"Stan the bacteria man had a very bacteria plan, that man." This recurring sentence in Stephen M. A.'s novelette Stan, Stan, the Bacteria Man summarizes better than anything else the plot of the entire book. But what is Stan the Bacteria Man's plan? And will...

“This framework of bone protruded against his olive complexion like a demon attempting to escape its elastic cage.” This impeccably written simile demonstrates the incredible level of creative intelligence and literary skill one finds in the superb collection of short stories authored by James Musgrave...

Imagine a chessboard that can control a person’s life, even cause death. Lucy has friends over, but when they tire of their games, she pulls out the mysterious chessboard. The rules are laid out clearly and the game must proceed from beginning to end. In...

The Greatest Game by Greg Rajaram is a light read that I would consider as one of the most philosophical works of fiction I have ever read. While Sophie’s World is too didactic for my taste, The Greatest Game is simply impressive in its uniqueness....

Cycles of the Phoenix: The Whole Interlaced Souls Series by C.A. Nicholas is an anthology of surrealistic tales divided into three parts, written from the point of view of characters that reflect their inner struggles and test their mental and emotional states. Book 1, Sanity’s...

Polish Dragon P.I. – Midnight Cranes is a work of fiction in the mystery and thriller genres. It is aimed at the general reading audience and was penned by author Steve Zimcosky. The book follows private investigator Tom Sipowicz as he is hired by the...

Twilight in Saigon by Zev Cohen is a mix of short stories and one short novella that covers the whole gamut of human emotions and experiences. If there is one feature that ties these disparate ideas together it is probably the bittersweet nature of the...

Theodore Jerome Cohen's eclectic Mementos (A Unique Collection of Short Stories & Flash Fiction, Book 3) reflects on both ordinary and extraordinary situations from the perspectives of diverse characters. In its first entry, ‘Devil’s Horns’, a father and son survey the fire damage to the...

A License To Practice by Valerie Allen is a gripping short story about parenting, and how they can misjudge certain situations in their teenager's life. It shows how they can go off the handle at the slightest point of misinterpretation through snooping. A License To...

In the thought-provoking and enjoyably engaging Collection of Short Stories and Essays: “Of Humans and Animals” by Peggy Hinaekian, you will meet an amazing array of characters from a variety of locales and points of view. Direct, guileless, with ironic humor, Peggy Hinaekian demonstrates her...