What do you think?
Rate this book
Opulent Syntax: Irish Speculative Fiction
Contemporary Irish Speculative Fiction A bog body meets crazed science in rural Kerry. Fraught impulses and witchy machinations in a rainy Midlands back garden. Dublin is at once a near future capitalist hell and the eye of a dystopian snowstorm. In Antrim, the past and future armwrestle for prominence, and in Belfast, a blade of grass means nothing and everything. Discover an Ireland in these pages that defies existence and expectations. These stories represent a syntax opulent with possibilities alongside speculations and corrections of what nearly was, what may be and what could come to be. The anthology includes stories and poems from Anna Loughran, Samuel Poots, Natasha Calder, Méabh de Brún, Yves Donlon, Fergal Mc Nally, Elaine McIonyn, Rien Gray, Maria O'Brien, Val Nolan, Scotty Sarafian, Anna Walsh, Eoghan Smith and James Hudson.
- GenresScience Fiction
180 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2022
47 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 25, 2025
I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, which feels rare for a short story collection lately. Most of the authors had a flowery type of prose- which I enjoy but might not be for everyone. I recognized Dublin in these stories. They made me feel fun and sad and sobered. Nearly every story is loudly, and yet so simply, queer. Loved it.
February 21, 2026
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this short story collection in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who can sympathise with the Irish colonial struggle and their cultural erasure, I had to get my hands on Opulent Syntax. This collection set the bar high and I had every hope that it would tell stories steeped in Irish culture, stories that reminisced, honoured or critique ― and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed.
There are two stories I loved in particular Lament of the Last Wolf of Ossory by Méabh de Brún and How Modern by James Hudson. As I read the collection, Last Wolf of Ossory remained my top short story of the year 2025 because of its beautiful prose and rawness. Its beginning is a bit confusing but I am very intrigued and delighted with its end. But then I read How Modern and I could not stop thinking about it!
How Modern has such smooth prose and the plot hit me in the feels! I loved the format ― which is perfect for this punchy story! It increased the tension, had me biting my nails! I also really liked how it didn’t burden me with keeping track of a timeline. The implied chronology is clear and easy to follow.
However, Francis Furlong Disappears by Eoghan Smith starts with a very long line that gives you a sense of the tone and the style. I actually really like this style. It feels a bit navel-gazy in an endearing way ― but woi! That feeling did not last all that long. I think the issue with such a style is that it is taxing to read.
Now, for short reviews of all of the other stories ― because I had a great time reading this collection!
Experience: Cave Hill by Anna Loughran: This short story is pretty cool, but honestly, I couldn’t explain to you what I read.
The Last and Fatal Light by Samuel Poots: I felt like this story was a bit overdone, but in it, Poots created a great sense of place via dialogue. That said, I think that its approach that confounds tradition and conservativism did itself a disservice. I was expecting this topic to be discussed and critiqued more thoroughly.
hotBooley by Natasha Calder: I love the concept behind this story and how well it is executed. In this world, there are ‘hotBooleys’ you can sleep in that work similar to a taxi app. You order for one and get a random one in your vicinity. It’s cheap but if you think about it for a second, you can imagine why it could be terrifying. Another great aspect of this story is that it’s very raw and delves deep in to the main character’s emotions. Moreover, the way the story is so rooted in the land contrasted so well with the hotBooleys. The only thing that kept me from making it my favourite of the collection and even the year was the ending. It’s not a happy one, but it also doesn’t feel like a true ending ― more like the main character is resting her feet but for a moment.
Artemis by Yves Donlon: This short story is definitely an ode to the land with hope and grief imbued in every scene. I love how nature is explored ― both as beautiful and challenging. However, I felt that the plot was a bit weak.
Don’t Mention the Rhino by Fergal Mc Nally: This is such a short and sweet and funny story! If you like fairy tales, definitely start here! It’s the perfect length for such a to-the-point story. Also, I really love how all the description emphasises the characters’ tiny stature and their extreme politeness.
Making Way by Elaine McIonyn: When I read this, I couldn’t help but feel like the voice stunk of white feminism. In the end, it reminded me of Les Mains Sales by Jean-Paul Sartre, so I did not dismiss it out of hand. I will say, however, that the weaving through time is effortless ― but I wish more had happened.
Bleed Through by Rien Gray: As I mentioned earlier, this story wasn’t clear. I don’t really understand what happened, but Gray writes so beautifully!! The whole time I was reading this, I was admiring passages, urged to note down quotes!
Blue by Maria O’Brien: This story starts off with a great first line and an intriguing premise. The descriptions are eye catching, unique. However, in some parts I was a bit lost, but at the end, I had a clearer understanding of what had happened.
Gortcullinane Man by Val Nolan: This is the grossest story of them all (I say this with affection). However, I didn’t understand what happened ― more than that, this story didn’t feel like it had an actual story and the ending is quite ambiguous, frayed.
Craig McCathy by Scotty Sarafian: This story lacks the meat to really keep my attention and in some places I was confused as to what was happening.
Night, When All is at its Worst by Anna Walsh: Despite its shaky start, this story has some shocking details and feels trippy, wild, and so very intense! Ultimately, though, it fell a bit flat and feels unfinished. That said, I would definitely read an expansion on this story!
Merrow by Anna Loughran: Like Loughran’s first story, this one was also hard to understand. However, this story’s lengths makes it works because there is so little to go off of.
Read the rest of my review on my blog!
As someone who can sympathise with the Irish colonial struggle and their cultural erasure, I had to get my hands on Opulent Syntax. This collection set the bar high and I had every hope that it would tell stories steeped in Irish culture, stories that reminisced, honoured or critique ― and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed.
There are two stories I loved in particular Lament of the Last Wolf of Ossory by Méabh de Brún and How Modern by James Hudson. As I read the collection, Last Wolf of Ossory remained my top short story of the year 2025 because of its beautiful prose and rawness. Its beginning is a bit confusing but I am very intrigued and delighted with its end. But then I read How Modern and I could not stop thinking about it!
How Modern has such smooth prose and the plot hit me in the feels! I loved the format ― which is perfect for this punchy story! It increased the tension, had me biting my nails! I also really liked how it didn’t burden me with keeping track of a timeline. The implied chronology is clear and easy to follow.
However, Francis Furlong Disappears by Eoghan Smith starts with a very long line that gives you a sense of the tone and the style. I actually really like this style. It feels a bit navel-gazy in an endearing way ― but woi! That feeling did not last all that long. I think the issue with such a style is that it is taxing to read.
Now, for short reviews of all of the other stories ― because I had a great time reading this collection!
Experience: Cave Hill by Anna Loughran: This short story is pretty cool, but honestly, I couldn’t explain to you what I read.
The Last and Fatal Light by Samuel Poots: I felt like this story was a bit overdone, but in it, Poots created a great sense of place via dialogue. That said, I think that its approach that confounds tradition and conservativism did itself a disservice. I was expecting this topic to be discussed and critiqued more thoroughly.
hotBooley by Natasha Calder: I love the concept behind this story and how well it is executed. In this world, there are ‘hotBooleys’ you can sleep in that work similar to a taxi app. You order for one and get a random one in your vicinity. It’s cheap but if you think about it for a second, you can imagine why it could be terrifying. Another great aspect of this story is that it’s very raw and delves deep in to the main character’s emotions. Moreover, the way the story is so rooted in the land contrasted so well with the hotBooleys. The only thing that kept me from making it my favourite of the collection and even the year was the ending. It’s not a happy one, but it also doesn’t feel like a true ending ― more like the main character is resting her feet but for a moment.
Artemis by Yves Donlon: This short story is definitely an ode to the land with hope and grief imbued in every scene. I love how nature is explored ― both as beautiful and challenging. However, I felt that the plot was a bit weak.
Don’t Mention the Rhino by Fergal Mc Nally: This is such a short and sweet and funny story! If you like fairy tales, definitely start here! It’s the perfect length for such a to-the-point story. Also, I really love how all the description emphasises the characters’ tiny stature and their extreme politeness.
Making Way by Elaine McIonyn: When I read this, I couldn’t help but feel like the voice stunk of white feminism. In the end, it reminded me of Les Mains Sales by Jean-Paul Sartre, so I did not dismiss it out of hand. I will say, however, that the weaving through time is effortless ― but I wish more had happened.
Bleed Through by Rien Gray: As I mentioned earlier, this story wasn’t clear. I don’t really understand what happened, but Gray writes so beautifully!! The whole time I was reading this, I was admiring passages, urged to note down quotes!
Blue by Maria O’Brien: This story starts off with a great first line and an intriguing premise. The descriptions are eye catching, unique. However, in some parts I was a bit lost, but at the end, I had a clearer understanding of what had happened.
Gortcullinane Man by Val Nolan: This is the grossest story of them all (I say this with affection). However, I didn’t understand what happened ― more than that, this story didn’t feel like it had an actual story and the ending is quite ambiguous, frayed.
Craig McCathy by Scotty Sarafian: This story lacks the meat to really keep my attention and in some places I was confused as to what was happening.
Night, When All is at its Worst by Anna Walsh: Despite its shaky start, this story has some shocking details and feels trippy, wild, and so very intense! Ultimately, though, it fell a bit flat and feels unfinished. That said, I would definitely read an expansion on this story!
Merrow by Anna Loughran: Like Loughran’s first story, this one was also hard to understand. However, this story’s lengths makes it works because there is so little to go off of.
Read the rest of my review on my blog!
May 4, 2023
Stars for Eoghan's Smith's wonderfully delirious 'Francis Furlong Disappears'. Other than that, I look forward to reading more from James Hudson.
June 6, 2023
Beautifully written and on the grimmer edge of near future sf. There's lots of queer rep too. Nice to see an anthology celebrating recent Irish writers of the fantastic!
July 24, 2023
i slept in a strange ePod on thomas street also!
February 18, 2023
I'm almost done with this book, and it is absurdly great. I have to stop myself every day to let each story sink in. Very smart, full of different styles and PoVs, and it makes me feel like I'm back in Ireland. This book neither condescends to the reader nor puts on a sparkly green leprechaun hat to amuse them. By turns fantastical and science-fictional, it is yet very real.
March 2, 2023
These were all sooo good, glad to have some trans voices though would be nice to see some writers of color next time :)
January 27, 2024
I'll be thinking about the opening story "The Last and Fatal Light" by Samuel Poots (also a Terry Pratchett fan) for a long time.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews