Being younger that some other readers of Science Fiction and Fantasy, I came to the love of the short story as an art form late. I mean that seriously. I am aware of the heyday of the pulp magazines. It must have been a great time. For me, and many others my age, that is not, however, how we fell in love with SF/F. My first real exposure to SF/F was Star Trek: The Original Series. Once I got old enough to make use of both the public library and the one at school, I expanded my axis of SF/F exploration to include novels. Then I got my first job at fourteen and hit the bookstore! I could get books I didn't have to get back! The closest thing I read to an anthology would have been the old Star Trek Log novels, but those only kinda, sorta count. Of course, we read some shorts in school but that almost put me off of the art form forever. The stuff they make you read in school sucks.
Even when I got older, I routinely bought the monthly bundles put out by Baen Books and didn't read the anthologies that came with them. But eventually, I stumbled into one on accident. And when I get a new one to review it's always bittersweet. Sweet because I get to read some really good stories that way. Bitter because I now know what I was missing. But when I received a copy of The Best of Abyss and Apex, Volume Two I was excited because I can now get further into something that I find myself enjoying more and more every time I read them: Actual quality short stories. This anthology definitely has a bunch of them. This anthology was a good time. And, if I write the occasional piece of fiction and have a recently conceived dream of seeing myself on these pages that doesn't hurt in the slightest. I couldn't wait to crack this thing open (metaphorically, I got the ebook) and read it. I was quite happy with what I found there.
Oh, and even though it's in the introduction and not one of the stories, I'd like to announce that I'm stealing the concept of a “word well.” Uhh... Hold on. I changed my mind. Nope, I have no clue why your world well disappeared or where it went. Whaddaya mean my back yard? I'm innocent. Innocent I tell ya!
A quick note: Something I've always done when I review anthologies is to go through one story at a time and give a quick impression. It gives credit to each author and also gives the reader a good idea of what's in the tome. This is going to be fun! I've got roughly thirty works to go write about. And...go!
Up first is “The Last Tower” by C.J. Cherryh. I've got some of her stuff piled up as part of Mount TBR but I have yet to read it. It sounds like I'd better get a move on though, because this is a good short. An old man in a tower wants to defend his home. He has a little magic. Will he succeed?
Up next is a poem, entitled “How Strange the Starship's Shudder.” Good poem.
That is followed by “Socorro” by S.L. Knapp. I really liked this one. It's a story about an attack on a planet that has sentient, breeding starships and the reaction of one of the people who live there. I missed a call at work because of this story. I don't regret losing the money.
After that comes Thesaurus (Not A Prehistoric Animal) by Robert Borski. Another poem. I gave a little chuckle at the end.
“Emmett, Joey and the Beelz,” by Ralph Servush is a story about a long-lived golem. There is a bit of personal sacrifice and a lesson to be learned here. I enjoyed it.
“Snatch Me Another” by Mercurio D. Rivera is deep. It's a story about people living in a time and place where they can reach into a magic hole and grab familiar things from an alternate universe. What they steal might surprise you. It sure did surprise me. There is the potential for a full novel with this short expanded into the first chapter or two. As it sits, it's an amazing short.
“Name Calling” by Celeste Rita Baker is a story written in dialect about a hotel maid who has recently gotten a name. I have to admit to having a bit of trouble in following the dialect in this one. It's got a definite Creole feeling to it but I've never been to the appropriate part of the country.
“Oblivion” is a poen by Yilin Wang. It's pretty deep and thoughtful.
“Anything Chocolate” by Caren Gusoff Sumpiton is a story about a man whose father is about to die. The twist is that it's set in a future where death is no longer an issue for the majority of the population. Only people who were born too early still die of death and disease. It's touching and wonderful, even if I did have a sense of frustration for both the main character and his father and the predicament they faced.
“Sunlight” by Kelly Dwyer is a story about a young boy who goes to speak to an old man who, rumor has it, has testicles that are literally made of steel. The twist here is pretty predictable but it's still a really good story and something I have to find a way to get my kids to read, because I think there's a lesson here.
Linda Neuer's “Humboldt Squid” is a poem about space mollusks. I enjoyed it.
“Dreadnought Under Ice” by George S. Walker is a short that could easily be translated into an entire series. There is political intrigue and underwater action aplenty in this one. More please!
Alexandra Seidel's “New Worlds” is a poem. Actually, it's more of a dream in poem form.
“Stone Eater” by Brent Knowles is a good one. Our hero is trapped and imprisoned by an evil witch. What might happen if he escapes? My first love is epic fantasy and this has that feeling to it.
“The Wizard and the Sorceress” by Christopher Vera is a poem about an arguing couple with magical powers. Remind me not to mess with these two.
“The Dwarf Femme and the Dragon” by Charie' Craig is a story about a woman involving herself in a man's world illicitly. She's really hardcore. This is another one with an epic fantasy feel and I really loved it.
“Letter Found In A Chest Belonging To The Marquis de Monsteraille, Following The Death OF That Worthy Individual” by Marie Brennan has a premise that is fairly obvious from the title. The letter itself details a war in a fantasy setting. Good story.
“Mirror Girl” by Paul Carlson is a story about a little girl who may or may not have an invisible limb. She has a high IQ and an inquisitive nature. Very few of the people who read SF/F would have any problems at all identifying with her. It might surprise you to find out why her limb is missing.
“Coupling” by Ken Poyer is a poem about a love affair between two machines. Interesting.
“Bots d'Amor” by Cat Rambo is a story about an interstellar trader in a very bad spot. I loved the humor here. Good story.
“The Coin Whisperer” is a story about a woman who can read the past of objects. She ends up with more questions than she started out with, but it's a good time.
“Bumbershoot” by Howard V. Vendrix is a poem. I find it a bit confusing.
“All the Wonder in the World,” by Lavie Tidhar is a story about a lonely man searching through a building. I didn't expect him to find what he did, but it makes sense. I enjoyed the story and I like Tidhar's take on the media.
“The Specialist” by Andrew Kaye is a story about trying to survive an invasion of the fae in a hospital. What do you do if you find out that your baby is a faerie and might turn on you when they get older? Haunting, but good.
“Prayer Causes Stars” by Greg Beatty is a really short poem, but it's got me thinking.
Lael Salaets “The Halo Wave” is a story about a drug addicted soldier who gets kindapped by smugglers. He's got a lot to do if he wants to get paid and survive. I liked it.
“In the Bag,' by Tabitha St. Germain is a story about a young boy who inherits what basically amounts to a Bag of Holding. What he puts in it can influence his future.
“In the End, Basking in Love” is a poem by A.B.S. Dudevant. It's frightening for something so short.
“At the End of Days” by Robert Silverberg is a story about a man in the last few days of the Earth's existence. Then there's a twist. Now I need to go re-read Lord Valentine's Castle.
Bottom Line: 4.5 out of 5 Talented Scribes
The Best of Abyss and Apex: Volume 2
Wendy S. Delmater, Ed.
Abyss & Apex Publishing, 2016
The Best of Abyss and Apex: Volume 2 is available for purchase at the following link:
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