I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Betty Jane Hegerat shares a collection of short stories that explore the regrets and lessons people learn in life in the book “Elephants in the Room.”
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The Synopsis
Fourteen jewel-like stories unveil the tender chaos of lives unlived and loves unspoken
In Elephants in the Room, Betty Jane Hegerat masterfully uncovers the quiet fractures of ordinary lives—the unspoken regrets, the buried griefs, and the fragile threads of connection that bind families across generations.
From a devoted son’s frantic dash to help his mother glimpse the Queen to a reluctant father’s stunned reunion with the daughter he never knew, from a woman dressing her mother-in-law for an eternal rest to a boy’s guilty reckoning with a bully’s untimely death, these unforgettable stories illuminate the elephants in our lives we ignore at our peril.
With tender wit and unflinching insight, Hegerat explores the weight of what we leave unsaid: the ache of lost chances, the solace of small mercies, and the stubborn grit that carries us through. As poignant as a stolen glance, as resonant as a half-forgotten lullaby, the stories in Elephants in the Room whisper the unvarnished secrets of family ties—where regrets loom large, and small acts of grace light the way home.
The Review
These stories have such a significant impact on the reader. The relatability and depth of emotion each story brings to life are fantastic, and the vivid imagery it uses really brings the settings and characters to life on the page. The versatility of the characters and the way each felt unique and different from those in previous stories made the narrative’s pacing feel fast-paced and the atmosphere enveloping.
The heart of the story was the introspective journey each story took readers on. The story Jawbreaker stood out, as the reader is presented with a tense parental situation that a great-grandmother witnesses. The story not only highlighted the tension and wrongs both parties were part of, but also the feeling of helplessness in a situation with no winners and a child caught in the middle. This story reflected the open-ended nature of many of these stories, as if catching snapshots of people’s lives in a moment in time.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and memorable, author Betty Jane Hegerat’s “Elephants in the Room” is a must-read anthology of unforgettable genre fiction stories. The creativity and the relatability of these characters and their stories will resonate with so many readers and keep them engaged until the final story’s end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Calgary author Betty Jane Hegerat was a social worker in a long-ago life. The stories she has written since she left that career behind reflect an ongoing need to make sense of conflict and chaos in relationships, and to find moments of laughter and even glimmers of redemption. That seriousness aside, she loves the Calgary writing community. She has taught at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, Fernie Writers’ Conference, for Continuing Education at the U of C, and was Writer in Residence for the Calgary Public Library. In 2015 she was honoured to receive the Writers Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement in writing. Betty Jane’s stories have been published in anthologies and magazines. She has five previous books: a novel, Running Toward Home (Newest Press), collection of stories, A Crack in the Wall (Oolichan Books), another novel, Delivery (Oolican Books), and two YA novels, Odd One Out (Oolichan Books) and The Boy (Oolichan Books). The Boy is a French braid of investigative journalism, fiction, memoir, and meta-fiction. The book was shortlisted for the Calgary Book Prize, High Plains Book Awards, and Alberta Writers Guild Wilfrid Eggleston Non-Fiction award.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Rhea Thomas shares 15 short stories of magical realism in the collection “Let Birds Fly.”
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The Synopsis
Let Birds Fly by Rhea Thomas is a magical realism short story collection where the extraordinary sparks everyday lives toward transformation. Connected by Ripple Media, each of the fifteen characters navigates personal struggles, such as an impossible itch, a mercurial third eye, and hallucinating coffee. They discover hidden truths, purpose, or power. With whimsy and emotional depth, these stories explore identity, passion, and self-discovery through moments of enchantment that crack open ordinary reality. Let these tales remind you: sometimes, the most magical thing is becoming who you were always meant to be.
The Review
This was a unique and surreal collection of short stories. While each story could stand on its own, the underlying connective factor of the Office setting, with Ripple Media playing a role in each of these stories and the characters’ lives, was a great twist, allowing readers to channel their own workplace environments into the narratives. The vivid imagery in these stories and the strong character development the author achieves in such short stories are incredible, especially in one of my personal favorites, The Third Eye.
The satirical and magical nature of these stories, as well as the wise and almost lyrical style of writing, made this story shine brightly. The practically metaphysical nature of this collection speaks to a hidden layer of reality as we know it, with each tale striking at topics like corporate struggles for workers and the grief we feel losing a family member in a way that feels relatable and engaging.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, satirical, and engaging, author Rhea Thomas’s “Let Birds Fly” is a must-read collection of short stories. The twists and turns each story takes, the unique nature of the self-contained stories within a larger umbrella tale, and the powerful imagery that these stories conjure up will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Rhea Thomas lives in Austin, Texas where she works as a program manager in the digital media world. Her short stories have been published in multiple publications, including, most recently, The Fictional Café, Toasted Cheese and Does It Have Pockets. She spends her free time hoarding books, walking her stubborn Labrador retriever, playing games with her sons, kayaking and swimming in rivers, searching for mysteries and writing short stories that explore magical moments in the mundane. Her first book, a collection of short stories, is due out in August 2025, and she’s currently working on a literary mystery novel.
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Let Birds Fly by Rhea Thomas. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.
Back at his desk, Beto took his first cautious sip and almost groaned out loud. It tasted fucking incredible. There was a richness to it that slid across his tongue in a velvety caress with a tinge of orange, with little spicy, almost peppery, sparks exploding in its wake. He gently ran his finger over his tongue to make sure it was, well, still normal-feeling. It was tingling, not unpleasantly. He took another sip and had the same experience, although slightly less surprising, since he knew to expect it, but no less amazing. Each subsequent sip produced the same effect. This coffee was incredible. It was a tongue-gasm. And in between these sips, something interesting was happening. Beto’s super-organized email inbox, which had lots of folders and labels, was turning into a rainbow, with different subjects taking on different colors. He looked around and saw rainbows on other people’s screens, so he shook his head and went back to work. Must be some weird new update.
From To The Fairest:
About an hour later, hearing a knock on her front door, she opened it without checking, assuming it was her food delivery, and found a goddess standing on her welcome mat. Tall, with olive skin, shiny black hair falling down her back and gray eyes, the woman wore a silver breastplate and had an owl on her shoulder.
“I am Athena, daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom and war.”
Sophia stared for a second and then burst out laughing. “Nice one. Did Lucy send you?”
“Lucy? No, I’m here because of the Golden Apple.”
Sophia put her hands on her hips. “Uh-huh, and how did you know I have it?”
Athena opened her mouth to reply, but Sophia continued, “Let me guess, you’re here to promise me wealth if I give it to you?”
Athena narrowed her eyes. “Did someone tell you I was coming? Did they beat me here?” She tried to peer past Sophia into the apartment.
“There’s no one here. Wait, who is they? Who is coming?” Sophia asked.
“Aphrodite and Hera, of course.” She turned around to look behind her as if they might be there already.
From A Fearsome Thing:
Dixon Murray started his morning with an omelet, strong coffee and murder, and he was rather particular about the order. A hearty breakfast followed by crime was his preferred start to every day, if he was completely honest with himself, although, the murder part was the new addition he was trying to make a habit.
He made the omelet himself with three eggs, slightly beaten, low-fat milk, shredded pepper jack cheese, chopped organic green onions and bell peppers, and one sliced avocado. He preferred his coffee black and strong, and he liked to sit down with both the coffee and the omelet at the wooden desk in his small home office to contemplate murder. He wasn’t picky about the method of murder; stabbing, strangling, poison or guns, anything and everything was on the table. The more complicated, the more involved stages of planning, the more satisfying it was. Dixon wanted more than anything to be a mystery novelist. But, as the adult son of an actual celebrated mystery novelist, he knew just how high the bar was and what his chances were of writing something, well, publishable.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Annmarie SanSevero leads readers into a collection of speculative fiction that explores mystery and the supernatural in “The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories.”
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The Synospis
An Intricate and Harmonious Dance Between Humanity and Technology
Dive into Annmarie SanSevero’s gripping collection of speculative fiction, where suspense, mystery, and the supernatural collide with the frontiers of science. Each story pulses with themes of hope, resilience, and the ethical complexities of technological advancements.
A testament to the human spirit, these tales weave suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements into a tapestry of speculative fiction that resonates with contemporary societal issues. Don’t miss your chance to experience these unforgettable narratives and embark on a journey that both challenges and inspires.
The Review
This was such a powerful collection of short stories. The speculative fiction genre always knows how to push the envelope and get readers really thinking critically and taking in all considerations. The dynamic character development and fast-paced yet monumental story points in each short story really hit both emotional and psychological notes, resonating with readers as they dive deeper into the collection.
The powerful imagery and strong themes really were the backbone of this collection. The stories each brought a profound discussion to the table, from the titular story’s exploration of technology left unregulated, to the story “Heresy of Peace” delving into the topic of division and war amongst groups of people, whether it be due to politics, religion, or ideology as a whole, and how that division could be the undoing of everyone. The heartfelt emotional pull of these stories and the thrilling twists each one houses make this collection truly shine.
The Verdict
Engaging, thoughtful, and uniquely human in a very genre-specific collection of stories, author Annmarie SanSevero’s “The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories” is a must-read short story collection of speculative fiction. The twists and turns, the compelling characters, and the thought-provoking themes will keep readers invested in every tale. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Annmarie SanSevero grew up in New York City but was transplanted to the south in high school. She writes stories about hope, courage, and resilience in fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and mystery. She loves exploring the human experience and wants readers to feel like they can do more than survive. They can be world changers.
When she’s not writing, Annmarie enjoys learning just about everything (yep, she’s a nerd), playing violin, tap dancing, and singing. One day, she wants to go LARPing.
Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, Harriet Richards’s acclaimed short story collection, to be re-released in a new edition September 30 by Shadowpaw Press Reprise
Shadowpaw Press Reprise in Regina, Saskatchewan, is thrilled to announce the release on September 30 of a new edition of Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, the acclaimed short story collection by Harriet Richards, a finalist for Book of the Year at the 2003 Saskatchewan Book Awards.
“These ten stories summon environs and echoes from as far away as my four-year-old self, and showcase fictional versions of a few of my dearest and not-so-dear fellow travellers in life,” says Richards. “What a wonderful journey this has been to revisit these worlds and bring them to light once again.
“It’s been a joy for me to read these stories for the first time, and I’m thrilled to be able to re-introduce them to the reading public,” says Edward Willett, publisher of Shadowpaw Press. “Shadowpaw Press Reprise exists to bring out new editions of notable, previously published books. Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die is a perfect example of what the imprint was designed to return to life.”
More about Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die
Finalist, Book of the Year, 2003 Saskatchewan Book Awards
“There are forces at play so simple, natural, and accidental that nobody can figure them out and see them coming.”
In a small prairie town, a teenage girl’s unexpected pregnancy upends her family’s quiet rhythms, revealing the tender absurdities of love and loss. In shadowed ravines and forgotten sheds, a child confronts the rats of her nightmares and the fragile bonds of friendship. A boy chasing turtles and salamanders discovers the razor-thin line between joy and oblivion, while siblings navigate a mother’s surreal transformation amid whispers of art, betrayal, and unspoken curses.
In Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, Harriet Richards weaves ten haunting tales of ordinary lives cracked open by the extraordinary―heartaches, spectral visitations, forbidden desires, and the quiet violence of human connection. From a woman’s escape from a controlling lover to a daughter’s reckoning with her mother’s final romance, these stories pulse with dark humour, poignant insight, and the raw poetry of the everyday, exploring the ties that bind―and break―us, in a world in which “there’s lots more sorrow flying around people’s heads than there is joy.”
Even though that sorrow may be heartbreaking, and occasionally horrific, the reader is constantly reminded, with the quiet, clear-eyed, and sometimes mischievous irony of Harriet Richards’s voice, that in this world―in the least likely places―we may entertain angels unawares.
Praise for Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die
Finalist, Book of the Year, 2003 Saskatchewan Book Awards
“Richards, at her best when she enters psychological terrain, maps psychic contours with chilling accuracy and eerie pulchritude . . . A piano tuner adjusts the instrument’s strings to ensure it sounds harmonious. The same might be said of Richards’s talent for creating organically unified short fictions of the first order.”—The Globe and Mail
“In Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, Harriet Richards has once again proven her considerable skill as a writer of literary fiction. Her first book, The Lavender Child, a quiet but shimmering novel concerning three generations of one family, showcased Richards’ knack for characterization . . . the author has followed up with a collection of stories that holds its own among the best in the genre.”—Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
“While lyrical and affecting, there is nothing precious, nothing sentimental in this collection. It’s edgy fiction grounded in the flat and vast Saskatchewan landscape: the environments are expansive but the stories dig deep.”―Planet, the Welsh Internationalist
More about the author
Harriet Richards was born in Toronto, Ontario, as the fifth of seven children to a Welsh father and an American mother. Her family relocated to the prairies during her childhood. Initially pursuing a career as a visual artist, her creative focus shifted when an obstinate painting, inspired by a recurring dream, evolved into her first short story.
Richards is the author of three acclaimed works of fiction. The Lavender Child (1998) was a finalist for the Fiction Award and won the First Book Award at the Saskatchewan Book Awards. Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die (2003) was a finalist for Book of the Year, and The Pious Robber (2013) was also a finalist for Book of the Year and won the Fiction Award. Her short fiction has appeared in literary journals in Canada and Wales, and her paintings have been featured on book covers in both countries.
Richards has guided emerging writers through the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild and edited numerous works of fiction and literary essays for authors across Canada. She resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
About Shadowpaw Press
Shadowpaw Press, located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, was founded in 2018 by award- winning author Edward Willett. Shadowpaw Press is a member of Literary Press Group (Canada) and the Association of Canadian Publishers and publishes an eclectic selection of books by both new and established authors, including adult fiction, young adult fiction, children’s books, nonfiction, and anthologies.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Ekta R. Gary shares the unique moments that lead up to or occur between the iconic stories of fairy tales in the book “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.”
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The Synopsis
Have you ever wondered why Jack and Jill needed that pail of water in the first place? Or how Sleeping Beauty managed to prick her finger despite a royal order to destroy every spindle in the kingdom?
Fairy tales and nursery rhymes have given us some of the most iconic characters and images in storytelling; think Cinderella’s glass slipper or Jack’s oversized beanstalk. But what about the in-between moments? The ones that never made it to the page?
In this enchanting micro-collection of short stories, award-winning author Ekta R. Garg explores the untold scenes between the lines of some of our most loved tales. Find out what the Wicked Witch of the East was doing in the road before Dorothy’s house fell on her. Learn where Goldilocks came from. Meet the conmen who convinced the emperor he had new clothes and more.
Rediscover the wit, heart, and magic of the classics, and see them as you’ve never seen them before in The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
This was such a fantastic collection of fairy tale short stories. Although a short read, the collection does an incredible job of creating powerful characters that are both familiar and unique at the same time, such as the Princess found in The Beauty Before She Sleeps. The rich imagery in each story feels both bright and visceral, and each tale expertly weaves together substantial emotional depth for these characters, much like the Witch and her apprentice and their familial connection in The Witch’s Apprentice.
What made these stories so unique was how they were found in the moments people rarely think of when it comes to iconic stories. From exploring how the Wicked Witch of the East ended up under Dorothy’s house to why both Jack and Jill needed a pail of water to begin with, these stories are a love letter to both fan fiction and fairy tales overall. The satire and wit that the dialogue brought to life were an outstanding balance to the self-reflection and introspective themes that these stories wove into their fabric.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, compelling, and entertaining, author Ekta R. Garg’s “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories” is a must-read collection of short stories. The twists and turns of each story, along with their unique takes, dynamic characters, and memorable themes, will keep readers enthralled and eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A Reviewer, Editor, Author, and Dreamer of stories and books, Ekta has worked in niche publishing since 2005—she’s written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films! Ekta judges writing contests, hosts writing workshops, and podcasts about great books and how to write them. She’s currently the Content Coordinator of Neighbors of SW Champaign, a hyper-local magazine focusing on and lifting up the Champaign, Illinois, community. Ekta’s award-winning holiday novella, The Truth About Elves, and her award-winning fairy tale for grown-ups, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, are available from Atmosphere Press.
Join us as we celebrate the launch of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. Read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.
Visit Julie’s blog again for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to choose the theme of your book…or let it choose you. You can also read her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
Visit Katherine’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. You can also check out her response to our tour-themed prompt on what she hasn’t seen in a fairy tale that we wish we saw more of.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The discovery of a body begins a chain reaction connecting people around the world in author Ben C. Davies’ short story collection, “And So I Took Their Eye.”
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The Synopsis
The discovery of a body on the black-sand beaches of Guatemala sparks a chain of events that ripple across the globe.
From an Italian tailor crushed under the weight of his father’s legacy to a mother challenging local snobbery on the cricket fields of England, a vengeful Bolivian priest chasing Che Guevara’s ghost, to a Bay Area therapist blind to his own advice, the lives of a seemingly unconnected group of strangers become fatefully entangled in murder, arson, betrayal, and love. These stories examine abuses of power in a world fractured by inequalities. As their characters confront brutal truths, morality blurs, forcing them to question the meaning of belonging and the lengths they’ll go to carve out their place in an unforgiving world.
Guided by the ancient creed of ‘an eye for an eye’, Ben C. Davies’ And So I Took Their Eye is a gripping collection of interlinked stories exploring what happens when justice is taken into your own hands—and ultimately, what it means to be human.
The Review
This was such a compelling and gripping short story collection. Each story felt very atmospheric, drawing the reader into the culture clash that occurs when tourists and travelers enter a country not their own and bring their sense of righteousness and superiority instead. The dynamic character development and the way the author was able to keep the stories interconnected with one another without sacrificing the unique stories each character experiences made this a memorable collection.
What hit home was the theme the author brought to life in this anthology, which was the fine line between justice and vengeance. The world is so full of increased attacks on things like immigration. There have been increased waves of aggressiveness from people, especially where toxic masculinity is concerned. This book brings these elements into the stories of the anthology to showcase how far people can be pushed, and what happens when people push back. The opening and closing stories especially really captured these themes while also adding mystery, intrigue, and exploring the ways trauma can impact a person.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, enthralling, and mesmerizing, author Ben C. Davies’s “And So I Took Their Eye” is a must-read short story collection. The twists and turns each story takes, how the author weaves each tale together so seamlessly, and the deep study of the human condition and how the lines between justice and revenge can become so blurry at times make this a memorable collection that will stay with readers long after the final page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Ben C. Davies is a Californian-based author whose debut short story collection, And So I Took Their Eye, will be published by Bridge House Publishing in 2025. Originally from the UK, his short fiction has appeared in journals such as The Fiery Scribe Review, Left Brain Media, and Downtime Review, while his articles have been featured in Electric Literature, Work, Huck, and Lost.
He serves as an editor for the Ginosko Literary Journal, is a member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto, and is currently at work on his debut novel, Black Sand. In addition to his writing,
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
TRIGGER WARNING: THEMES OF SELF-HARM, ABUSE, AND MORE RUN THROUGHOUT THESE STORIES AND MAY FEATURE SCENES DEPICTING AS SUCH. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
In author Lynda Williams’s “The Beauty and the Hell of It & Other Stories,” people tackle the expectations of who they are told they are and instead quietly resist being who they know they are.
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The Synopsis
A woman comes face to face with her rapist at his engagement party. A teen reluctantly celebrating the first Christmas after her mother’s death gets caught cutting her wrists by a stranger. A student hands in a box of Kraft Dinner as her final assignment, and a bipolar art teacher grieves her divorce by online shopping. Don’t Look Back is a collection of stories about women (and one man) who quietly resist and the resulting moments of transition, acceptance, and vindication. Whether they wrestle with grief, growth, trauma, or all three, these characters don’t give in to expectations about who or how they should be. These stories will appeal to readers who enjoyed the pivotal moments of ordinary life in Sophie Stocking’s Walking Leonard and Other Stories and those who want a slice of contemporary womanhood served up with dark humour as offered in Meghan Bell’s Erase and Rewind.
The Review
This was such a compelling and engaging collection of short stories. The author perfectly captured the trials and injustices of life that so many women and people in general have to face on any given day. The balance the author found in bringing these difficult events and conversations to light in the dialogue and stories themselves, with the humor and wit of the characters’ conversations and personal character growth, was remarkable to see come to life on the page.
Throughout these painful and relatable experiences, the author showcased a unique voice in the writing style of each story that spoke to the reader on a deeper level. The featured stories played on themes of abuse, loss, grief, and so much more, and each tale held an emotional and introspective look into how these events affect the mind. At the same time, the rest of the world refuses to slow down with those afflicted by these triggering events.
Profound, thoughtfully written, and engaging, author Lynda Williams’ “The Beauty and the Hell of It” is a must-read collection of short stories. The heart and realism featured in these stories will spark a relatability within many readers, and the emotional depth of each character’s struggles and the fantastic pacing of each tale will keep readers invested in every story being told. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on September 1st, 2025 or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Lynda Williams (she/her) is a short fiction writer and champion of unlikeable female characters. Her debut collection, The Beauty and the Hell Of It & Other Stories, is forthcoming from Guernica Editions in 2025.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Discover what happens when human civilization on Earth finally goes silent and leaves behind explorers and settlers spread throughout the galaxy in author James Bow’s anthology, Tales from the Silence.
The Synopsis
On August 4, 2151, the world will end.
It’s been a long time coming: climate disasters brewing conflict, conflict breeding chaos. But on that fateful day, someone will set off the nukes. On August 4, 2151, human civilization on Earth will fall silent.
There are survivors, of course—and not just on Earth. There are scientists on the Jovian moons. Miners in the asteroid belt. Thriving colonies on the surface of Mars and above the clouds of Venus. Far more precarious ones on Mercury. When the silence falls across human space, one thing is clear: Earth’s space-born children are on their own. No more supplies are coming. No more orders. No more meddling. No more help.
Set in the universe of James Bow’s new novel, The Sun Runners, Tales from the Silence is a gathering of award-winning science fiction, fantasy, and YA authors who explore the worlds the Earth left behind, as well as the Earth itself, as they struggle through Earth’s new dark age.
Join James Bow, Phoebe Barton, Kate Blair, Cameron Dixon, Mark Richard Francis, Jo Karaplis, Kari Maaren, Fiona Moore, Ira Nayman, Kate Orman, and Jeff Szpirglas as they tell the stories of what happens after the end of the world.
The Review
What a phenomenal and engaging collection of short stories. The authors of this story found the perfect way to make each story feel wholly individual and unique while also tying together the overall narrative set up by James Bow. The relatability of the characters brought that unique humanity to the otherwise cosmic and space-traveling adventure in which the story takes place.
What stood out amongst other sci-fi collections is how Earth was more of a catalyst for these stories rather than the protagonist or primary setting. Instead, readers are treated to a universe in which Earth has gone quiet, and most of humanity is now out amongst the stars, inhabiting other worlds and wondering how to survive without their home world. The emotional ebb and flow of the stories and the unique spin on survival, from the opening story of The Phases of Jupiter by James Bow to the actions of Venusians in Ira Nayman’s “Famous Last Words,” allowed readers to immerse themselves in this collection fully.
The Verdict
Harrowing, insightful, and entertaining author James Bow’s Tales from the Silence is a must-read sci-fi and dystopian short story collection. With elements of The Expanse peppered throughout, the book touches on the meaning of survival and the evolution of humanity beyond Earth and will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories are brought to the English language and showcases the struggles of life through the lens of Judaism, Israeilism, and European views in the collection “See you In Eden.”
The Synopsis
One of Israel’s most distinctive literary voices is showcased in this collection of short stories that are alternately profound, insightful, entertaining, and surprising. Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories will make you weep, laugh, and shake your head in amazement.
“See You in Eden” is the first English collection of literary short stories penned by one of Israel’s premier masters of the format. With the unique perspective of an immigrant, Leonid Pekarovsky views the surreal, beautiful, and often touching constant struggle of life in modern Israel. Drawing from his own experiences and struggles, Pekarovsky blends the cultural traditions of Europe, Judaism, and Israelism to create a rich tapestry of illuminating and always surprising short stories.
Leonid Pekarovsky broke into the Israeli literary sphere when his short story “Broom,” which describes his spiritual struggles and ultimate elevation while cleaning the streets of Tel Aviv, was accepted for publication in one of the country’s premier literary supplements. Since then, he has regularly published his tales, released several Hebrew collections, and achieved international success with his short stories appearing in various magazines in Russian and English.
“See You in Eden” makes this important Jewish literary voice available to English-language readers for the first time. Pekarovsky skillfully blends the fantastic and the realistic, the diasporic experience with the Sabra experience, and the constant struggle to find the sublime and the artistic even when faced with life’s most dire circumstances, cynicism, and cold necessities.
The Review
It’s such a moving and profound read. The author has found the perfect voice and captured the culture and heart of life in Israel. The honesty and the balance of surrealism with the truthful reality that many face in modern Israeli culture will resonate with many readers who have experienced this firsthand and give others a unique insight into this world. The Jewish culture and the author’s life as a Ukrainian immigrant were also distinct and engaging aspects of these stories.
One story in particular, The Umbrella, really hit a special note for me as a reader. The story speaks of themes of identity, purpose, and the work that we do to fund our passions. The idea of someone or something losing purpose when not being used or utilized and the idea that something can find purpose once again made this a memorable story.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, memorable, and engaging author Leonid Pekarovsky’s “See You In Eden” is a must-read literary fiction and collection of short stories. The artful, almost poetic way the author examines life through these stories and the diversity that the author exudes through this work will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Leonid Pekarovsky is a writer, journalist and art critic.
Pekarovsky served in the Red Army before studying art theory and history at the Fine Arts Institute in Kiev. He worked for the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture for many years, where he organized art exhibitions both in the USSR and worldwide.
His essays on art theory and history have been published in professional journals.
After he immigrated to Israel in 1991, he worked as a gardener and a printer and, in 1995, became a security guard until he recently retired to focus on his writing.
His stories and novellas have been printed in the Russian press as well as in the Haaretz Culture and Literature Supplement. His first book, Broom and Other Stories, was published in 2012. His second book, A Parabola of Success, was published in 2015.
His third short story collection, Ten Agorot, published in 2018, was shortlisted for the prestigious Israeli Sapir Prize.
