Rating: 5 stars out of 5
IM * PACT
(noun)
1) One object colliding with another
2) An impinging of something upon something else
3) An influence or effect on something or someone
4) The force of a new idea, concept, technology or ideology
Four definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 110 of our favorites.
A difficult choice to be made. An object hurtling recklessly through space. A new invention that will change the world. So many things can impact a life, a society, or a planet.
Impact features 300 word speculative fiction ficlets from across the queer spectrum from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
Welcome to Impact.
I’m in love with the flash fiction format. It’s so difficult for an author to build a universe, characters and then fit them into a well constructed story in a much larger framework, let alone one of 300 words. Yet here’s an anthology of 245 pages of writers and stories, all you could want, do exactly that.
Mostly science fiction, but there’s fantasy and some horror as well (divided into sections). Small amuse bouche’s of fiction to delight and tantalize your narrative taste buds.
Normally in anthology’s I’d pick up stories that are my favorite’s and put them forth as examples. Well, there is no doing that here. I have far too many, my lists run wild. Where would I start? Would it be with the AI going back to find his love through a time warp in the past? A woman on the small side who throws a troll down a hillside and then heads home to her husband and wife? No, I won’t tell you the kicker here. But what a delight! There is a wifch who take flight on night’s she shouldn’t, and an Ad campaign that turns a marketer to despair. And everything in between.
Asking me to choose which I loved best is like asking me to choose a puppy out of a litter or which ice cream I want on a hot day. It’s just not done. Because of course, you want them all. You need them all. And the lovely thing about a story of this length is that you can quickly read one at any time and put the anthology down. Of course, the aftereffects amy linger on. Be prepared for that as well. There are some real stunners here that will keep you thinking their themes reverberating after they are over.
Honestly, yes there are some that might not be 5 star stories but it’s because so many here are that they suffer in comparison. So read them, take them as they are, and move on. I admire them for taking on the challenge. A 300 word story is a mighty courageous feat to attempt. Kudos to these authors for the worlds, characters, and visions they have brought to us. Just amazing.
Cover art: Lex Chase. Not fond of this cover. With all the authors stretching our imagination, I would have hoped the artist would have done so as well.
Sales Links: Amazon Kindle
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 245 pages
Published July 25th 2018 by Other Worlds Ink
ASINB07FC91HH2
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 