This week I discuss two of the more recent free short story offerings over on Tor.com. Elizabeth Knox brings us a tale with a creepy, backwoods atmosphere in “A Visit to the House on Terminal Hill”. This one works on your imagination and will give you chills, something that may be most welcome on these increasingly warm summer days.
The other story is “A Window or a Small Box” by Jedediah Berry. I became a fan of Berry’s work with his debut novel, The Manual of Detection (READ IT!!!). This is my first experience with his short fiction. It is a surreal trip through an alternate United States, following a young, soon-to-be-married couple, as they are on the run from pinstripe-suited goons. This one marries imaginative, weird, fun imagery with a more grounded “protagonist trying to stay ahead of the bad guys” story.
Both are really enjoyable. Please check out my non-spoiler reviews over on SF Signal and then read the stories and share your thoughts.
Today marks the end of the 7th Annual Once Upon a Time Challenge. It is wild how quickly three months can rush by. I did not read nearly as many longer works as I would have liked during this time period, but I did read several short stories that fit within the challenge parameters that I enjoyed very much, discovering new authors along the way. That is one of the big pleasures of participating in this sort of reading event.
The biggest pleasure, however, is interacting with all of you and watching you interact with one another. Whether you jumped on board on day one or came along here at the end, I hope you had a wonderful time and I thank you so much for participating. Hopefully you will consider coming along for the eighth annual R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge beginning September 1st. And for those who are not ready to step away from fantasy literature, I am co-hosting a group read of Daniel Abraham’s novel, The Dragon’s Path, that will officially begin on July 5th. Schedule will follow soon.
Special thanks to artist Melissa Nucera for the use of her image for this year’s banner.
If you are doing any form of wrap-up post for your Once Upon a Time VII participation, I would love to have you link to it here so that folks can come visit you.
Coming Soon: Summer Reading Plans!
I had every intention of stepping away from fantasy–but have found myself ordering more fantasy from the library anyway! But I am thinking I’ll read something light and easy, after Tolkien…
As always, thanks for hosting! I’ll have to start thinking about what to read for R.I.P. 🙂
I hear you. And yes, after Tolkien doing something light is not a bad idea.
If you want to get a flavor of R.I.P. you should check out “A Visit to the House on Terminal Hill” that I reviewed over on SF Signal.
Thank you Carl. My favourite event OUaT! Of course I’ll probably say that when RIP comes around as well. My TBR pile is in dire straits now however.
Lynn 😀
You are welcome, thank you!!!
I think all of our TBR piles could topple and kill us at any moment. Ah, but what a way to go.
Smothered in books – you could have a quick read whilst you were waiting to be rescued – catch up on some of your unread novels!
Lynn 😀
I like the way you think!
Just read The House on Terminal Hill. It’s a good story and definitely thought provoking as I find myself puzzling over what exactly was going on even now! Creepy and weird and I liked your comparison about the window seat and Arsenic and Old Lace. I love that film and it makes me want to watch it again!
Lynn 😀
It is a creepy one, isn’t it? We didn’t manage to get to our annual viewing of Arsenic and Old Lace last autumn and there is no way I’m going to miss it this year.
When I saw this post, I suddenly realized it is summer and the end of the Once Upon a Time challenge. I really knew that. After all we are going to a Solstice Parade tomorrow. Or at least to take pre-parade photos of the event. I have just finished my 4th fantasy novel, Daemons are Forever, Simon R. Green, and will review that, then post my wrap-up.
Thanks for hosting. I am looking forward to R.I.P. in September.
You are very welcome, I enjoyed it very much. Hard to believe but September 1st will be here before we know it.
Ooh, I need to read that Jedediah Berry story. I think you and I originally bonded over The Manual of Detection. 🙂 I’ve been thinking about a re-read of that lately. And thanks again for hosting OUaT. It doesn’t get me to pick up books I wouldn’t (let’s face it, I’m a fantasy reader) but it certainly makes me more purposeful in what I choose rather than my regular randomness. I like that sometimes. And you KNOW I’m looking forward to RIP! I already have a couple of books on a short stack. 😉
Oh yes, that is great! I think you may be the only person I know who read The Manual of Detection. Which is great, but also sad because it is such a good story. I’ve been thinking about re-reading it myself. It has been long enough that all I can really recall with clarity is the beginning.
I’m the same way, hosting challenges that play right into the books I would be reading anyway, but I end up discovering new authors or getting finally pushed over the edge on ones I’ve been contemplating for ages, so that is a good thing.
Thank you Carl. I had a lot of fun taking part this year. I am missing it already! I think I may have to join in with R.I.P this year too.
I hope you do, Jessica. Fall is a great time to read some good mysteries and gothic stories.
Thank you once again for hosting such a fun and open reading event. I always find it interesting too see what everyone else reads and how broad a genre definition can be interpreted.
You are welcome, thank you for participating. It is fun to see how folks will interpret the categories. The genre is so wide open anyway and it is amazing when you look how many fantastical elements end up in books that are not necessarily classified as ‘fantasy’.
True story, after reading Stardust with you I completely forgot that OUaT existed. 🙁 I am clearly going to have to do better next year.
But omg I absolutely adore The Manual of Detection and have been pondering a re-read of it due to lack of Berry’s awesome writing, so now I can put that off another day while I read this short story!
No worries Alison, I’m glad you joined us for Stardust.
Wonderful to find another lover of The Manual of Detection. It is a book that got great critical attention but not nearly enough reader attention, to my mind.
I found another Berry short story online which I haven’t had time to read yet. Here is the link if you are interested:
http://interfictions.com/the-thing-under-the-drawing-room/
As with all above, thanks for hosting. I really enjoyed it. As you say, the interaction is key. I’m also getting better at pacing myself with these things, clearly, so had none of the burnout I experienced last time around.
I don’t normally go for horror, but I’ve got a couple of things in the pile that might qualify come autumn. Might be the poke I need to dig them out. Thanks again.
Thank Kamo! Interaction really is the big draw for doing something like this. Community building is key in the online world, and not to build an audience, but to engage in building relationships. That is all that matters.
I do hope you join us for R.I.P. I don’t read much traditional horror either, but I do find some good creepy gothic books and good mysteries to partake of during the event.
Thanks so much for hosting the Once Upon a Time Challenge, Carl! You’re right; the time just flies by! And I can’t wait for the next edition of R.I.P.!
Thank you Darlene. Yes, it does.
Glad you’ll be joining us for R.I.P. Looking forward to it, not the least of which because it will mean fall weather is near.
This was my first Once Upon a Time challenge though I consider myself a veteran of R.I.P. I had a good time reading others’ reviews here, and I enjoyed the additional challenge of searching for ghosts in a whole new genre.
Thanks for the challenge! Now, on to R.I.P.!
You are indeed a R.I.P. veteran, and now an OUaT one as well! Thanks for taking part, you really got through the books!
I had no idea Jedediah had something new to read out there in the wild! Thank you for this. Now I think I’ll scurry off to find it.
I didn’t either until I saw the Tor post, but then I found this one as well. Have yet to read it, but let me share anyway:
http://interfictions.com/the-thing-under-the-drawing-room/