C. Adam Volle > Recent Status Updates

Interesting that we get a clear idea of the coming conflict a quarter-way through the story—pretty much dead-on where modern storytelling gurus say it should come.

This is a fun change of pace.

Yeah, the most horrible stuff stops halfway through the book. And I’m fine with that. Stories of how survivors build new lives are as important as how they suffered.

Oh, thank goodness, we’re getting out of the period in which Giuffre was abused.

“Butter Side Down” by Kal M is a strong finish to the collection, as well as the only story that really tries to be funny. I rarely laughed but I was charmed by the central relationship and surprised by its big themes. It’s a good story.

Yeah, this is a hard read.

Oof. Lisa Silverthorne’s “Summer of Thirty Years” is a real tearjerker. Good pick.

“Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfire” by James Davies is much more like it. It’s got a good concept and heart, and that’s what I want in SFF.

“Halo” is fine (though I think the depiction of the main character’s cantankerous son is pretty cartoonish in an otherwise grounded story). I will repeat my objection that a writer like Nancy Kress has no place in this collection, however. Why are we including stories by old veterans (especially when they aren’t as good as the new authors’ stories)? Does the publisher need the sales boost? Is Kress a draw?

John Erich Schleicher’s “Squiddy” is another winner. I’ll be happy to read more work by him. That said, the man really ought to stop referring himself as “John Erich.” You’re not a pope, Buddy, pick a name.

“Da-ko-ta” by Amir Agoora has a lot of prose on which I got stuck; it needed better editing. I’m also not wild about yet another story involving Teddy Roosevelt. Meh.

Chuck Palahnuik’s advance for FIGHT CLUB was $6,000, a figure considered so insulting at the time that he did not tell anyone the number.

“The Wall Isn’t A Circle” is the best story so far in this collection; it really has everything I want in a sci-fi tale. And it’s cute that author Rosalyn Robilliard is actually a pair of sisters, considering the protagonist’s inner conflict. Bravo.

I’m not sure why S.M. Stirling got to write a story for this anthology. Seems to me a clear violation of the series’ spirit. Also, I just didn’t like the story (which I read before the bio of the author, as I do every story, so I didn’t know Stirling was previously published, having never heard of him). “Shaman Dreams” devotes most of its space to anthropology, not drama.

Ah, well.