When we put out the call for stories with memorable characters, the results surprised even us! Within these pages you’ll find royalty under cover, magicians who aren’t what they appear (even when making others disappear), and sly skinwalkers on the hunt. Follow an investigator on a search through time for dangerous inventions and hear the confession of a universe creator.
A sweet little girl in search of a map will warm your heart, but you’ll certainly shiver when you look into the eyes of history’s creepiest jester. What kind of game is being hunted in Central Park? How will trespassing humans convince the Galactic Committee to let them go free? Oh, and who says a mechanical dog doesn’t have a heart?
Forty-four exceptional tales written for fans of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and humor by authors from all over the world. This lively cast of characters will surprise you, make you laugh, and rejuvenate your spirit.
READER REACTIONS
“This story is so vivid! I love the rebel gang friendship vibes and the twist at the end!” ~ Jane M. on “Tomorrow“
“I always enjoy stories about a villainous sorceress-queen. Yours is so perfectly depicted!” ~ PMFitzgerald on "The Moon Duchess"
“I love how this starts with a humorous, Harry Potter vibe, and ends in treason and intrigue. It’s so clever!” ~ AMediting on “The Wandmaker’s Offer”
“Haunting in the most beautiful and amazing way.” ~ Susan Lyttek on “Bridge Vigil”
Fun, gripping, twisty takes on classic archetypes. There were so many good stories in this collection, but I’ve tried to narrow down my favorites: personal favorites were “Four Wizards and a Funeral” (Katie Hanna), “The Illusionist” (Cortney Manning), “The Wandmaker’s Offer” (Yaasha Moriah), “The Watchman” (Hannah Robinson), “Just a Hench” (Beka Gremikova), “All I Did Was Science” (K. H. Marah) (so uniquely told!), Four-Wheeled Fiend” (Lauren Hildebrand), “Bridge Vigil” (Rose Q. Addams), and “Blink” (Elizabeth Liberty Lewis).
One I didn’t expect to love was “Jester’s Maze” (Lincoln Reed). I don’t normally like creepy things, but this one was fantastic, and it utilizes second person quite well. Would definitely recommend it for spooky season, especially with corn mazes popping up everywhere.
I am a contributor to this anthology (“Fines and Flames”).
I'm honored to have two stories included in this anthology of character-driven flash fiction. Casting Call displays so many unique takes on traditional archetypes, from rulers and rebels to jesters and sages. Well done, authors!
My personal favorite was "Human's Advocate" by M.A.E., about an alien lawyer baffled by the task of representing an unruly crew of Homo sapiens before an intergalactic court. Other standouts were "Fines and Flames" (Cassandra Hamm), "Dust to Dust" (Lincoln Reed), "All I Did Was Science" (K.H. Marah), and "Four-Wheeled Fiend" (Lauren Hildebrand).
This anthology was so well done. My favorite part was how diverse the styles and themes and genres were. Every story was written well, but based on my tastes alone, I wanted to share some standouts for me:
I loved the unsettling feeling of A HANDFUL OF TWIGS by Cortney Manning (total Twilight Zone vibes) and the lyrical and haunting writing of Cathy McCrumb’s SINGING DOWN THE DARK. Then there was THE JESTER’S MAZE by Lincoln Reed that was horrifyingly thrilling, and the touching BRIDGE VIGIL by Rose Q. Adams. Both PAPERBOUND by Madison Brown and BEACON ACROSS TIME by Teddi Depner had such poignant messages and excellent emotive writing. And last but not least, Another story by Lincoln Reed: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON was so well done and…just cool.
I also have a short story in this anthology, so make sure to check them all out!!
I am honored that my story "Dandelion Wishes" was chosen to be a part of the Casting Call anthology and get to be alongside so many other amazing stories!
Reading through Casting Call and seeing all of the different portrayals of the character archetypes was so fun. Here are my favorite stories from each archetype category!
-"Fines and Flames" by Cassandra Hamm (which won the Reader's Choice Award!), Rebel/Ruler
-"The Wandmaker's Offer" by Yaasha Moriah, Hero/Magician
-"The Watchman" by Hannah Robinson, Creator/Explorer
-"The Fears" by Anna Augustine, Everyman/Jester
-"Save the Cat" by Lincoln Reed, Caregiver/Lover
-"I'll Explain Later" by M.A.E., Innocent/Sage
If you're a fan of flash fiction or character archetypes, check out Casting Call or Havok's other anthologies!
Havok’s latest anthology, entitled Casting Call, examines many common archetypes of fiction in several genres. The magician, the wizened elder, and the sneaky rebel are but a few character types offered in a flash fiction story. As usual, Havok’s high quality is on display across its forty-four entries. Some of the standouts. “The Good Boy,” set in the future, humanizes a non-human caregiver in a poignant way—a very moving piece. “Blink” is a unique offering of a novice railway rider. “Jester’s Maze” captures both the essence of Halloween and a chilling thriller at the same time. One of the best horror short stories I’ve read this year. The superbly written “Beacon Across Time” is an engaging space story. The narrator of “Bridge Vigil” is an odd character until you find out her reason. And “A Wake of Vultures” starts with a dying turtle’s wish for a caregiver, but the answer is anything but straightforward. From a small girl trying to find “A Path Home” to a “Beacon Across Time” (and space) to an abandoned corn maze named “Jester’s Maze,” everyone will find something they’ll love in Havok’s Casting Call.
I love Havok's stories!! (Even the ones that don't make it to the anthologies!)
This book's theme is character archetypes; comparing, contrasting, and displaying a multitude of characters as diverse and interesting as any you'd care to read!
My favorite stories were probably Fines and Flames (Tiny dragons? Yes, please!) The Good Boy (A tearjerker... and of course, a good dog), and the Nightmare Hunters Before Christmas (a magical, monster-fighting holiday adventure).
But I think they're all worth a read, at least once. :)