Best Short Fiction of 2014
I only seriously started reading short fiction in the fall of this year and even made a new weekly feature "Short Fiction Friday" on the blog dedicated to review short fiction stories. A lot of readers aren't a fan of short fiction or anthologies but I really like it, well when they are good stories of course. In my opinion, short stories can excellently feature as in between stories for books or as a prequel to a series or just loose adventures in an on going series. The stories that feature in this list are all part of something bigger. Unlocked by John Scalzi gives the perfect introduction to his book Lock In which you will see later on. It is written in an interesting way dairy kind of style following the footsteps of the outbreak of the Haden syndrome I do warn you, be sure to have Lock In ready before reading this story as you want nothing more than to read the book. The Messenger by Mark Charan Newton was released a few weeks before Retribution the second book in the Lucan Drakenfeld series and gives a nice view of the main protagonist of the series but also plays with your mind and shows some very nice deceiving. I have been a big fan of David B. Coe's work and his Thieftaker Chronciles is just super to read. I read A Spell of Vengeance after A Plunder of Souls which was released earlier this year, and found that a lot of things feel into place. Though it is a solid introduction to the series, when you read the other books it comes even more to justice. Sleeping Beauty by Mark Lawrence is a story set in The Broken Empire universe (Prince, King and Emperor of Thorns) and focuses on Jorg. I was expecting something completely different. In Sleeping Beauty Mark Lawrence brings a definite fairy tail setting to the front, AND as a big bonus shows more of the intriguing world of The Broken Empire. Brian McClellan's The Powder Mage trilogy was one of the biggest releases last year and gave a new and above all very cool sub sub genre to fantasy Flintlock. Forsworn takes place before the events of the published books and focuses on how powdermages are despised upon by the normal people they are hunted down and killed. Forsworn gives a nice expansion of the Powder Mage universe.
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- Unlocked by John Scalzi, Tor.com
Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome is a powerfully provocative story, that readily produces a great premise for Lock In. I urge everyone who plans to read Lock In to read this prequel as it will give you a lot of background information (I presume) for the real deal.This is great stuff right here. If you don't plan to read either this short story or the book you will be definitely missing out on one of the biggest Science Fiction releases coming to you this year. Be smart and click the link below.
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- The Messenger by Mark Charan Newton, Tor
I
was mightily impressed with the story that Mark Charan Newton wrote in
The Messenger, though it wasn't as detailed as in Drakenfeld its only
30ish pages, but this story is precisely what is needed make a great
short story. It's engaging, detailed enough, and gives you a very
satisfied feeling in the end. Building further on several characters of
the story as well as expanding the world more. I do have to say that
since the story focus on Lucan and Leana, that it is advisable to read
Drakenfeld first as you will several elements much better than if you
would just delve with this story as a first. However if you have already
read Drakenfeld, Mark Charan Newton does give some very nice insights
into the earlier years of Lucan himself and a bit more of the dynamics
of the world itself.One thing that really hit me in the face and which I hadn't seen coming at all was the plot twist in the end of the book, you get to see the bigger picture and intricate plot that Mark Charan Newton wove in The Messenger. Really cool stuff. I hope this is to be an hallmark of what will be in store for Retribution. The whole setting of the world of Lucan Drakenfeld inspire a very grande and exotic feeling and the character only further bolster the feeling of a great story and series to be. Definitely recommended! period
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- A Spell of Vengeance by D.B. Jackson, Tor.com
If you are new to the Thieftaker series A Spell of Vengeance is a great way to start as you get already a few glimpses of the universe that D.B. Jackson has created in the full length books, you learn the protagonist of the series Ethan Kaille and several of the other character that will pop up later on in the series. Furthermore you also get introduced to the conjuring bit of the series which is SO cool! And if you have already read the other stories, A Spell of Vengeance, will give you a few more details to the magnificent world and story that D.B. Jackson has created with the Thieftaker series. When I read about Keller, Fross and Ramsey, I couldn't get that smile away. High enjoyable and definitely a recommendation. The SFF couldn't have kicked of with a better story!
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- Sleeping Beauty by Mark Lawrence, HarperVoyager
One
great thing about this short story is that Mark Lawrence kept true to
Jorg's character. In each book he grew up, he was introduced as a
downright bastard in the first book but gradually did come to understand
that when you work everyone against the grain it just doesn't work, so
in the second book he was more reserved and acted more mature but still
had his "habits". In the third book it all took an emotional dive in the
end which was to say very beautiful to see in the backdrop of all the
violence that came before this and to see the actually motivation of
Jorg, it even watered my eyes a bit. If you look at Jorg in Sleeping
Beauty it is just as you would have wanted him to see in the transition
from book two to three. I many parts he already grows in the emotional
side of it all with Katherine and his caring for his brothers, but he
still keeps this attitude of arrogance that you would wish to strangle
him! just how Jorg should be, perfect.Sleeping Beauty is a terrific addition to the Broken Empire series, I was expecting a different story, but being handed the Builders on a silver platter! YES! I couldn't have wished for more. Mark Lawrence really gave me what I wanted exploring more and more of the Builder technology and even showing a bit of what they can do, which keeps in check with the grimdark setting. Compulsory reading.
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- Forsworn by Brian McClellan, Orbit
In
this short story there are quite a few characters that you meet but the
focus is really on Erika and Norrina. I can only give full praise to
how Brian McClellan made their characters come out, there aren't that
many female leads that feature in the series so far. From these two I
really like Norrina and her reflection to what her father and mother
used to say to her in order to stay safe. These reflections also offered
quite an emotional current to the story. I did have a big smile on my face nearing the ending of the book as one specific person does make an entry and I am going to say it. Tamas... Good stuff.
Forsworn is definitely a must read for every Powder Mage fan. It greatly expands the world of the series by showing several events before Promise of Blood, not necessarily giving a lot of information about historical events that led up to the revolution or so but showing just how powder mages were looked upon in those years and how tough it was just to be able to survive. The whole element of the cat and mouse game between the kings mage hunters, the Longdogs, and Erika and Norrina really only resonates stronger given the fact that these are just young girls you see. A powerful, action-packed and emotional story that you don't want to miss out on. Ill have to get the other short stories soon!
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