Genre: Sxci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror
LGBTQ+ Category: Asexual, Bisexual, Demisexual, Gay, Gender Fluid, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, Lesbian, Poly, Transgender
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon | Universal Buy Link
About The Book
RISE (noun / verb)
Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
1) An upward slope or movement
2) A beginning or origin
3) An increase in amount or number
4) An angry reaction
5) To take up arms
6) To return from death
7) To become heartened or elated
8) To exert oneself to meet a challenge
Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
The Review
First, I want to commend the judges on the Queer Sci Fi’s Flash Fiction Contest. They got it right with the following Judge’s Choices:
FANTASY
- Rise Up by Nathan Ailing Long
- Artemis, Fractured by George Underwood
- Simple Recipes for Small Magics by Ziggy Schutz
PARANORMAL
- Deadame by Oliver Nash
- Dinner for Two by Olivia Kemper
- Speed Date by Paula McGrath
SCIENCE FICTION
- It Came From Atom City by Dean Wells
Then there are the winning stories:
- 1 – So High Up We’ll Never Hear Them Shouting by Meghan Hyland
- 2 – Dead Name by Sorren Briarwood
- 3 – Getting the Proper Rise by Aidee Ladnier
…which were all outstanding, I named a few picks of my own. I kept it short because there were just to many! These stories are teasers, made me curious and I wanted more!
- Ivy, Evergeen by Mere Rain
- In the Shadow of Your HeartChad Grayson
- Recovery by Kaje Harper
- The Sundowning by Eytan Bernstein
- Ashes & Tulips by Kellie Doherty
- Principle and Reality by Kim Fields
- Lough Ree by Atlin Merrick
Of course there were more!
I usually give a synopsis of the stories I review but in this case, I would be giving the whole story away, as I’m always too wordy.
Rise is comprised of 120 individual stories, each 300 words or less – quick and fast moving tales from fantasy to Sci Fi, and everything in-between. The book is set up nicely in genre sections. Readers can stick with their favorite genres, or just skip around to the others. It’s a great anthology because it doesn’t need to be read all in one sitting. There are so many stories that you can just read them at your leisure.
I highly recommend Rise, and commend each and every author for sharing their brilliance, hard work, and imagination in creating such fascinating stories. There’s something to please everyone here.
Also, well done, J. Scott Coatsworth and judges, in taking the time to run this contest and in finding and recognizing so many talented authors.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.