The Red Queen

by Gemma Bowker-Wright

In her first collection of stories, Gemma Bowker-Wright leads us into the phases of transition and transformation in people’s lives: a dream job, a rare afternoon between son and father, a man losing his wife to Alzheimer’s, a first snow. Like the Red Queen of Through the Looking-Glass, many of these characters are running hard to stay in the same place, but moving ever forward. Their stories, which echo stories from evolution, ecology, and meteorology, form a deeply perceptive and captivating first book.

Genres: Short Stories

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jennifer]

A series of short stories and I couldn't finish this book. Only one story, the shortest, The Takahe was my favorite and wanted it longer though the ending was abrupt. it ended on the feel that the two female characters had a fight or one pissed the other off off screen. The setting was interesting but..., yeah. All of the stories just ended and left me unsatisfied on what just read. A few of the stories had somewhat interesting characters and a nice story and setting but that was where it ended. On the Radio would have been another great if there was just a bit more development.

[Jo]

Felt cerebral but found it a bit confusing

[Sue]

Good stories, well-crafted. Some very memorable, and some remarkably moving.

[Amber Craig]

Well written short stories. Some were very memorable, others I felt dragged on in unnessary detail however, I enjoyed it none the less.