Houlcroft’s Reviews > The 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar > Status Update

‘Our Humans’ didn’t seem to know what it was.

‘The Professor’ too, leaned on a lesson that wasn’t there.

‘The Game’ however, was excellent. Reminds me of ‘The Dice Man’. I’m tempted to buy some boggle sets.

‘In The Mists of Everything’ was cleverly structured, but took me a minute to find my rhythm.

I can take or leave ‘Ersatz Panda’. Just not for me. ‘Happy Anniversary’ too.

‘Cut’ felt like it was meant to be more poignant and meaningful than it was and ‘Reflections’ was dull.

‘Parade for the Dead and Dying’ was the best so far. Melancholy and moody.

‘Vera Something’ was strangely more engaging than I first thought.

‘Must Be Peopled’ has proven to be the strongest so far. Dark and witty, with ‘A History of Heart Disease’ equally so.

“Over the Plum-Pudding” was a clever start, in which the editor of a short story collection explains why the collection never came to be.

‘Aviary’ was a step forward, with the following ‘A Famous Man’, ‘Four Minutes...’ and ‘Fast Hands, Fast Feet’ continuing the trend of interesting but not necessarily outstanding stories.

‘The Final Days of Father Troll’ was the first to be truly enjoyable

The Decade I Kept Getting Stabbed was brilliant. Sharp and pointy.

Fast Hands, Fast Feet has been the best so far. Lovely affectation to the narrators voice, a charming little tale.