommon in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
What about the good and bad? Let’s starts with the bad. These stories, though some are great, many are predictable and somewhat forgettable. Especially the first few felt bland, having no depth whatsoever. Not bad by any means. Just average. Also, the writing to these stories is quite simple. It had just enough detail to get by. There were many points where I wish that I could picture the world better, but could not because the detail is so lacking. Though annoying, I feel this might be intentional. It reminded me of old HG Wells novels. They were written in the same fashion, so he may be trying to replicate that style. But still I don’t think this style is for everyone.
The good? For every bland story, I think there is good one. There are three stories involving robots which are great. The first story about an expedition is suspenseful, and the tale about talking animals is surprisingly layered. And these better stories are brilliant. Most of these good ones make you stop and think as good as scifi does. One also has a truly exceptional action scene. And the tale The Daughter is the highlight of the entire collection. It's layered, smart, and beautifully tragic.
Overall, it’s a good collection. Sure. Its mix bag. Not every tale is a masterpiece. But the better tales, I feel, are worth the asking price for the book. If you like scifi anthologies, then give this one a shot. It’s a pretty decent collection.
3 1/2 smoothies out of Five
February 8, 2026
It’s nice to know that in the future, Jacksonville still sucks. I know that might not be Jacksonville, FL where I have lived for the past twenty years that was featured in The Simulant, but in my head, it was. That ended up being my second favorite short story in this collection.
My favorite short story from the collection was Caller Four. I think J.D. Sanderson captured a great amount of suspense and horror on those pages. That one really drew me into the setting and characters involved.
In the forward written by the editor, it was stated that this collection of short stories has some similarities in feel to episodes of the Twilight Zone. While reading, I found myself agreeing with that statement.
I am personally not a fan of the Twilight Zone which did make me not as keen for the stories. Given the current political environment and a lot of these stories having a theme involving the government, it almost felt like they were hitting a bit too close to home right now. This was all my personal opinion and not taken into account for the actual review.
In terms of the actual story, I did feel like the endings got a little repetitive in the fact that you knew what would be happening to the main character. Some of them did feel a little too wordy as well. Overall, J.D. Sanderson did a great job in providing enough detail so that you knew what kind of environment you were walking into with each story.
If you are a fan of the original Twilight Zone series, I recommend giving this book a read. If you are not a fan of the current political environment, I may suggest waiting for things to calm down before reading. Some things just seemed eerily in the realm of becoming a possible reality. Which is a credit to Sanderson’s writing for being able to capture that feeling.
My favorite short story from the collection was Caller Four. I think J.D. Sanderson captured a great amount of suspense and horror on those pages. That one really drew me into the setting and characters involved.
In the forward written by the editor, it was stated that this collection of short stories has some similarities in feel to episodes of the Twilight Zone. While reading, I found myself agreeing with that statement.
I am personally not a fan of the Twilight Zone which did make me not as keen for the stories. Given the current political environment and a lot of these stories having a theme involving the government, it almost felt like they were hitting a bit too close to home right now. This was all my personal opinion and not taken into account for the actual review.
In terms of the actual story, I did feel like the endings got a little repetitive in the fact that you knew what would be happening to the main character. Some of them did feel a little too wordy as well. Overall, J.D. Sanderson did a great job in providing enough detail so that you knew what kind of environment you were walking into with each story.
If you are a fan of the original Twilight Zone series, I recommend giving this book a read. If you are not a fan of the current political environment, I may suggest waiting for things to calm down before reading. Some things just seemed eerily in the realm of becoming a possible reality. Which is a credit to Sanderson’s writing for being able to capture that feeling.
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