Samuel PeraltaRecensioni

A couple worthwhile

As a cheap read, I could call this decent, and there are a couple pretty good stories in here. However a bit over half were just bizarre fiction stuff that I didn't finish.

A mixed bag this in terms of quality but many of the stories were thought provoking and it did it’s job in that I found some new authors to check out. Highlights for me were Iteration by Deirdre Gould, Imperfect by David Adams, PePr, Inc. by Ann Christy, The Assistant by Angela Cavanaugh, The Grove by Jennifer Foehner Wells, and Humanity by Samuel Peralta.

What if? It's the question when asked on a large historical scale that could make your head spin. Alt.history asks this question in several short stories by different writers. The stories are nice and engaging and leave the reader with a feeling that the world would have been a totally different place if things went different direction.

Just buy this. Future Chronicles is really good and I think I’ll use the phrase outstanding for its type as well, a special sci-fi collection with stings in the tails and brains in the formulation and I recommend it to you without hesitation. Usually I don’t go overboard like that (okay, sometimes, but never previously for short stories) but this one deserves flagging. The thing is, most short story collections I’ve read have included one or two quite good ones, then a dozen others at a much lower standard (incl. one written by the editor) which the publication carries, making up the numbers. The stories in this book are pretty much all five or four star reads, imaginative, well-constructed and delivered in a flowing style. It’s a great feeling to have finished an impressive short story, then start the next and feel after a few pages that that it might be even better. I have tried to think of a higher quality sci-fi/fantasy short story collection but I’m stuck as I honestly can’t come up with any. Better individual stories, yes, but not a better set in one volume. These were the classics, in my view: A Dream of Waking (Sam Best), Don’t Tell (Peter Cawdron), Iteration (Dierdre Gould), The Assistant (Angela Cavanaugh) and The Grove (Jennifer Foehner Wells). My favourite? Probably The Assistant, but a blogger can’t help but notice that one.

I originally read this story several months ago in the anthology [b:Synchronic: 13 Tales of Time Travel|22041835|Synchronic 13 Tales of Time Travel|David Gatewood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399305526s/22041835.jpg|41364891]. This is still as heart-wrenching the second time through as the first.

*Very* quick read. This is one of those short stories that really needs to be expanded into a full-fledged novel. There is so much packed into this 1000-word story.

Thanks to Jackie for recommending it!

Good selection of fairly short alternate history stories.

A mix of different types of sci-fi short stories. The majority are quite interesting, but there are a few that did not grab my attention. Overall a good introduction to some new authors and their worlds.

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: I’ve pretty much been gobbling up all of Samuel Peralta’s short stories lately. So when he offered Trauma Room I jumped at the chance to read it, without actually reading the description (this is such a bad habit of mine).

In this case, it didn’t end up mattering. It’s a very short, short story (frustratingly short) and it was awesome! I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from immediately buying it, if a full length novel comes out taking place in the same world as Trauma Room.

Trauma Room just gives you a taste and leaves you wanting so much more. It’s exciting to read about telepathy and when an author goes down their own unique path with it, you can’t help but get excited as a reader. I don’t know if it’s obvious, but it’s killing me that I don’t know more about this world or the characters in it.

If you’re already a fan of Samuel Peralta, then you’ll enjoy Trauma Room. If you’re new to this author, then Trauma Room would actually be a very exciting short story to start with. You’ve been warned though, that you’ll finish it wanting more. I truly hope the author comes out with more from Trauma Room.

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Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this short story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: What it means to be human has always been up for debate and as technology becomes more and more prevalent, the answer seems to change. In Humanity, Samuel Peralta gives you a glimpse into the world where this question defines each character from the very first page.

The story was fantastic. It grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. I found myself questioning how I would react in a similar situation and the truth is you couldn’t know for sure unless it happens. I don’t really have to worry about it though because I doubt A.I. (artificial intelligence) will become that advanced within my lifetime. Humanity stuck with me too. I found myself still thinking about it days after I’d read it.

It’s very short and takes no time at all to read. It’s definitely worth reading though. I felt like it was such a quick look into this world that it could be seen as a short prequel. I do hope to see more from this world and hopefully in a full length novel (fingers crossed). I would recommend Humanity, especially to those with a love for short stories and futuristic technology.

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Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: Love through time travel seems like it would be a b**ch (excuse my language). I don’t think I could do it. Either you’re the one that’s constantly gone heaping the pain of absence on someone you love or you’re the one left in one time. It sounds like an emotional pain in the butt that I’m ultimately too selfish to endure.

Hereafter is a short novella about time travel and love, obviously. I’m a sucker for most time-travel related things because I watch Doctor Who like it’s water and I’m dehydrated. I really liked the twist on time-travelling rules in Hereafter (don’t worry; I won’t give it away). It was original and made me really think about the characters’ determination and obvious love for one another.

The chemistry between Caitlyn and Sean was okay. The story was just so short that there was a lot of time to build the relationship. It was kind of a bare bones version of their story that could be used as an introduction or prequel to a full novel (or a detailed outline). I loved the ideas brought forth in Hereafter and the potential for a truly great story.

I really enjoyed reading Hereafter. The end was beautifully written and I may have teared up a little (major credit to the author here). So I did really like it, but I thought it needed to be longer with more character development. Personally, I will be on the lookout for more by this author. I would recommend Hereafter and it won’t take you long at all to read.

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