#24in48 ~ Update 4 & Wrap Up
For some reason, the 24 in 48 never goes well for me. Time-wise, I only read for 12 hours, but I did finish all 24 stories that I had chosen!
My top five from the weekend:
“Monkey King, Faerie Queen” by Zen Cho
“Multo” by Samuel Marzioli
“All Souls Proceed” by KJ Kabza
“The Tomato Thief” by Ursula Vernon
“If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love” by Rachel Swirsky
The top two are by authors I was completely unfamiliar with!
Here are the last six I read:
19 – “The Dead Smile” by Francis Marion Crawford
Genre: horror
Quote:
“I know that something will prevent it and keep us apart.”
“Nothing shall!”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing human,” said Gabriel Ockram, as she drew him down to her.
Comment: I saw where this story was going pretty early on, but the ride was still good, creepy fun. With the “dead smile” turning up on so many visages, this would make a great tele-play.
20 – “A Beautiful Memory” by Shannon Peavey
Genre: fantasy
Quote: One bird was ripening on the vine, nearly ready to be cut—the first one she’d ever planted.
Comment: I liked this story, but I don’t have a lot to say about it. It does have one scene not for the squeamish. (I am not squeamish.)
21 – “The Last Séance” by Leona Preston
Genre: fantasy
Quote: There it was again, the familiar twinkle in my companion’s eye, ever present when he was confident he had the better of me.
Comment: With the Houdini and Doyle friendship getting press lately, this was a nicely done piece of flash fiction.
22 – “If You See Him on the Road” by KJ Kabza
Genre: science fiction
Quote: “Myth and folklore is the only way forward now, Jin. For history and physics both.”
Comment: Great look at what sorts of beliefs might crop up in a generational space travel. Much different than the earlier Kabza story (not surprising).
23 – “Pocosin” by Ursula Vernon
Genre: fantasy
Quote: “Don’t try to tell me you’re dying,” she said grimly. “I won’t believe it. Not from a possum.”
Comment: My second Kabza story on the list was followed by my second Vernon story on the list. Ursula Vernon might become my go-to when I need a little fantasy.
24 – “Til Death Do Us” by Tyler Miller
Genre: horror
Quote: (didn’t have one)
Comment: Sadly, the readathon ended on a low note. I nearly chucked this story early on due to an easily google-able misunderstanding, but it was short and I wasn’t going to give up on the 24th story. (For the record…)
