The stories in this collection run the gamut from playful to tragic, conservative to experimental, but they all have one thing in common: they are ...
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reviews
Jun 20, 2011
karen
rated it: 
when we got this book in the other day,i looked at it and thought: "ugh - gimmick". and i read the three stories on the front cover and i thought - "i no longer understand the publishing industry." and then i opened it up, just out of curiosity and saw a story by jonathan carroll. okay, book, now you have my attention. so i flipped through it, and then i read the précis, and i was totally hooked.
this isn't flash fiction. these aren't stories that are short just fo More...
this isn't flash fiction. these aren't stories that are short just fo More...
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Dec 26, 2011
Emily
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Interesting concept and, because of the forced brevity, often very poetic. My biggest complaint is that most of these stories were either depressing or creepy. I can handle reading some depressing stories, mingled with uplifting or funny ones, but the ratio was very skewed. Also, while it kept my interest, it is hard to compare a short (even if well written) thought with a complete book (hense, the 2 stars). Plus, the book is really short, I think it could have used more stories...maybe some
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Jan 01, 2012
Lisa
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Heard of Hemingway's 6 word story? Hint fiction (the term was coined by author Robert Swartwood) strives to tell a story in 25 words (or less) which "hints" at a larger story. Although it isn't to everyone's taste, flash and hint fiction allow readers to open their imaginations and visualize a broader story however they choose.
This neat little volume contains pieces from well-known authors Tess Gerritsen, Peter Straub, and Ha Jin as well as relatively unknown writers from al More...
This neat little volume contains pieces from well-known authors Tess Gerritsen, Peter Straub, and Ha Jin as well as relatively unknown writers from al More...
Nov 09, 2010
Kirk
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So one day I was trolling newpages.com looking for new rejection opportunities when I discovered a call for 25-word stories. I figured, How hard can 25 words be? I've wasted more than that many trying to explain to the cops that instead of writing me a ticket for not being able to produce my insurance card on demand we could just call my friendly Farmers agent and he'd be happy to tell them I am indeed paid-up on my premiums. So I sat down to crank out a few of these puppies, thinking, prolifici
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Oct 30, 2010
Doug
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The experiment is interesting and worthy, as are a good number of these micro-stories. I was especially intrigued to see a number of horror/thriller writers contributing (LANSDALE!). The problem, for me, is that many would make awesome first lines or last lines to a story, would make intriguing twists at the middle, but feel too open to be standalone. I know the goal is to "hint" at the larger story, but it still feels more like I am hearing the set up rather than the summation, given
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Oct 25, 2010
Jasmine
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I read books to destress. I would assume this was a weird thing to say and qualify it anywhere but here. here I will assume you all do the same thing. This was my, i hate my life and midterms book. I read it walking to connors comedy show and walking to he subway after the show.
okay I didn't like this quite as much as karen. I thought several of the stories were overwritten just because you have 25 words to play with doesn't mean you need them all. I'm also generally not a fan of titl More...
okay I didn't like this quite as much as karen. I thought several of the stories were overwritten just because you have 25 words to play with doesn't mean you need them all. I'm also generally not a fan of titl More...
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Feb 07, 2011
SmarterLilac
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 20, 2012
Chris
rated it: 
The suggestive, nuanced world of flash fiction shrinks in this collection of hint fiction, micro-shorts of twenty-five words or less. Twenty five words, even these days, isn't room to say much: maybe a long text message, but still a short grocery list. Yet, as editor Robert Swartwood says in his able and aptly succinct introduction, twenty-five words is enough, in true hint fiction, to create a complete world. Not a complete story, with a denatured beginning, middle, and end, but "complete
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Jan 22, 2012
Janne
rated it:
This was one of the birthday gifts from my boyfriend, and I had a hibernating day today, feeling ill and in a hiding mood, so I read it, cover to cover.
And it's wonderful. Simply wonderful. Highly recommended. Some will recommend it for people who don't read much or who have limited time to read, but really, anyone can appreicate this.
This is short stories, by well-known and obscure writers, in 21 words or less, but still full and complete short stories in the sense that More...
And it's wonderful. Simply wonderful. Highly recommended. Some will recommend it for people who don't read much or who have limited time to read, but really, anyone can appreicate this.
This is short stories, by well-known and obscure writers, in 21 words or less, but still full and complete short stories in the sense that More...
Nov 04, 2010
Ben
rated it:
the thing i really love about this book is not so much the stories themselves (though i do love a lot of the stories) as the conception of story at work here. it's not the fact that these stories are so short (25 words or less) which is so interesting; it's that they are in fact (at least the best ones) quite long-- it's just that only the tip of the stories are visible on the page, with the remainder of them (the much larger part) arising only in your imagination. you read the story and then (i
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Mar 05, 2011
Shauna
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This book is a compilation of about 150 short stories, each no longer than 25 words long. The authors were bound by a second strict rule: They could not tell a fully fleshed story, but had to hint at elements beyond the story.
It sounds gimmicky, but in fact many of these stories are quite powerful. The concept worked.
I recommend, however, reading only a few at one sitting. They are grouped by topic, and apparently there are only a few topics universal enough and evocative eno More...
It sounds gimmicky, but in fact many of these stories are quite powerful. The concept worked.
I recommend, however, reading only a few at one sitting. They are grouped by topic, and apparently there are only a few topics universal enough and evocative eno More...
Nov 19, 2010
Alisa
rated it:
Just got my copy last night. Started reading, (Sorry "Chuck" had to pass up our usual date, will catch you next week) and it's like potato chips. Just can't stop with just one, and then the next thing you know, you've eaten the whole bag!
Don't skip the titles, they are an integral part of the stories!
If you are looking for something with everything spelled out for you, from the color of his eyes to the length of her hair and the age of the oak tree in the front yard, then More...
Don't skip the titles, they are an integral part of the stories!
If you are looking for something with everything spelled out for you, from the color of his eyes to the length of her hair and the age of the oak tree in the front yard, then More...
Nov 11, 2010
Courtney
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I love the concept of this anthology. Most of us tend to find one sentence, or just a few words, in each book we read that really sets in. This book is like finding 100+ of those sentences all at once. Anyone who enjoys reading simply for the writing will enjoy this anthology, because each story is cut so far down, that only the very, very best words are left. It's fun to just imagine what the rest of the story could possibly be. It allows you to create your own story off of a few short sentence
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Dec 01, 2010
I love this book. Intriguing concept and interesting to see what the different writers had done with it.
I also think that it's a good lesson for writing students in what can be left for the reader to infer. Some of the most haunting of the stories are the ones that give the least information. Also, having attempted to write my own 25-word story, it was useful to see how many words in my sentences could be omitted. Something for me to remember!
Best of all, the book is small e More...
I also think that it's a good lesson for writing students in what can be left for the reader to infer. Some of the most haunting of the stories are the ones that give the least information. Also, having attempted to write my own 25-word story, it was useful to see how many words in my sentences could be omitted. Something for me to remember!
Best of all, the book is small e More...
Apr 10, 2011
Anne
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Hint fiction is intriguing for me, and reminds me very much of an English professor I had once. When trying to get his class to stop writing so much filler he would say, "Imagine if every word cost ten dollars. Do you really want to spend a hundred bucks on that?" The authors of the stories in this anthology clearly knew how to spend their money wisely at the word store. I would gladly read another 150 of their stories.
I didn't enjoy every story, but that's the way antholog More...
I didn't enjoy every story, but that's the way antholog More...
Mar 22, 2011
Matt
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Thanks to the helpful maps and knowledgeable staff at the Marriott-Wardman Park Hotel in D.C., my first AWP experience ended up consisting of significantly fewer panels than I'd intended, but that's perfectly okay considering how many other wonderful things happened over the course of those three days in February. One panel that I did manage to make it to was the one on this nifty little anthology, "Hint Fiction: An anthology of stories in 25 words or fewer." It featured editor Robert
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Jan 01, 2011
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
Here's an example of Hint Fiction, the very first story in the book, a story by Joe R. Lansdale called "The Return": "They buried him deep. Again."
And that's it. The whole story. Isn't that marvelous? The stories in this book flash like a lightning bolt across the sky of your head when you read them. Sometimes there's a little thunder. And rain.
Okay, one more. "The Lover's Regret" by Tess Gerritsen: "They are n More...
And that's it. The whole story. Isn't that marvelous? The stories in this book flash like a lightning bolt across the sky of your head when you read them. Sometimes there's a little thunder. And rain.
Okay, one more. "The Lover's Regret" by Tess Gerritsen: "They are n More...
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Nov 27, 2011
Melissa Rochelle
rated it:
I picked this up during Borders last days. I was intrigued by the idea of a complete story in less than 25 words. The stories are a bit of a partnership between the author and the reader. I certainly didn't expect a COMPLETE tale of love and woe in a short story, but some were surprisingly good.
One of my favorites:
The boy would never forget the expression on his sister's face when he pulled the trigger of the rifle he thought unloaded. -- Benjamin Percy, Impact
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One of my favorites:
The boy would never forget the expression on his sister's face when he pulled the trigger of the rifle he thought unloaded. -- Benjamin Percy, Impact
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Jan 02, 2011
Carlos
rated it:
The idea of hint fiction is that by keeping a story at 25 words or less a writer can suggest a larger, complex story in the space of only a few lines. It's an intriguing concept which, if this collection is any indication, is tricky to pull off. Many of the stories either feel like great lines, either as something brilliant to open with or a nice little bit of characterization or plot twist within a novel. I think the collection is best seen as a serious of experiments, with the determination
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Feb 10, 2011
Brooke
rated it:
First, a cheeky, 25-word review:
It reminds me of something I’ve read before but was—apparently—as equally "meh" about it as this because the name of it escapes me...
Seriously though, there are some keepers in here. I particularly enjoyed the angry/fucked up/bitter ones liiiiike:
Jake Thomas' "Children"
He took her out for a picnic to discuss what they wanted to do about it. "You want Bud Light or O'Doul's?" he asked he More...
It reminds me of something I’ve read before but was—apparently—as equally "meh" about it as this because the name of it escapes me...
Seriously though, there are some keepers in here. I particularly enjoyed the angry/fucked up/bitter ones liiiiike:
Jake Thomas' "Children"
He took her out for a picnic to discuss what they wanted to do about it. "You want Bud Light or O'Doul's?" he asked he More...
Dec 25, 2010
Hint fiction is a very very short story--often less than 25 words, that hints at a backstory and future developments. The titles are significant and often include part of the story themselves. Some of these stories will make you say, "Huh?" some will make you think, "Whew!" and others will get stuck in your head.
Check out both "Hint Fiction" and also some flash fiction and you will be surprised at how much can be said in very few words.
Check out both "Hint Fiction" and also some flash fiction and you will be surprised at how much can be said in very few words.
Jan 28, 2011
Elly
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This was all new to me and I was fascinated. Not being a writer I was surprised at the hierarchy of fiction: novel, novella, novelette, short story, sudden fiction, flash fiction, micro fiction, drabble and dribble. Hint fiction is just what it says, it tells the hint of a story and you fill in the rest. Ernest Hemingway was supposedly the first to do this with his story: "For sale: baby shoes never worn." The book continues on from there with many authors sharing their "hint fic
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Dec 11, 2010
Jo
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I confess--I chose the book b/c it's short. I'd not been reading much and thought the sense of accomplishment would get me back into one of my better habits.
This anthology, if that's what one calls a colection of one and two line stories can be read in 30 minutes, but can last much longer if you let your imagination run wild. The power of suggestion + imagination leads to a great result.
This anthology, if that's what one calls a colection of one and two line stories can be read in 30 minutes, but can last much longer if you let your imagination run wild. The power of suggestion + imagination leads to a great result.
Oct 01, 2010
Charles
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What a charming little book. Hint fiction consists of hint stories, which are stories of 25 words or less that suggest a much larger tale. I didn't realize how much could be done with this form until I read the entries here by such writers as Joe Lansdale, Peter Straub, Joyce Carol Oates, and many others. I read at least half of these to my wife because they just had such a great punch.
Nov 30, 2010
This book is exactly what the title says it is. It is a collection of short stories that use fewer than 25 words, but hint at a larger story. First of all, this is a super easy read. I think I finished it in 15 minutes, but you can choose to read as many of the stories at a time as you want. I think this is a very interesting concept, and would be a great way for teachers to show students that less is very often more when it comes to writing. While I wouldn't really call this a great book, and i
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May 15, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
A super fun collection of stories written in 25 words or less so you get just a hint, and then you let your imagination do the rest. So many possibilities for each story! And a fast relaxing read you can turn into hours if you feel like really thinking it out. The best part: trying to write your own story in 25 words or less and letting your creative juices flow.
Nov 02, 2010
trickgnosis
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Fun to read. Some of these work fabulously as the briefest of stories, others feel more like clever first sentences. I liked the idea of writing within such exacting limits and seeing how the challenges inherent in the format were overcome in different ways. My primary criticism: too short. Not the stories, but the book. It could have used more. Substantially more.
Sep 28, 2011
Harley
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I'm a fan of short short fiction, both as reader and author, but I have to say that with few exceptions, 25 words isn't enough for me. As a novelty, however, I did enjoy this little book of little stories. A tad expensive for it's size, however. There are stories by some of my favorite authors, like Stuart Dybek, Jess Row and Ron Carlson. But I want more.
Jan 10, 2012
I feel like it's cheating to even list this book on here, but I wanted to list it in case others are just as interested as I was! It's stories written in 17 words or fewer. Pretty fascinating--sometimes poignant, sometimes comedic, but nevertheless great starters if you teach creative writing or like to write yourself!
Jan 09, 2012
Rachel
rated it:
A fun, quick read. I'll call these entertaining, mostly--the quality of the "hint fics" vary wildly, and the book was worth reading, but it's hard to describe this as an essential project, I think. I'm interested in the borders between genre, and love how these are, in essence, tiny little lyric moments.
