A Smorgasbords of Speculative Delights
Title: Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death and Life
Author: Gregory Bernard Banks
Website: Wheelman's Place
Purchase from Amazon.com
A few years ago I read an article in Writer's Digest about the demise of the short story genre. Someone once wrote the short stories was a dying genre, and as such, the anthology was gripping the edges of its death bed.
I would like to offer Gregory Bank’s anthology as Exhibit A as to why this declaration isn’t true, and argue, vehemently, why the genre is alive and kicking. “Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death and Life” is a collection worth sitting down to read and savoring in slow, delectable nibbles.
The speculative stories are short enough to be slowly sampled, but some of the stories snare you so deeply, so quickly, you’ve read the damn thing before you’ve realized it. Stories such as “Escape Velocity” and “Fireflies” are two of many which I personally was disappointed when the tale ended—the same way a person looks down at her plate and realize she doesn’t have any more pizza.
“Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death and Life,” offers up a smorgasbord of stories pertaining to the speculative nature of living and dying and even something in-between. Most of the stories have been previously published.
The wonderful beauty of speculate fiction is its diversity, and here is a nice menu stocked full of delights. Sure, you may come across some items that don’t taste as good as others, but the overall meal is more than satisfying.
Try it out for yourself.
Nicole
I would like to offer Gregory Bank’s anthology as Exhibit A as to why this declaration isn’t true, and argue, vehemently, why the genre is alive and kicking. “Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death and Life” is a collection worth sitting down to read and savoring in slow, delectable nibbles.
The speculative stories are short enough to be slowly sampled, but some of the stories snare you so deeply, so quickly, you’ve read the damn thing before you’ve realized it. Stories such as “Escape Velocity” and “Fireflies” are two of many which I personally was disappointed when the tale ended—the same way a person looks down at her plate and realize she doesn’t have any more pizza.
“Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death and Life,” offers up a smorgasbord of stories pertaining to the speculative nature of living and dying and even something in-between. Most of the stories have been previously published.
The wonderful beauty of speculate fiction is its diversity, and here is a nice menu stocked full of delights. Sure, you may come across some items that don’t taste as good as others, but the overall meal is more than satisfying.
Try it out for yourself.
Nicole
