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The Shivering Ground & Other Stories
"Sara Barkat is an original."
—John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
The Shivering Ground blends future and past, earth and otherworldliness, in a magnetic collection that shimmers with art, philosophy, dance, film, and music at its heart.
A haunting medieval song in the mouth of a guard, an 1800s greatcoat on the shoulders of a playwright experiencing a quantum love affair, alien worlds both elsewhere and in the ruined water at our feet: these stories startle us with the richness and emptiness of what we absolutely know and simultaneously cannot pin into place.
In the tender emotions, hidden ecological or relational choices, and the sheer weight of a compelling voice, readers “hear” each story, endlessly together and apart.
~
"The word 'original,' as a compliment, is both overused and quite often misused. But sometimes it's the only word that will do. Sara Barkat is an original. Her imagination is imperious; she wields words as she pleases, in ways that delight and unsettle. In this, she reminds me of Emily Dickinson. Reading her, I expect you will agree. Don't miss the opportunity."
—John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
—John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
The Shivering Ground blends future and past, earth and otherworldliness, in a magnetic collection that shimmers with art, philosophy, dance, film, and music at its heart.
A haunting medieval song in the mouth of a guard, an 1800s greatcoat on the shoulders of a playwright experiencing a quantum love affair, alien worlds both elsewhere and in the ruined water at our feet: these stories startle us with the richness and emptiness of what we absolutely know and simultaneously cannot pin into place.
In the tender emotions, hidden ecological or relational choices, and the sheer weight of a compelling voice, readers “hear” each story, endlessly together and apart.
~
"The word 'original,' as a compliment, is both overused and quite often misused. But sometimes it's the only word that will do. Sara Barkat is an original. Her imagination is imperious; she wields words as she pleases, in ways that delight and unsettle. In this, she reminds me of Emily Dickinson. Reading her, I expect you will agree. Don't miss the opportunity."
—John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
- GenresShort Stories
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 26, 2021
The Shivering Ground is an eclectic collection of speculative fiction stories that cross genres. The heart is human emotion and navigating through the complexities of relationships with others. This collection is definitely for those who are of a literary bent. They are not straightforward genre tales. The writing is very lyrical, which I enjoyed. I read this on my lunch break on my phone and they were nice little bites of reading that transported me to another time and place.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
October 9, 2021
This is a captivating, word-rich book for readers who want to think, but not have all the answers.
The collection consists of 11 independent short stories that are somber, melancholy, at times tragic or even hopeless, but not depressing. Each piece is poised at the edge of the end of the world, in a different way; proposing a choice that must be made, or has just been made, and it is already too late to avert the consequences.
Using the short story format, Barkat weaves reality and fantasy together in a way that is subtle and surprising, and wonderfully evocative. While I did enjoy the collection it is sometimes best to take in pieces, due to the emotional response you may feel to them.
"The Day Before Tomorrow" is not a long story, but it stuck in my head and keeps popping into my thoughts days later. And the title story "The Shivering Ground" tugs at my imagination, wanting to dream up a better solution for the characters, but knowing that their moment of choice (as with many of our own) is already past.
The writing at times reminds me of Ray Bradbury in his more contemplative and nostalgic moods. At other times, it calls to mind Italo Calvino in the way that the meticulous description of ordinary things triggers the sense that everything means more than it appears, and the world itself is just a signifier of some hidden pattern.
I love short stories which use the format to really explore characters and plots, and this book does it very well. BTW I did receive an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The collection consists of 11 independent short stories that are somber, melancholy, at times tragic or even hopeless, but not depressing. Each piece is poised at the edge of the end of the world, in a different way; proposing a choice that must be made, or has just been made, and it is already too late to avert the consequences.
Using the short story format, Barkat weaves reality and fantasy together in a way that is subtle and surprising, and wonderfully evocative. While I did enjoy the collection it is sometimes best to take in pieces, due to the emotional response you may feel to them.
"The Day Before Tomorrow" is not a long story, but it stuck in my head and keeps popping into my thoughts days later. And the title story "The Shivering Ground" tugs at my imagination, wanting to dream up a better solution for the characters, but knowing that their moment of choice (as with many of our own) is already past.
The writing at times reminds me of Ray Bradbury in his more contemplative and nostalgic moods. At other times, it calls to mind Italo Calvino in the way that the meticulous description of ordinary things triggers the sense that everything means more than it appears, and the world itself is just a signifier of some hidden pattern.
I love short stories which use the format to really explore characters and plots, and this book does it very well. BTW I did receive an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2021
I write this as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (author, check here if you are interested in getting your book reviewed) and thank her and the author for this opportunity to read and review an early ARC copy of this special collection..
I enjoy short stories, but I rarely read anthologies or collections of them, other than those of authors I already know and whose writing I love. However, although I had never read this author’s work before, there was something compelling and utterly different about this book, and the cover and the title added to the appeal.
Although I’m not sure what I was expecting to read, the stories where surprising and extremely varied. Some seemed to be set in the present (or an alternative version of the present), some in the past (or a possible past), some in a dystopian future, some in parallel universes, and the characters varied from very young children to adults, and from human beings to a variety of “Others”. Some of the stories are very brief, some are long enough to be novellas (or almost), and they are written from all possible points of view: first person, third person (in some cases identified as “they”), and even second person. I usually would try to give an overview of themes and subjects making an appearance in the stories, but that is notably difficult here. The description accompanying the book gives a good indication of what to expect, and if I had to highlight some commonalities between the stories, I would mention, perhaps, the desire and need to connect and communicate with others, in whatever form possible, and to create and express one’s feelings and thoughts, through any medium (music, painting, writing, sewing...),
These short stories are not what many readers have come to expect from the form: a fully developed narrative, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, although usually providing less details and not so much character development as we would find in a novel, and often with a surprising twist at the end that can makes us reconsider all we have read up to that point. Barkat’s stories are not like that. They rarely have a conventional ending (even when they do, it is open to readers’ interpretations), sometimes there are descriptive passages that we aren’t used to seeing in short narratives, and the plot isn’t always the most important part of the story (if at all). The way the story is told, the style and beauty of the writing, and the impressions and feelings they cause on the reader make them akin to artworks. If reading is always a subjective and personal experience, this is even more the case here, and no description can do full justice to this creation.
Despite that, I decided to try to share a few thoughts on each one of the stories, in case it might encourage or help other readers make their own minds up. I’d usually add here that I’ve tried to avoid spoilers, but these are not that kind of stories either.
The Door at the End of the Path. A wonderful story full of vivid descriptions of a young girl’s imagination, her internal life, and a reflection of the heavy toll the difficult relationship of the parents can have on their children.
Conditions. A glimpse into the relationship between a brother and a sister, where the best intentions can have the worst results, set in a world that is half-dystopia, half an alternative present, with more than a slight touch of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The Eternal In-Between. A dystopia set during a pandemic, with plenty of steampunk-like fancy, and an ode to the power of imagination.
The Mannequin. A dystopian world epitomized by the willingness of its subjects to undergo quite an extreme and symbolic procedure to keep the status-quo in place.
Brianna. A very special retelling of a fairy-tale story that digs dip into the psychological aspects and the effects such events would have over real people, especially if it was a fate repeated generation after generation. One of my favourites.
Noticing. A story with a strong ecological theme, a generous dose of fantasy, some beautiful illustrations and eerie pictures, an endorsement of the power of stories, and a strong warning we should heed. Both terrifying and breathtakingly beautiful. Another favourite.
Entanglement. A short but compelling story/metaphor of a love affair, and/or the possibility of one.
The Day Before Tomorrow. Although set in a very strange and dystopic society, it is a Young Adult story of sorts, and the relationship between the two main characters feels totally natural and everyday, despite the extremely unusual surroundings. Perhaps our stories never change, no matter what might be happening around us. A hopeful story I really enjoyed.
It’s Already Too Late. Very brief, very compelling vignette with a very strong ecological message. A call to forget about our excuses and the reasons to carry on doing nothing.
The Shivering Ground. A sci-fiction/fantasy/dystopian story that might seem utterly sad and pessimistic, but it is also moving and (I think) hopeful.
A Universe Akilter. A wonderful story that kept wrong footing me, as if the ground the story was set on kept shifting. A Universe Akilter indeed! It starts as the story of the breakup of a romance, seemingly because the man has been caught up cheating, set some time in the past (many of the details and the way the characters behave sound Victorian, but there are small incongruous details that pop up every so often, and others that seem to shift), but as the story progresses, it becomes the story of a (possible?) love affair in parallel universes (the universe of our dreams, perhaps), that influences and changes the life of the protagonist, making him discover things about himself and his creativity he would never have considered otherwise. This is the longest story in the book, and one that might specially appeal readers of dual-time or time-travel stories (although it is not that at all).
As usual, I recommend those thinking about reading this collection to check a sample of it. The stories are quite different from each other, but it should suffice to provide future readers with a good feel for the writing style.
I could not help but share a few paragraphs from the book, although as I have read an ARC copy, there might be some small changes to the final version.
All the wreckage, all the ruin, and the ground was brilliant red. Every morning, he would wake to more of the world ending, and the earth laid out a scarlet cloak as though waiting for an emperor to arrive.
He wishes, desperately, that he could remember the sound of her voice hen she still knew innocence; that he had thought to fold it in his pocket with the mementos of another life.
Perhaps being a mis-turned wheel in a spinning globe is only as it should be after all, when in the spring, the scent of mint and apple blossoms fills the acres behind you.
But, surely, I wondered, interpretability only goes so far. To go further would be to strike out onto one’s own adventure, breaking the mass of the art’s finished illusion.
I wouldn’t say I “understood” all the stories, or I got the meaning the author intended (if she had a specific design for each one of her stories), but I don’t think that is what this collection is about. Like an exhibition of artworks, the important thing is what each one of them makes us feel, what thoughts and reflections they set in motion, and how much of an impression they leave on us.
I don’t recommend this book to readers looking for traditionally told short-stories, with a clear beginning and end, and a satisfying conclusion. On the other hand, readers seeking for something outside the norm and happy to: explore new worlds, try new experiences, ponder about meanings and possibilities, and get lost in the beauty of the writing and the magic of the words, should read this collection. It’s too beautiful to miss.
I enjoy short stories, but I rarely read anthologies or collections of them, other than those of authors I already know and whose writing I love. However, although I had never read this author’s work before, there was something compelling and utterly different about this book, and the cover and the title added to the appeal.
Although I’m not sure what I was expecting to read, the stories where surprising and extremely varied. Some seemed to be set in the present (or an alternative version of the present), some in the past (or a possible past), some in a dystopian future, some in parallel universes, and the characters varied from very young children to adults, and from human beings to a variety of “Others”. Some of the stories are very brief, some are long enough to be novellas (or almost), and they are written from all possible points of view: first person, third person (in some cases identified as “they”), and even second person. I usually would try to give an overview of themes and subjects making an appearance in the stories, but that is notably difficult here. The description accompanying the book gives a good indication of what to expect, and if I had to highlight some commonalities between the stories, I would mention, perhaps, the desire and need to connect and communicate with others, in whatever form possible, and to create and express one’s feelings and thoughts, through any medium (music, painting, writing, sewing...),
These short stories are not what many readers have come to expect from the form: a fully developed narrative, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, although usually providing less details and not so much character development as we would find in a novel, and often with a surprising twist at the end that can makes us reconsider all we have read up to that point. Barkat’s stories are not like that. They rarely have a conventional ending (even when they do, it is open to readers’ interpretations), sometimes there are descriptive passages that we aren’t used to seeing in short narratives, and the plot isn’t always the most important part of the story (if at all). The way the story is told, the style and beauty of the writing, and the impressions and feelings they cause on the reader make them akin to artworks. If reading is always a subjective and personal experience, this is even more the case here, and no description can do full justice to this creation.
Despite that, I decided to try to share a few thoughts on each one of the stories, in case it might encourage or help other readers make their own minds up. I’d usually add here that I’ve tried to avoid spoilers, but these are not that kind of stories either.
The Door at the End of the Path. A wonderful story full of vivid descriptions of a young girl’s imagination, her internal life, and a reflection of the heavy toll the difficult relationship of the parents can have on their children.
Conditions. A glimpse into the relationship between a brother and a sister, where the best intentions can have the worst results, set in a world that is half-dystopia, half an alternative present, with more than a slight touch of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The Eternal In-Between. A dystopia set during a pandemic, with plenty of steampunk-like fancy, and an ode to the power of imagination.
The Mannequin. A dystopian world epitomized by the willingness of its subjects to undergo quite an extreme and symbolic procedure to keep the status-quo in place.
Brianna. A very special retelling of a fairy-tale story that digs dip into the psychological aspects and the effects such events would have over real people, especially if it was a fate repeated generation after generation. One of my favourites.
Noticing. A story with a strong ecological theme, a generous dose of fantasy, some beautiful illustrations and eerie pictures, an endorsement of the power of stories, and a strong warning we should heed. Both terrifying and breathtakingly beautiful. Another favourite.
Entanglement. A short but compelling story/metaphor of a love affair, and/or the possibility of one.
The Day Before Tomorrow. Although set in a very strange and dystopic society, it is a Young Adult story of sorts, and the relationship between the two main characters feels totally natural and everyday, despite the extremely unusual surroundings. Perhaps our stories never change, no matter what might be happening around us. A hopeful story I really enjoyed.
It’s Already Too Late. Very brief, very compelling vignette with a very strong ecological message. A call to forget about our excuses and the reasons to carry on doing nothing.
The Shivering Ground. A sci-fiction/fantasy/dystopian story that might seem utterly sad and pessimistic, but it is also moving and (I think) hopeful.
A Universe Akilter. A wonderful story that kept wrong footing me, as if the ground the story was set on kept shifting. A Universe Akilter indeed! It starts as the story of the breakup of a romance, seemingly because the man has been caught up cheating, set some time in the past (many of the details and the way the characters behave sound Victorian, but there are small incongruous details that pop up every so often, and others that seem to shift), but as the story progresses, it becomes the story of a (possible?) love affair in parallel universes (the universe of our dreams, perhaps), that influences and changes the life of the protagonist, making him discover things about himself and his creativity he would never have considered otherwise. This is the longest story in the book, and one that might specially appeal readers of dual-time or time-travel stories (although it is not that at all).
As usual, I recommend those thinking about reading this collection to check a sample of it. The stories are quite different from each other, but it should suffice to provide future readers with a good feel for the writing style.
I could not help but share a few paragraphs from the book, although as I have read an ARC copy, there might be some small changes to the final version.
All the wreckage, all the ruin, and the ground was brilliant red. Every morning, he would wake to more of the world ending, and the earth laid out a scarlet cloak as though waiting for an emperor to arrive.
He wishes, desperately, that he could remember the sound of her voice hen she still knew innocence; that he had thought to fold it in his pocket with the mementos of another life.
Perhaps being a mis-turned wheel in a spinning globe is only as it should be after all, when in the spring, the scent of mint and apple blossoms fills the acres behind you.
But, surely, I wondered, interpretability only goes so far. To go further would be to strike out onto one’s own adventure, breaking the mass of the art’s finished illusion.
I wouldn’t say I “understood” all the stories, or I got the meaning the author intended (if she had a specific design for each one of her stories), but I don’t think that is what this collection is about. Like an exhibition of artworks, the important thing is what each one of them makes us feel, what thoughts and reflections they set in motion, and how much of an impression they leave on us.
I don’t recommend this book to readers looking for traditionally told short-stories, with a clear beginning and end, and a satisfying conclusion. On the other hand, readers seeking for something outside the norm and happy to: explore new worlds, try new experiences, ponder about meanings and possibilities, and get lost in the beauty of the writing and the magic of the words, should read this collection. It’s too beautiful to miss.
October 30, 2021
I received an ARC copy of The Shivering Ground & Other Stories in exchange for an honest review. See the full review at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
Written from such wildly different perspectives as a child in her garden, a nameless guard in a post-apocalyptic prison, and an ageless entity tasked with watching and cataloging the earths’ avian population, this collection covers a vast landscape of narrative possibilities. Beautiful in detail and haunting in execution, this is a collection made stronger for its defiance of categorization or genre. Whether crossing the twisted wasteland of an ending world, or the vastness of a photographer’s studio, Barkat lends weight to all her characters and their journeys, giving texture and color to their fears, hopes, and heartbreaks.
Across the depth and breadth of her collection, Barkat keeps an eye to the climate crisis of today, even as she dabbles with timelessness and universes removed from our own by a few heartbeats and a fingernail. Barkat is a young author with something to say about the mess of a world her generation (my generation too, if that matters) have inherited, but where other authors, poets, and activists howl, Barkat whispers. She edges around the corners of story and consciousness, never blatant but always present, haunting.
Stunning and undefined from start to finish, Barkat is a fierce new voice with a lot to say and a long future ahead of her.
Written from such wildly different perspectives as a child in her garden, a nameless guard in a post-apocalyptic prison, and an ageless entity tasked with watching and cataloging the earths’ avian population, this collection covers a vast landscape of narrative possibilities. Beautiful in detail and haunting in execution, this is a collection made stronger for its defiance of categorization or genre. Whether crossing the twisted wasteland of an ending world, or the vastness of a photographer’s studio, Barkat lends weight to all her characters and their journeys, giving texture and color to their fears, hopes, and heartbreaks.
Across the depth and breadth of her collection, Barkat keeps an eye to the climate crisis of today, even as she dabbles with timelessness and universes removed from our own by a few heartbeats and a fingernail. Barkat is a young author with something to say about the mess of a world her generation (my generation too, if that matters) have inherited, but where other authors, poets, and activists howl, Barkat whispers. She edges around the corners of story and consciousness, never blatant but always present, haunting.
Stunning and undefined from start to finish, Barkat is a fierce new voice with a lot to say and a long future ahead of her.
October 9, 2021
In this generous and surprising collection, enigmatic mysteries intrude upon an elegiac setting. A precocious protagonist discovers a dislocation from the every day. Media intrudes in multifarious forms, and inanimate objects or nature blend with the human elements in a well-orchestrated interplay of fantasy and gothic revelations.
They seethe with cognitive dissonance and pique with magical realism.
Written by an illustrator who brought to life the classic: "The Yellow Wallpaper". I notice some eerie stylings, and influence from the dark short story which must have meant so much to this author. One of the primary concerns of many stories appears to be cinematic, or atmospheric, though they intrigue on the sentence level, seducing with their rich imagery and unexpected subtexts. They are tightly edited, deeply strange, bizarre, and uncanny all while striking me as vaguely familiar, like places visited in a dream. With literary references peeking from behind the scenes, at times domestic, and at others otherworldly, they will live long in memory.
"Now the trees beyond the window, like mourners, bent beneath the fury of the storm." This quote will give you a taste of the suggestive figurative language suffusing the narratives. Enigmatic beasts,
exquisite use of rare and esoteric vocabulary, a vivid conjuring of unexpected wonders - all these things properly fit into what you will find here, this menagerie of quirky stories, but no descriptor can properly convey the breathless subtlety lurking under every line. Prepare for a dark descent into fantastically skewed worlds fraught with visions derived from an abundant understanding of dreamy fantasy. They are clever, inventive, and haunting. The author even tries out the second person perspective in the third story, and makes use of a host of other literary techniques to add flair and flavor to the already resplendent writing. While a couple of the stories might ring as inconclusive, the majority of them are shiver-inducing, if not for their terror-strewn settings, then for their hypodermic-sharp symbolism. The unnerving humanness of mannikins, for instance, has never failed to creep me out. The inner whorls of the rose, the trickle of moonlight through a cracked window, faintly uttered sounds amid the gathering shadows. If you appreciate and delight in these things, then this collection will tickle your senses, set your imagination working like a live wire, jumpstart your lucid dreams and leave you reeling.
They seethe with cognitive dissonance and pique with magical realism.
Written by an illustrator who brought to life the classic: "The Yellow Wallpaper". I notice some eerie stylings, and influence from the dark short story which must have meant so much to this author. One of the primary concerns of many stories appears to be cinematic, or atmospheric, though they intrigue on the sentence level, seducing with their rich imagery and unexpected subtexts. They are tightly edited, deeply strange, bizarre, and uncanny all while striking me as vaguely familiar, like places visited in a dream. With literary references peeking from behind the scenes, at times domestic, and at others otherworldly, they will live long in memory.
"Now the trees beyond the window, like mourners, bent beneath the fury of the storm." This quote will give you a taste of the suggestive figurative language suffusing the narratives. Enigmatic beasts,
exquisite use of rare and esoteric vocabulary, a vivid conjuring of unexpected wonders - all these things properly fit into what you will find here, this menagerie of quirky stories, but no descriptor can properly convey the breathless subtlety lurking under every line. Prepare for a dark descent into fantastically skewed worlds fraught with visions derived from an abundant understanding of dreamy fantasy. They are clever, inventive, and haunting. The author even tries out the second person perspective in the third story, and makes use of a host of other literary techniques to add flair and flavor to the already resplendent writing. While a couple of the stories might ring as inconclusive, the majority of them are shiver-inducing, if not for their terror-strewn settings, then for their hypodermic-sharp symbolism. The unnerving humanness of mannikins, for instance, has never failed to creep me out. The inner whorls of the rose, the trickle of moonlight through a cracked window, faintly uttered sounds amid the gathering shadows. If you appreciate and delight in these things, then this collection will tickle your senses, set your imagination working like a live wire, jumpstart your lucid dreams and leave you reeling.
October 8, 2021
There is no doubt that these are beautifully written short stories. This author has a way with words that can be considered bordering upon genius. I don't know if it is this mastery of the written word that made this read hard or that this just wasn't the book for me? That said, I feel I can give this book no less than a 4*. It really struggled to see the clarity of point in these stories but for the beauty of the authors grasp of the written word, it deserves 4*.
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 14, 2022
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
I enjoy reading short stories and Sara Barkat’s collection offered something different, and it did not disappoint.
The collection is a combination of different genres with unique and interesting characters weaving together tales that captivate the reader. The stories are written in a way that leave you with a feeling not unlike melancholy. Each tale is wonderfully descriptive and written in different styles to suit the genre.
The stories provide enough answers not to leave you feeling frustrated but there is an emphasis on letting the reader decide and come to their own conclusions, which I really liked.
If you enjoy short stories that leave you contemplating the outcomes, I highly recommend this collection.
I enjoy reading short stories and Sara Barkat’s collection offered something different, and it did not disappoint.
The collection is a combination of different genres with unique and interesting characters weaving together tales that captivate the reader. The stories are written in a way that leave you with a feeling not unlike melancholy. Each tale is wonderfully descriptive and written in different styles to suit the genre.
The stories provide enough answers not to leave you feeling frustrated but there is an emphasis on letting the reader decide and come to their own conclusions, which I really liked.
If you enjoy short stories that leave you contemplating the outcomes, I highly recommend this collection.
December 10, 2021
‘The Shivering Ground and Other Stories’ was a hypnotic read. A step away from existential horror, it veers into an otherworldly realm far away from whimsical fantasy. These stories span from historical to futuristic, from the point of view of a child to a mad scientist, from first person to second person to third person. Sara Barkat has a multiplicity of writing instruments at her disposal, and she commits to use them all. Her ability to do so as artfully as she does is an impressive feat for a debut collection.
December 1, 2021
The stories in this book contained a depth that I would not have expected from short stories. Barkat has a unique voice, drawing the reader into each tale, and leaving them with something to think about once it's finished. I highly recommend reading this in pieces, allowing yourself to mull over the stories individually, (although I often read a book cover to cover in a much shorter time frame). The perfect book for anyone looking for a cross-genre collection of thought-provoking stories.
January 26, 2022
I absolutely enjoyed reading these short stories which focused on art, philosophy, dance, film and music - written in a most thoughtful and captivating way.
The Eternal In-Between was one of my favorites in the book due to how thought provoking it was. I am truly awed by Sara's ability to create parallels between reality and fantasy through the stories; interweaving imaginative concepts and ideas. The book weaves and distorts the world in a multitude of ways, creating compelling imagery and is not made for an easy read. But rather for those that wish to think and appreciate words written with such emotion.
The Eternal In-Between was one of my favorites in the book due to how thought provoking it was. I am truly awed by Sara's ability to create parallels between reality and fantasy through the stories; interweaving imaginative concepts and ideas. The book weaves and distorts the world in a multitude of ways, creating compelling imagery and is not made for an easy read. But rather for those that wish to think and appreciate words written with such emotion.
July 12, 2022
The Shivering Ground & Other Stories Sara Barkat
I think short stories are the perfect introduction to sci-fi, fantasy, and other types of speculative fiction. You’re dumped, as the movie trailers used to say, IN A WORLD, for only a few pages with some interesting folks who have feelings and worries, just like us, but who exist in circumstances that are unlike ours. It’s a place to play. And play Sara Barkat does in her new collection of speculative fiction titled "The Shivering Ground."
Her playgrounds are quantum physics, fairy tales, climate change thrillers, and original tales from her own imagination. Her stories aren’t technical, but are filled with characters who are almost, but not exactly, like people you know, and the settings are similarly both familiar and strange. Each story is unique, so if one doesn’t catch your fancy, skip on to the next. It’s a lot of fun while giving readers a reason or two to shiver.
Good science fiction, like "The Shivering Ground," pulls back the veil on the version of reality we accept unquestioningly and invites us to question it. Do I have to do things the way I’ve always done them? Can I do anything to change life as I know it?
I think short stories are the perfect introduction to sci-fi, fantasy, and other types of speculative fiction. You’re dumped, as the movie trailers used to say, IN A WORLD, for only a few pages with some interesting folks who have feelings and worries, just like us, but who exist in circumstances that are unlike ours. It’s a place to play. And play Sara Barkat does in her new collection of speculative fiction titled "The Shivering Ground."
Her playgrounds are quantum physics, fairy tales, climate change thrillers, and original tales from her own imagination. Her stories aren’t technical, but are filled with characters who are almost, but not exactly, like people you know, and the settings are similarly both familiar and strange. Each story is unique, so if one doesn’t catch your fancy, skip on to the next. It’s a lot of fun while giving readers a reason or two to shiver.
Good science fiction, like "The Shivering Ground," pulls back the veil on the version of reality we accept unquestioningly and invites us to question it. Do I have to do things the way I’ve always done them? Can I do anything to change life as I know it?
October 15, 2021
I received a review copy for free via book sirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
This collection is difficult for me to review. The author has a writing style I've come across before but don't know how to describe. It's kind of disjointed but in a skillful way that makes me feel instantly uneasy. That's a positive. One of my favourite authors, the wonderful Ramsey Campbell, uses the same method but his prose is smoother and easier to follow whilst still making me feel like I'm trying to keep my balance and constantly having to adjust to keep upright. In this case it's as if that technique has been taken too far or possibly not yet been polished enough. It could be that I'm just not clever enough to make everything fit together in a way to keep that critical balance …. I tip too far and the unease at times becomes confusion. Theres no doubt the author is original and talented but I found some of the stories long-winded and others edging a little far towards surreal for my taste. But, there were some I enjoyed and I think this collection is worth reading. The stories I liked best were thought provoking and sensitive whilst still making me feel uneasy. A good combination in my opinion. If the subject matter of more of the stories had been more to my taste it would have earned another star, so others may find this pleases them greatly.
This collection is difficult for me to review. The author has a writing style I've come across before but don't know how to describe. It's kind of disjointed but in a skillful way that makes me feel instantly uneasy. That's a positive. One of my favourite authors, the wonderful Ramsey Campbell, uses the same method but his prose is smoother and easier to follow whilst still making me feel like I'm trying to keep my balance and constantly having to adjust to keep upright. In this case it's as if that technique has been taken too far or possibly not yet been polished enough. It could be that I'm just not clever enough to make everything fit together in a way to keep that critical balance …. I tip too far and the unease at times becomes confusion. Theres no doubt the author is original and talented but I found some of the stories long-winded and others edging a little far towards surreal for my taste. But, there were some I enjoyed and I think this collection is worth reading. The stories I liked best were thought provoking and sensitive whilst still making me feel uneasy. A good combination in my opinion. If the subject matter of more of the stories had been more to my taste it would have earned another star, so others may find this pleases them greatly.
April 23, 2022
*Please note I did not purchase this book. I was given a copy from the author, Sara Barkat in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
The Shivering Ground and Other Short Stories, written by Sara Barkat, are a collection of superb short stories. These 11 short stories range from science fiction, alternative, dystopian and more. Each story brings its own unique voice rich in significant details.
Each story is just as captivate as the last. The title story, The Shivering Ground, is a story about a man guarding a Solenoid. The Solenoids are creatures who went to war against mankind in a very long and brutal war. During this time, they both learn about and understand each other. This was my favorite of the collection of stories. Barkat really brings this story to life. I would really love to see this story flushed out into a full-length book. This isn’t a negative comment. She wraps each story up from start to finish. I just think this one or any of the other short stories would make for a great full-length book. Her stories leave the reader wanting more, but in a good way.
Another story that caught my eyes was The Eternal In-Between. Not only does it really make you think, but the other element that caught my eye was that it was told in the point of view as if YOU were the character. It was a bit jarring at first, and I had to reread it to make sure I read that correctly. I don’t recall coming across something like that in a story, so that really took me by surprise. Something like that, to me, made a great impact on the story. It was as if I was the character. I would definitely enjoy reading something from Barkat in that point of view.
The Shivering Ground and Other Short Stories are a collection of great short stories. All of them are riveting and thought provoking. Barkat does a great job at fulling flushing out each of these stories from start to finish, but they leave you wanting more. I look forward to another collection of short stories by her or even turning one of these short stories into a full-length novel.
The Shivering Ground and Other Short Stories, written by Sara Barkat, are a collection of superb short stories. These 11 short stories range from science fiction, alternative, dystopian and more. Each story brings its own unique voice rich in significant details.
Each story is just as captivate as the last. The title story, The Shivering Ground, is a story about a man guarding a Solenoid. The Solenoids are creatures who went to war against mankind in a very long and brutal war. During this time, they both learn about and understand each other. This was my favorite of the collection of stories. Barkat really brings this story to life. I would really love to see this story flushed out into a full-length book. This isn’t a negative comment. She wraps each story up from start to finish. I just think this one or any of the other short stories would make for a great full-length book. Her stories leave the reader wanting more, but in a good way.
Another story that caught my eyes was The Eternal In-Between. Not only does it really make you think, but the other element that caught my eye was that it was told in the point of view as if YOU were the character. It was a bit jarring at first, and I had to reread it to make sure I read that correctly. I don’t recall coming across something like that in a story, so that really took me by surprise. Something like that, to me, made a great impact on the story. It was as if I was the character. I would definitely enjoy reading something from Barkat in that point of view.
The Shivering Ground and Other Short Stories are a collection of great short stories. All of them are riveting and thought provoking. Barkat does a great job at fulling flushing out each of these stories from start to finish, but they leave you wanting more. I look forward to another collection of short stories by her or even turning one of these short stories into a full-length novel.
December 31, 2022
Magical Writing in an Ominous Future
Through detailed and haunting imagery, Ms. Barkat has created worlds that we may be wary to visit and, at times, have no choice. The apocalypse taunts us in an “atmosphere of mashed peas.” I loved the wonder pulling a girl to “The Door at the End of the Path.” “The Eternal In-Between” is a rare second-person story written with an apparent ease, a story of a fragile world told so lyrically. Throughout there are cursed curses, hopelessness, and murky boundaries between realms and creatures.
In this collection of literary stories, the words and abundant perspectives tug at our curiosity. Toy with our fear of the unknown and an ominous future. The author so aptly uses details and words to play with our senses and takes us to places we cannot even imagine—scenes unveiled through the author’s eyes with exquisite and other-worldly descriptions. “Magical containers of essence” everywhere. “Noticing” is my favorite tale, so immersed in nature and wretched extinctions. A tenderness of observation that spoke to me. I like how, in “The Shivering Ground,” Elly was the only one with a name.
“Akilter” has an eerie enchantment that pulls the reader through its tilted worlds, full of heartfelt illusions, “a birdsong angle of your wrist.” Heartfelt letters build the story, and like many of the stories, there is a mood of existentialism spinning like a “möbius strip.” Ironically, at the very end, that thread I found throughout this collection, a tug toward curiosity, the narrator begs us to see the painting with our eyes.
Through detailed and haunting imagery, Ms. Barkat has created worlds that we may be wary to visit and, at times, have no choice. The apocalypse taunts us in an “atmosphere of mashed peas.” I loved the wonder pulling a girl to “The Door at the End of the Path.” “The Eternal In-Between” is a rare second-person story written with an apparent ease, a story of a fragile world told so lyrically. Throughout there are cursed curses, hopelessness, and murky boundaries between realms and creatures.
In this collection of literary stories, the words and abundant perspectives tug at our curiosity. Toy with our fear of the unknown and an ominous future. The author so aptly uses details and words to play with our senses and takes us to places we cannot even imagine—scenes unveiled through the author’s eyes with exquisite and other-worldly descriptions. “Magical containers of essence” everywhere. “Noticing” is my favorite tale, so immersed in nature and wretched extinctions. A tenderness of observation that spoke to me. I like how, in “The Shivering Ground,” Elly was the only one with a name.
“Akilter” has an eerie enchantment that pulls the reader through its tilted worlds, full of heartfelt illusions, “a birdsong angle of your wrist.” Heartfelt letters build the story, and like many of the stories, there is a mood of existentialism spinning like a “möbius strip.” Ironically, at the very end, that thread I found throughout this collection, a tug toward curiosity, the narrator begs us to see the painting with our eyes.
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