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Alternative Deathiness
I’m coming for you is a bad movie line.
For Death it is a promise.
We tend to like to avoid the concept of death, but it keeps finding us.
So we put together a book.
But what to call it.
We were sick of death coming in and taking friends and family, giving no regard for us except to leer from the darkness.
The answer came, in a callout to Steven Colbert: we opted for Deathiness.
Death didn’t like that.
I believe it was her fault (oh hell yes, death is a woman) that I found myself being carried out of the house with a couple of pulmonary embolisms and realizing that most people who were in my condition met the grim reaper.
So I resolved to change my life, be a nicer person, give up cheese products and…
Nah, I decided to invite the B Cubed family on board to talk about it and maybe have a laugh at Death’s expense.
So Death, be warned:
We’re Coming for You!
And we're doing it with these great stories:
In "The Bodies We Carry" K.G. Anderson , one of the great up and comers.
In "The Miracle Man" Jim Wright gives another chilling look into the world he created for the Best Selling Alternative Apocalypse.
In "Instructions for My Executors" Clare Marsh treats us with a poetic look at death and what the family should do.
In "Rule 49" (perhaps my favorite) has Maureen McGuirk looking at death as a real entity and shows us their many faces.
In "Spoons", Jay Wilburn dips into a well of thought and sensitivity as he makes death into a gentle journey that is not taken alone.
And "Gallows Humor?" Michael Mansaray takes a unique look at the inevitability of death that must be read to appreciate.
"For What is a Man" is David Foster's quest for an answer to the question with no real unswer.
"Mudpaws and the Tall Thing" Frances Rowat is a touching story reminiscent of the work Mike Resnick that sees the worlds end from the perspective of a lovely dog.
"A Comedian’s Valediction Forbidding Mourning" is the wonderful Larry Lefkowitz's reminder to laugh.
"The Thing Underneath" is a wee bit of horror by James Van Pelt.
"Have You Ever Been Experienced?" is an old theme made fresh by Paula Hammond, as she shows the power of being addicted to death.
"Death’s Scout" is Mark O. Decker thoughtful poem that I'll let you read rather than read about. It's that good.
"Papercut" by Larry Hinkle will make you throw this book out the window in disgust and horror, only to stop the car and retrieve the book to read it again.
"Death's Doorway" is Diana Hauer's incredible story of those who walk beside us through that final gate.
"Missing" by Robin Pond is that story that makes you want to read a hundred more just like it.
In "Final Questions," Chris Kuriata, adds to the duties of death to in this thoughtful look at unanswered questions of the dead.
"The Borrower", by Katie Sakanai speaks to the value of the human spirit across space and time.
"Three O’Clock" is Lamont Turner's nicely done story on making the best out of a bad situation.
"To Do Right", by Cory Swanson, shows us a better way to die. A good end to life is not to be underestimated.
"Old Forgotten Grave" by Bill Camp is a familiar but comfortable reminder that all of us will be forgotten.
"Ashes," by my dear friend Lizzy Shannon is a touching look at the end of life.
"The Devil’s Backbone," by Larry Hodges, brings his trademark humor to what happens when the Devil takes on the Good Humor man.
"Written in Stone," by Lauren Stoker.
"Death," by Robert Armstrong
The Four Horsemen (and Women) of the Apocalypse by Sarina Dorie
"Deathventures, Inc." by Robinne Weiss
"Rest In Virtual" by Tommy Blanchard
Loving Death in New York, is poet Alicia Hilton's look at death on the streets of the Big Apple.
Life Long Love by the inspired you man, Sirrus James. Not old enought to drink, but old enough to understand love.
For Death it is a promise.
We tend to like to avoid the concept of death, but it keeps finding us.
So we put together a book.
But what to call it.
We were sick of death coming in and taking friends and family, giving no regard for us except to leer from the darkness.
The answer came, in a callout to Steven Colbert: we opted for Deathiness.
Death didn’t like that.
I believe it was her fault (oh hell yes, death is a woman) that I found myself being carried out of the house with a couple of pulmonary embolisms and realizing that most people who were in my condition met the grim reaper.
So I resolved to change my life, be a nicer person, give up cheese products and…
Nah, I decided to invite the B Cubed family on board to talk about it and maybe have a laugh at Death’s expense.
So Death, be warned:
We’re Coming for You!
And we're doing it with these great stories:
In "The Bodies We Carry" K.G. Anderson , one of the great up and comers.
In "The Miracle Man" Jim Wright gives another chilling look into the world he created for the Best Selling Alternative Apocalypse.
In "Instructions for My Executors" Clare Marsh treats us with a poetic look at death and what the family should do.
In "Rule 49" (perhaps my favorite) has Maureen McGuirk looking at death as a real entity and shows us their many faces.
In "Spoons", Jay Wilburn dips into a well of thought and sensitivity as he makes death into a gentle journey that is not taken alone.
And "Gallows Humor?" Michael Mansaray takes a unique look at the inevitability of death that must be read to appreciate.
"For What is a Man" is David Foster's quest for an answer to the question with no real unswer.
"Mudpaws and the Tall Thing" Frances Rowat is a touching story reminiscent of the work Mike Resnick that sees the worlds end from the perspective of a lovely dog.
"A Comedian’s Valediction Forbidding Mourning" is the wonderful Larry Lefkowitz's reminder to laugh.
"The Thing Underneath" is a wee bit of horror by James Van Pelt.
"Have You Ever Been Experienced?" is an old theme made fresh by Paula Hammond, as she shows the power of being addicted to death.
"Death’s Scout" is Mark O. Decker thoughtful poem that I'll let you read rather than read about. It's that good.
"Papercut" by Larry Hinkle will make you throw this book out the window in disgust and horror, only to stop the car and retrieve the book to read it again.
"Death's Doorway" is Diana Hauer's incredible story of those who walk beside us through that final gate.
"Missing" by Robin Pond is that story that makes you want to read a hundred more just like it.
In "Final Questions," Chris Kuriata, adds to the duties of death to in this thoughtful look at unanswered questions of the dead.
"The Borrower", by Katie Sakanai speaks to the value of the human spirit across space and time.
"Three O’Clock" is Lamont Turner's nicely done story on making the best out of a bad situation.
"To Do Right", by Cory Swanson, shows us a better way to die. A good end to life is not to be underestimated.
"Old Forgotten Grave" by Bill Camp is a familiar but comfortable reminder that all of us will be forgotten.
"Ashes," by my dear friend Lizzy Shannon is a touching look at the end of life.
"The Devil’s Backbone," by Larry Hodges, brings his trademark humor to what happens when the Devil takes on the Good Humor man.
"Written in Stone," by Lauren Stoker.
"Death," by Robert Armstrong
The Four Horsemen (and Women) of the Apocalypse by Sarina Dorie
"Deathventures, Inc." by Robinne Weiss
"Rest In Virtual" by Tommy Blanchard
Loving Death in New York, is poet Alicia Hilton's look at death on the streets of the Big Apple.
Life Long Love by the inspired you man, Sirrus James. Not old enought to drink, but old enough to understand love.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2021
About the author
Irene Radford
134 books137 followersAlso uses C.F. Bentley, Phyllis Irene Radford, Julia Verne St. John, Rachel Atwood, Phyllis Ames, P. Irene Radford and P.R. Frost.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 31, 2021
I purchased the Kindle version yesterday. This is a great collection of stories. I was a bit concerned that having the theme of death, the anthology might be too depressing to read in this season of cold and darkness.
Instead, I discovered humor and hope between the pages along with the expected darker themes.
I highly recommend this collection. The fact that Jim Wright contributed a story, The Miracle Man, the second opus in his growing post- Dark Rapture universe, is icing on the cake.
Instead, I discovered humor and hope between the pages along with the expected darker themes.
I highly recommend this collection. The fact that Jim Wright contributed a story, The Miracle Man, the second opus in his growing post- Dark Rapture universe, is icing on the cake.
March 7, 2022
Some interesting ideas about dying and the afterlife! Very enjoyable.
January 9, 2022
Strangely, I really enjoyed this book. Death, approached and treated in so many ways, different POV and emotions. The last story about killed me though, having just lost my husband of 21 years. Definitely worth a read, though if you're actively grieving, you might want to wait a bit.
June 3, 2024
This is an anthology of short stories and poems with the obvious category of 'death'. Some of the stories are fun to read. The book is 214 pages and goes by pretty quickly even for a slow reader like me. With it being shorts and poems, it's easy to stop and do other things without the need to remember where you left off.
My favorite story in the book was Three O'Clock by Lamont Turner. Imagine 'death' has harbingers for every hour of the day and you suddenly find out you are assigned to one of those time slots. Inventive and fun.
My favorite poem was Old Forgotten Grave by Bill Camp. As someone who engages in Graveyard/Cemetery tourism, this poem resonated with me. Graves tell stories.
My favorite story in the book was Three O'Clock by Lamont Turner. Imagine 'death' has harbingers for every hour of the day and you suddenly find out you are assigned to one of those time slots. Inventive and fun.
My favorite poem was Old Forgotten Grave by Bill Camp. As someone who engages in Graveyard/Cemetery tourism, this poem resonated with me. Graves tell stories.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews