One of the shortest stories included in my upcoming anthology was written for an Edgar Allan Poe competition in 2021, in which my work came Runner-Up, and is titled The Clockmaker . Edgar Allan Poe is most famous for his works of Gothic Horror, but it is easy to forget that he also dabbled in Science Fiction, as did many of his Gothic contemporaries. Indeed, a quick Google search has informed me that there are anthologies which solely contain his Science Fiction. The Clockmaker was designed to marry these Horror and SciFi elements to create the sort of story which Poe himself might have written. I won’t deny it: I was pleased with the outcome. At only 500 words, it tells the story of a man who pays a visit to an old schoolfriend (you will realise, if you read much of my Gothic Horror, that old school/university friends play vital roles!) who is an inventor, and spends some time admiring a clock which he has made. I won’t spoil by telling you the ending, but I will say that he does...
"Lifesong" by Julia Blake
Book Review
☆☆☆☆
The first thing that
struck me about this book was the beauty of the language. Each sentence has
been exquisitely crafted to ensure it has the most impact and meaning on the
reader. Although it was not my sort of book, I appreciated the artistic skill
of the author and must congratulate her that she portrayed such a worrying
concept so beautifully.
One of the main things I
look for in a book is the strength of its characters. The author developed all
the characters well in the short time she had given herself, so I felt the
characters’ concern and pain alongside them.
I found the novella a
little dark for my taste (this is purely a matter of personal taste) and I
would have liked a little more hope in the story. The end seemed satisfactory –
and not – at the same time. I acknowledge, however, that this is important for
the message the story conveys.
Blurb (from Goodreads)
She came from a different place, a world living in harmony with the lifesong that flows through everything, connecting all to the great song of the universe.
Suddenly, she's trapped on our world, a place hell bent on self-destruction, a place that destroys without thought, poisons its own water supply and pollutes the very air that it breathes. Horrified to discover we have no lifesong, the question burns – what kind of a world is this, that can treat itself so?
Hauntingly beautiful, this story will make you think and feel about our planet and our choices, and wonder - Is the love of one woman enough to save an entire world?
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