Tag Archives: anthology

Book Review of “Memory’s Legion: The Complete Expanse Story Collection” (2022)

memory's legion

© James Pyles

A few years back, I read all of the Expanse novel series by James S.A. Corey (really Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) thanks to a suggestion from someone I used to work with and my local public library. I’ve never seen the television series, though I’ve heard it was quite good. I really enjoyed the books though.

You can search my blog and read all of my reviews of them.

A number of weeks ago, I was killing time in the library when I came upon a copy of Memory’s Legion: The Complete Expanse Story Collection (2022). They were the only Expanse stories I hadn’t read, so, of course, I checked it out.

It was different than what I expected. Still good and entertaining, but the tone felt, I don’t know, more depressing maybe?

The stories, almost all of them really, are prequels or “origin” stories to certain Expanse characters, other viewpoints of existing storylines, and even “how did this get invented?”

I won’t throw out too many spoilers so don’t expect to find out from me which Expanse characters you’re familiar with make appearances here.

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Fantastic Schools Familiars is Available NOW!

familiars

Cover art for the anthology “Fantastic Schools Familiars”

The fantasy anthology Fantastic Schools Familiars is now available from Amazon in Kindle format (the paperback version will come out in a week or so).

It features my short story “Dead Cat Fever:”

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The Second Wave is here!

second wave

Promotional image for the upcoming Starry Eyed Press anthology “Second Wave.”

Ten of my drabbles (the maximum number allowed) are featured in this anthology.

A SINGLE MOMENT –– A HUNDRED WORDS –– A UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES
What happens after the unknown has arrived? When the echoes of first contact fade, humanity is left to navigate the tremors of change — new alliances, fragile peace, simmering conflicts, and the birth of strange, dazzling futures.

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“Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir” is Available Featuring my Short Story: “Last Wish of a Dead Man”

moggie noir 3

Cover art for “Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir”

My hardboiled detective story “Last Wish of a Dead Man” is now available in the Raconteur Press anthology Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir in paperback and Kindle formats.

The blurb at Amazon says:

In this iteration, Moggie Noir is more than a framework, it’s a mewed.

I feel it is safe to say that we are most inspired by the creative expressions of authors who view genre notes for story calls as a guideline, and who then proceed to stretch the idea like Coney Island saltwater taffy. In this way, we have not been disappointed. The trick is to tug at the theme but still have the recognizable touches that tell the reader this is a noir story rather than a slapstick comedy or big fish story.

So, in this taffy-pulling spirit, we bring you our third Moggie Noir salvo, “Dames, Derringers, and Detectives.” This gritty set of tails will have you rooting for the good guys, hissing at some bad cats, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll see how true love can win in the end.

The publisher said guest editor Rita Beeman adored my story, which is very nice to hear.

In late 1940s San Francisco, private detective Margie Potter has developed a unique reputation in the afterlife. She solves the murders of ghost, sometimes without realizing it. In her first story “The Haunted Detective” featured in The Trench Coat Chronicles, Margie goes up against hardened gangsters to solve the murder of her best friend which occurred years ago and almost ends up as a ghost herself.

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Book Review of “Error Code: 22 Tales of Robots and AI” (2025)

error code

Cover art for the “Error Code” anthology

Yesterday, I finished reading the small anthology Error Code: 22 Tales of Robots and AI by Eric Fomley and Addison Smith.

It was produced by Shacklebound Books which I gather is a small, indie publisher. They’ve got quite a collection of anthologies listed on Amazon.

Each story is quite short and the book is a quick read (130 pages in print, though it’s available only on Kindle as far as I can tell).

Like many such anthologies, the stories fall into three categories:

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“Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs” is Available Now!

shoot

Cover image for the anthology, “Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

It’s out. It’s here. It’s available for your Kindle device. Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs is now on sale at Amazon.

As I previously mentioned, I have stories featured in the first two volumes of this anthology and am proud to have made it into the pages of this one as well.

“Militia” hosts a collection of newcomers as well as veterans to “Shoot the Devil” which is good to hear. This series is dedicated to a concept that seems to have fallen by the wayside in most modern entertainment: the victory of good over evil.

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“Far Futures Book Three – Deep Space” is Available Now!

far futures 3

Cover art for the Blue Planet Pres anthology “Far Futures 3”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

It’s here.

My science fiction short story “Confluence” is now available in the Blue Planet Press anthology Far Futures Book Three – Deep Space.

The Amazon blurb says:

In Far Futures Three, some of the talented and rising authors in science fiction from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, have offered their diverse visions of life in deep space. Stories of broken generations ships and malfunctioning holograms. AI enhanced humans fleeing the solar system. Alien abductees taken light-years away. A NASA spacecraft highjacked in a perilous first contact scenario. Pirates and scavengers and more.

Here’s a small sample:

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Book Review of Harlan Ellison’s “Dangerous Visions” (1967)

Dangerous Visions

© James Pyles

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

I must have originally read Harlan Ellison’s landmark SF/F anthology Dangerous Visions (1967) sometime in the mid-1970s, but I remembered nothing about it when I picked up the book again. I only decided to re-read “Visions” because it was mentioned by a publisher as part of their open submissions call.

When a publisher throws their gates open and allows any and all (with certain caveats) authors (would be or established) to submit a story to them (usually in an anthology), they sometimes offer hints or ideas as to what kind of stories they are (and are not) looking for.

One such strategy is to suggest the author read some of the stories they’ve already published. Another is to ask the writer to read other novels and anthologies they favor.

Recently, I read an open submission call that suggested, among other books, Ellison’s original “Dangerous Visions.” I can’t say whether I submitted to that publisher or not. I step away from a certain percentage of them for a number of reasons. This can include them being just too darn picky (too many hoops to jump through), they are only open to a certain population (usually those they believe are marginalized), or they’ve rejected everything I’ve ever thrown at them in the past and I’m resigned to that publisher never liking my writing.

So I checked out a copy of “Dangerous Visions” from the public library to see what I could see.

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“The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now available in the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

moggie noir cover

Cover art for the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

It’s finally here. My short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now featured in the Raconteur Press anthology Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi.

As I mentioned in my previous announcement, a moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

For this story, I chose to revive my 1940s San Francisco private detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter who you met four years ago (if you were lucky) in my short story “The Haunted Detective.” You can find that tale in the pages of the Celestial Echo Press anthology The Trench Coat Chronicles (still available for your Kindle device at a very reasonable price).

However, as far as Alley Cat Alibi is concerned, here’s the Amazon description:

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My Short Story “The Other Place” to be published in the anthology “The Super Generation”

super cover

Promotional art for the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Update: You can now buy The Super Generation on Amazon!

My short story “The Other Place” will be published in the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

Imagine there was a one-time cosmic event that gave certain people superpowers. The event was never repeated and the superpowered people couldn’t pass their abilities on to their children. Only these people in their generation would be the superheroes and villains.

That’s the challenge each author whose stories are within these pages faced. Here’s a small example of my tale:

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