Samuel Peralta

Just buy this. Future Chronicles is really good and I think I’ll use the phrase outstanding for its type as well, a special sci-fi collection with stings in the tails and brains in the formulation and I recommend it to you without hesitation. Usually I don’t go overboard like that (okay, sometimes, but never previously for short stories) but this one deserves flagging. The thing is, most short story collections I’ve read have included one or two quite good ones, then a dozen others at show more a much lower standard (incl. one written by the editor) which the publication carries, making up the numbers. The stories in this book are pretty much all five or four star reads, imaginative, well-constructed and delivered in a flowing style. It’s a great feeling to have finished an impressive short story, then start the next and feel after a few pages that that it might be even better. I have tried to think of a higher quality sci-fi/fantasy short story collection but I’m stuck as I honestly can’t come up with any. Better individual stories, yes, but not a better set in one volume. These were the classics, in my view: A Dream of Waking (Sam Best), Don’t Tell (Peter Cawdron), Iteration (Dierdre Gould), The Assistant (Angela Cavanaugh) and The Grove (Jennifer Foehner Wells). My favourite? Probably The Assistant, but a blogger can’t help but notice that one. show less

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this short story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: What it means to be human has always been up for debate and as technology becomes more and more prevalent, the answer seems to change. In Humanity, Samuel Peralta gives you a glimpse into the world where this question defines each character from the very first page.

The story was fantastic. It grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. I found myself questioning how I would show more react in a similar situation and the truth is you couldn’t know for sure unless it happens. I don’t really have to worry about it though because I doubt A.I. (artificial intelligence) will become that advanced within my lifetime. Humanity stuck with me too. I found myself still thinking about it days after I’d read it.

It’s very short and takes no time at all to read. It’s definitely worth reading though. I felt like it was such a quick look into this world that it could be seen as a short prequel. I do hope to see more from this world and hopefully in a full length novel (fingers crossed). I would recommend Humanity, especially to those with a love for short stories and futuristic technology.

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Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: Love through time travel seems like it would be a b**ch (excuse my language). I don’t think I could do it. Either you’re the one that’s constantly gone heaping the pain of absence on someone you love or you’re the one left in one time. It sounds like an emotional pain in the butt that I’m ultimately too selfish to endure.

Hereafter is a short novella about time travel and show more love, obviously. I’m a sucker for most time-travel related things because I watch Doctor Who like it’s water and I’m dehydrated. I really liked the twist on time-travelling rules in Hereafter (don’t worry; I won’t give it away). It was original and made me really think about the characters’ determination and obvious love for one another.

The chemistry between Caitlyn and Sean was okay. The story was just so short that there was a lot of time to build the relationship. It was kind of a bare bones version of their story that could be used as an introduction or prequel to a full novel (or a detailed outline). I loved the ideas brought forth in Hereafter and the potential for a truly great story.

I really enjoyed reading Hereafter. The end was beautifully written and I may have teared up a little (major credit to the author here). So I did really like it, but I thought it needed to be longer with more character development. Personally, I will be on the lookout for more by this author. I would recommend Hereafter and it won’t take you long at all to read.

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A mixed bag this in terms of quality but many of the stories were thought provoking and it did it’s job in that I found some new authors to check out. Highlights for me were Iteration by Deirdre Gould, Imperfect by David Adams, PePr, Inc. by Ann Christy, The Assistant by Angela Cavanaugh, The Grove by Jennifer Foehner Wells, and Humanity by Samuel Peralta.