I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book of 15 short stories! They were diverse, and included flower faeries, werebears, cats, butterflies, haunted objects, taxidermy and re-animation. ( )

My experience with LibraryThing has added a LOT of different works to my e-bookshelf, and that's led to a diverse array of reading experiences for me, and reviews for the books.

Some were great, others not-so-great-but-alright ... there were titles that registered somewhere in the middle of the 'meh' meter ... and one that left me scrambling to find words that adequately expressed how odorous I found it.

photoI would place "Speculative Story Bites" at or near the top of the 'great' category. I found it to be filled with good reads that were fun and well-crafted ... AND generated plenty of entertaining (and healthy) speculation on my part.

This science- and fantasy-fiction anthology was assembled by Sarena Ulibarri, editor-in-chief of World Weaver Press as well as a published writer. Ulibarri has brought together an eclectic gathering of writing talents for this book, with the result being a generally strong collection of short stories covering a broad range of subjects.

A chocolate shop that treats more than your sweet tooth? Got it ... A kitty-cat stepping-up to battle inter-dimensional invaders? Got it ... A new spin on classic Greek mythology? Yup, got it ... Okay, how about flower fairies marching/flitting to war against a deadly spirit? Got that, too ... Well, then, an intergalactic house of ill-repute? Yup, it's there and open for business.

And these are just a few of the 'bites' offered in this anthology.

When you think about it, that might be a secret to a successful fiction anthology. In television, two of the most successful science- and fantasy-fiction series (for me, at least) are America's "The Twilight Zone" and Britain's "Doctor Who." Both feature short stories (stand-alone or part of a story arc), different writers, different directors and different casts (or a selection of recurring characters and guest stars). And both are/were well done, with a single producer/creator overseeing the process.

(More recently, I would add "Dimension 404" and "Black Mirror" to that list.)

Getting back to the book! Whatever you think of my 'secret of success' speculation, I strongly recommend you sample and savor "Speculative Story Bites."

Bon apetit!

__________

NOTE: I received a free e-copy of this work through LibraryThing in exchange for a review. ( )

Really enjoyable collection of bizarre and fantastic stories. As often with a collection like this there are some that hit the spot for me and others that miss by a good measure. But that's all part of the fun. There are enough gems in this collection that make it well worth a read.

Read this book and I guarantee that you will treat your teddy bear with more respect. ( )

I enjoyed all of the short stories in Speculative Story Bites. I find it hard to write reviews that don't spoil some of the fun of the stories, so apologies if these reviews seem less informative than desired. Many of the stories had interesting twists and most of them invited reflection on the topic at hand or related concepts.
The Business of Thorns by Shannon Phillips brought me back to my youthful obsession with flower fairies and combined it with my adult love of urban fantasy. The characters are wonderfully crafted to reflect their botanical roots.
Hummer by Adam Gaylord started out with a sense of illicit business in a sci fi setting, but twisted by the end to a more personal and emotional reveal, a little bite to make you think.
The Gift of Death by Rebecca Roland approaches the personalization of Death with a conscience, quitting the job when it gets to be too much for her, a feeling that many people might be able to empathise with.
All the Pieces of my Heart by Dianne M. Williams is an intimate look at the struggles of an unusual shapeshifter and his faltering relationship, with some humor and a bit of horror.
The Wild Corner by M.T. Reiten has a darkness that runs through both characters and environment. There is no question that something bad is going to happen.
First Cat by Larry Hodges is a comical short about an incoming inter-dimensional invasion and the unusual defense that occurs.
The Legacy of the Butterfly King by Anya J. Davis begins in a butterfly display and proceeds into the home of the display guide Iris, whose story is more interesting than it would appear.
Three Grams by Jamie Lackey is a dark short concerned with the weight of a soul.
The Museum of Haunted Objects by Megan Neumann tells the story of the passing of the mantle of caretaker for the named museum.
John Knocking by Kristina Wojtaszek is a dark story of John's unique ability and its impact in his life.
A Persistence of Ghosts by Gregory Scheckler is a sci fi short with a focus on memory and communication.
Ligea by Sandi Leibowitz is a retelling of the Persephone myth from the perspective of a handmaid who attended her.
This Old House by Nora Mulligan is a quick horror bite, in a world which I would like to know more about.
Granny Grizz by Tom Howard features a psychiatrist who thinks he might have stumbled on a great patient to write about.
Bittersweet by A.E. Decker is a great story about a chocolate wizard, another world that I'd be interested in learning about. The characters that move in and out of the shop all hint at other stories to be told.
All in all I thought it was a great anthology that provided great tastes of a variety of authors. ( )

This was a free copy given as part of the Early Reviewers program. This was .... ok. As with any anthology, some stories were better than others. Some were super short, others more the length of a typical "short story", and it was a really disparate sampling of science fiction, fantasy, horror ... a little bit of everything. However, it also took me almost three months to get through the entire collection: not exactly page turners - I would read one or two and then wander away, until I remembered I hadn't finished it quite yet. The last story, Bittersweet, by A.E. Decker, did inspire me to polish off the last of the Christmas chocolates I had been hoarding though. Very loving descriptions of chocolate! ( )