Book Review – 18

18 – Collated by Belinda Hamilton (2014) – In 1996 a group of writers got together for mutual support and discussion (as writers are wont to do).  Out of that grew a group called Vision Writers.  The group specializes in speculative fiction, science fiction and fantasy, based in Queensland,

Australia.  This book is a celebration of their 18 years of creative work together, featuring what they believe is their best emerging talent.  The book is a collection of short stories that have a single idea in common.  The number 18 has a pivotal role in each story.  Those stories range widely.  Here’s the

collection’s summation of itself:

Featuring cave crocodiles and spell absorbing beards, a séance with soul, a night in a gypsy caravan to make all your wishes come true and a journey through hell that will make you swear to be good. Come with us to rebuild the world clock, face the dragon queen and hide from the thing under the bed. Assuming you can escape the floating car…

It’s all of that and more.  I am a fan (and sometime author) of short stories, so I’m always on the lookout for a new collection to add to my library.  I was thrilled at the quality of the stories here.  Finding an interesting story that weaves around the number 18 must have been a fun challenge for the writers and they took a wide variety of paths.  Some were frightening and some funny (a magic absorbing BEARD?!!??!!  Love it).  There was not a single story in this anthology that won’t re-pay the reader for the time it takes to read it.  I’m not sure I can offer a better endorsement of a short story collection.

I do have one small complaint about the volume.  13 stories?  In a volume called “18”?  Really?  I’m happy if they just didn’t have 18 quality stories for the collection.  I’ll take quality over quantity any time.

But really.  🙂

A really quality collection of speculative fiction/science fiction/fantasy short stories from up and coming authors.  Oh yes, and it’s a free e-book.  How can you resist?

Kudos to the authors in the collection (with links when I could find them.  If the others would like links added all they have to do is contact me):

Melanie Bird
S. Elliot Brandis
Laura Brodnik
Daniel Ferguson
Kristen Isbexter
Talitha Kalago
Christopher Kneipp
Megann Laverick
Kenneth Mugi
Kirstie Olley
Tony Owns
Allan Walsh
S. Walsh

Rating – **** Recommended