Book Reviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Stories

Women and Other Constructs ~Carrie Cuinn (with giveaway!)

33 Comments

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Readers know a book is special when it grabs them and won’t let go; when that final page is turned and they are awash with emotions. An exceptional short story collection is extra special in that it can give you several of those experiences back to back, leaving you with feelings of joy, anger, sadness, delight all rolled into one.

If the name Carrie Cuinn is not one you are familiar with, that would not surprise me. Although she has been writing for some time, she is not one of the big names…yet. This collection is the match that could set things on fire. I promise you it will spark your imagination as it demonstrates in a variety of ways just how effective the short story format can be at eliciting emotion and at making you look at real, important issues in a new light.

I know Carrie Cuinn as a fellow SF Signal Irregular. She writes excellent columns about independent and lesser known comic books in her Outside the Frame column. She also blogs regularly about life, writing and important social issues in the SFF community at her personal website.

I have enjoyed her nonfiction writing and when she announced that she had put together a collection I rushed out to buy it. Then the opportunity arose to review the book for SF Signal and I quickly volunteered, not thinking about the aftermath of worrying about how difficult it would be to write a review if I was less than impressed with the stories. I sat down last Sunday afternoon to sample the collection, and ended up reading one story after another until I sat in my chair awash with emotions when the final (digital) page was turned.

Carrie Cuinn is obviously a big fan of the short story and her quest to become proficient in the format is on display in these nine stories. You won’t love every one, that is a tall order for any selection of short fiction, but you will find stories that demonstrate just how effective the short story can be at engaging you as a reader. There are interesting characters, imaginative scenarios, adventures, laughs and potentially tears awaiting you in Women and Other Constructs. Carrie Cuinn entertains, to be certain, but she also tackles some tough subjects with the skill of an author who can use the tropes and trappings of SF/F/H to examine hard truth in a non-preachy yet highly effective manner.

My proper review for the book is up at SF Signal. It would give me great pleasure if you checked it out. I enjoyed this book so much that I am giving away one signed print version and two ebook versions. All you need to do to qualify is to leave a comment here. I will draw names randomly late Sunday night/early Monday morning to determine the winners. If you would like to double your chances of winning, comment over on the SF Signal site as well and your name will go in the hopper twice! Had I only liked the excellent Introduction and the first story, “Mrs. Henderson’s Cemetery Dance”, this collection would be a must-have. Thankfully I enjoyed aspects of each story and I want you to experience her work.

You need not wait for Fate to be kind to you, however, as the books are available in print form, ebook and as a bundle, all for very reasonable prices, here.

Have a lovely weekend filled with great stories!

33 thoughts on “Women and Other Constructs ~Carrie Cuinn (with giveaway!)”

  1. Carrie Cuinn is a name I am not familiar with, but if you enjoyed them then I’m sure I would too.

    1. I hope you do, John. There is a wide range of story types here.

  2. Great review over at SF Signal! Count me in for the giveaway raffle. And thanks for bringing to mind Ms. Cuinn. You’re praise of Jeff VanderMeer’s Third Bear yielded one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read. Maybe this one can, too.

    1. Oh man, The Third Bear is one great collection, isn’t it? It has been long enough now that I should read it again.

  3. That has to be one of the most complete reviews I’ve read in a long time. It seems like a great book to meet the author and makes me want to start reading short stories.

    1. Thank you, it was easy to write given how I connected with the book. I know short stories are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I have a deep and abiding love for them and I think it is obvious in the work when authors do too.

  4. I haven’t heard of Carrie Cuinn, but your reviews have never failed to bring excellent new authors into my life. I’ll be reading this collection whether or not I win! 🙂

    1. Thanks Abby. I think I’m going to feature her first story, “Mrs. Henderson’s Cemetery Dance” here in the next few weeks as it is available online free. It was the story that sold me and it would be fun to do a deeper discussion of it.

  5. I am new to liking the short story format, as you know. I excited that I do find short stories agreeable to me now as it has opened up a whole new reading world to me. Your recommendations have yet to fail to agree with me so I will be reading this collection at some point in time. although, if I win a copy than that point in time will be sooner.
    The cover, I must say, fascinates me. The cover has me curious too.

  6. Wow, this sounds fantastic. I realize this is not the important aspect of the book, but what an interesting cover. And such an evocative title!

    1. Covers are always an important aspect of the book for me, Aarti. 🙂 I like this one too.

  7. This sounds like a great collection of stories.
    I’d love to win.

    1. Thanks Michael, I have your name in the drawing…twice.

  8. Love a good anthology. I’m a fan of Carrie Cuinn as an editor, and would love to see what she’s got going on here.

  9. You have steered me toward some amazing authors I would have missed otherwise. Given the very reasonable price, I’ve already purchased it on your recommendation. Once again, thank you for helping me keep my Kindle reader well stocked with options.

    I’m looking forward to digging in after I finish a little project of my own this weekend.

    1. I will be really interested in what you think. I don’t know how much short fiction you read or if you are a fan at all.

  11. This is my first time hearing about Carrie Cuinn, and from your description, she sounds like a fantastic writer!

    1. It has been fun to read her fiction. I’ve enjoyed her blog posts and have also enjoyed her guest spots on the Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing podcast.

  13. “Mrs. Henderson’s Cemetery Dance” was among my favorites of the short stories I read last year. I liked it a lot. Maybe I should finally get myself a copy of this collection. 🙂

    1. I can see why, it is one of my favorites for this year and will remain so. Can’t wait to read it again and do a further discussion.

  14. You’re right I don’t know her name, but would love to get to know her writing. I fear I’m too late to enter the drawing though. Hopefully not since I’m on London time.

      1. Even since moving to London I never know what time it is. Not used to military time.

  15. Carrie Cuinn is not a name I am familiar with. Last year though I really got into reading short story collections. I’m sad I missed your give-away for this collection as it sounds wonderful. I will just have to maybe treat myself to it once my digital TBR pile comes down a bit!

    1. I’ll be featuring the first short story in the collection soon in a discussion as it is available free online. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to read it to see if Carrie Cuinn’s storytelling captures you like it did me.

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