Opulent Syntax: Irish Speculative Fiction

by Don Duncan (Editor), Dave Ring (Editor), Scotty Sarafian (Contributor)

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.

180 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2022

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sam Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars for Eoghan's Smith's wonderfully delirious 'Francis Furlong Disappears'. Other than that, I look forward to reading more from James Hudson.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[milo · Rating 3 out of 5]

i slept in a strange ePod on thomas street also!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[max · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were all sooo good, glad to have some trans voices though would be nice to see some writers of color next time :)

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.