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Patterns of Orbit: Stories
Patterns of Orbit spans genres, perspectives, and styles to articulate contemporary uncertainties in a rapidly changing world.
Steadily gazing into and across the uncanny valley, Clark examines those jarring or subtle shifts in familiar stories, writing light into dark, and offering slivers of hope despite the longest of odds.
Successfully navigating a potent concoction of science fiction, folktale, and horror this collection of literary, character driven stories combines the accumulated forces and darker natures of those genre elements, unleashing the terrors of alien fungi, forest demons, and interplanetary specters upon her characters.
However, while these characters, capable and intelligent, face off against their prescribed monsters, it is their existential misgivings on the state of their worlds or conditions that will leave an indelible mark on the reader.
Steadily gazing into and across the uncanny valley, Clark examines those jarring or subtle shifts in familiar stories, writing light into dark, and offering slivers of hope despite the longest of odds.
Successfully navigating a potent concoction of science fiction, folktale, and horror this collection of literary, character driven stories combines the accumulated forces and darker natures of those genre elements, unleashing the terrors of alien fungi, forest demons, and interplanetary specters upon her characters.
However, while these characters, capable and intelligent, face off against their prescribed monsters, it is their existential misgivings on the state of their worlds or conditions that will leave an indelible mark on the reader.
166 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2023
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2023
I picked up this collection today and had not expected to tear through it so darn quickly!
In Patterns of Orbit, Chloe deftly navigates the harsh realities of outer space, the horrors buried deep within the ocean, and literally everything in between. Her stories are relentless in the best way. She accomplishes in a few pages what others can't pull off in a hundred.
Steeped in love and loss, comforts and fears, science fiction and horror, these stories will unsettle you. They will gut you. They will crawl under your skin and haunt you. If you don't start looking at forests, bodies of water, and the stars differently after this... do I even know you?
In Patterns of Orbit, Chloe deftly navigates the harsh realities of outer space, the horrors buried deep within the ocean, and literally everything in between. Her stories are relentless in the best way. She accomplishes in a few pages what others can't pull off in a hundred.
Steeped in love and loss, comforts and fears, science fiction and horror, these stories will unsettle you. They will gut you. They will crawl under your skin and haunt you. If you don't start looking at forests, bodies of water, and the stars differently after this... do I even know you?
March 23, 2025
Really good. mix of outer space sci fi and folklore
August 23, 2023
I loved this collection. The stories are fantastic and fantastical, spanning genres of science fiction and fantasy and horror, all with a focus on language and character. These are literary hybrids and are hauntingly beautiful. Longing and desire pervade these stories, and they're all exquisitely crafted.
October 31, 2025
Been slowly making my way through these stories for a while. They were all so beautiful but quite heavy, so it's taken some time to read.
One of the most incredible short story collections I've read, and a book that will stay with me for years. Picked this up on a whim at the library, and I truly think the universe did that for a reason because this was the perfect time in my life to read this.
Just so moving and stunning in a very quiet way.
One of the most incredible short story collections I've read, and a book that will stay with me for years. Picked this up on a whim at the library, and I truly think the universe did that for a reason because this was the perfect time in my life to read this.
Just so moving and stunning in a very quiet way.
May 2, 2023
4.5!
I really liked this book. The short stories hooked me immediately and were just weird enough to keep me totally engaged. The cadence was really readable, some even read sort of like poems.
The story about The Doctor still haunts me :)
I really liked this book. The short stories hooked me immediately and were just weird enough to keep me totally engaged. The cadence was really readable, some even read sort of like poems.
The story about The Doctor still haunts me :)
May 20, 2024
Officially one of my favorite short story collections. Every single one is engaging and beautifully written. I was surprised to find so many two page stories, but even with the astounding shortness of some of the stories, they were all so amazing. I didn’t want it to end.
May 10, 2023
Clark's best book yet, filled with heart-stoppers.
May 28, 2023
I loved this one--AND I got to talk to the author about it.
You can read the interview here: https://bit.ly/419vQwV
You can read the interview here: https://bit.ly/419vQwV
February 14, 2024
I’d say this collection of stories is focused on the shadows of our minds, dreams, and experience. Some truly wonderful stories in here
February 19, 2025
a lovely collection of short stories. there’s suspense, space, and supernatural forces. they stories of loss and heartbreak we’re particularly compelling.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews