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The Pax Humana Saga #0.5
The Telepath Chronicles
In THE TELEPATH CHRONICLES, fourteen of today's top sci-fi writers share stories of the uncanny and unexpected.
Telepathy. Just a far-fetched bit of science fiction “hocus pocus.” But is it? With today’s giant leaps forward in technology and biotechnology, with people constantly surrounded by sophisticated yet invisible communication networks, and with a rapidly increasing understanding of the brain’s inner workings . . . is it so hard to imagine that we might be able to develop direct mind-to-mind communication?
Or might it not be the case that evolution alone, in the right circumstances—if not on this planet, then on others—could give rise to creatures with telepathic abilities?
This collection of fourteen stories explores the ramifications of a future where telepathy is real. From that first glorious moment of discovery, to the subsequent jealousies and class divisions, to the dangers of weaponization and the blessings of medical miracles, The Telepath Chronicles promises to take you inside the creative minds of some of today’s top science fiction authors.
Telepathy. Just a far-fetched bit of science fiction “hocus pocus.” But is it? With today’s giant leaps forward in technology and biotechnology, with people constantly surrounded by sophisticated yet invisible communication networks, and with a rapidly increasing understanding of the brain’s inner workings . . . is it so hard to imagine that we might be able to develop direct mind-to-mind communication?
Or might it not be the case that evolution alone, in the right circumstances—if not on this planet, then on others—could give rise to creatures with telepathic abilities?
This collection of fourteen stories explores the ramifications of a future where telepathy is real. From that first glorious moment of discovery, to the subsequent jealousies and class divisions, to the dangers of weaponization and the blessings of medical miracles, The Telepath Chronicles promises to take you inside the creative minds of some of today’s top science fiction authors.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
44 people are currently reading
2064 people want to read
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May 9, 2021
I'm so excited to be included in this! This anthology features 14 amazing stories by some truly talented authors. My story DECODE will be released for the first time in this anthology. Decode takes place in the Fractured Era universe, and tells the story of geneticist Avia Sherman as she works to create superimmunity in children--before the events in the DEFECT series.
To get free songs and stories from the Fractured Era series, and to find out how you can get free review eBooks, register for my newsletter here: http://forms.aweber.com/form/50/14877...
To get free songs and stories from the Fractured Era series, and to find out how you can get free review eBooks, register for my newsletter here: http://forms.aweber.com/form/50/14877...
November 20, 2014
I really dislike short stories and therefore short story anthologies. There are a couple of reasons for this:
A short story is over almost before it begins. I love a good book like one enjoys a good friend. The longer you know it, the better it is.
Short stories do not have enough time to properly lead the plot to a conclusion so, as a result, it often has a twisted ending or simply just leave you hanging.
Having said this, it may seem odd but I really enjoyed this anthology. Firstly, I am quite interested in the topic - telepathy. Each of the stories comes at this topic from a totally different perspective. Some are better than others, as you might expect; however, almost without exception they were very readable and I enjoyed them all.
Secondly, the anthlogy clearly achieved one of its goals in that it introduced me to a bunch of new authors some of whom I had never heard of. It provided excellent links to the author's web pages and some background information about them. This is a very wonderful experience and contributed greatly to my enjoying the book.
But one reason I did not enjoy this book was that now I have a whole bunch of new authors to look at and to read – so many books, so little time. I will, however, deal with it. I would recommend reading this anthology to anyone who is like-minded.
A short story is over almost before it begins. I love a good book like one enjoys a good friend. The longer you know it, the better it is.
Short stories do not have enough time to properly lead the plot to a conclusion so, as a result, it often has a twisted ending or simply just leave you hanging.
Having said this, it may seem odd but I really enjoyed this anthology. Firstly, I am quite interested in the topic - telepathy. Each of the stories comes at this topic from a totally different perspective. Some are better than others, as you might expect; however, almost without exception they were very readable and I enjoyed them all.
Secondly, the anthlogy clearly achieved one of its goals in that it introduced me to a bunch of new authors some of whom I had never heard of. It provided excellent links to the author's web pages and some background information about them. This is a very wonderful experience and contributed greatly to my enjoying the book.
But one reason I did not enjoy this book was that now I have a whole bunch of new authors to look at and to read – so many books, so little time. I will, however, deal with it. I would recommend reading this anthology to anyone who is like-minded.
December 21, 2014
I received a review copy of this book.
The amazing thing this anthology does is to examine telepathy from a variety of angles, without ever feeling repetitive. Every author, who are all great individually, weave a mosaic of the the total that is both enriched and diverted from its original purpose.
Its as if every author on their own thought "telepathy. hm. I know what they're EXPECTING. Here's what I'm going to give them instead!"
You rascals, you. every piece a gem. well worth the read.
The amazing thing this anthology does is to examine telepathy from a variety of angles, without ever feeling repetitive. Every author, who are all great individually, weave a mosaic of the the total that is both enriched and diverted from its original purpose.
Its as if every author on their own thought "telepathy. hm. I know what they're EXPECTING. Here's what I'm going to give them instead!"
You rascals, you. every piece a gem. well worth the read.
July 15, 2022
I received an ARC of this anthology in exchange for my honest opinion!
Overview: I'm sometimes wary of anthologies with a lot of different authors, but as long as I know a few of them, I figure it's worth it. Well colour me surprised when I thoroughly enjoyed most of them! And the ones I didn't as much was just a personal taste thing you know? That's pretty impressive if you ask me. There were so many different takes on telepathy -- some more in depth, some where it was just a side tool not really elaborated on. I personally enjoyed the ones where telepathy *itself* was explored a bit more. But it definitely has something for everyone. And I DEFINITELY found a few new authors (and series) that I need to add to my wishlist. Overall I think it's probably almost a 4.5 stars for me!
Foreward by Samuel Peralta: I don't think I'm a typical Science Fiction reader, so I didn't really enjoy the foreward. It felt too serious for me or something (I keep thinking pretentious, but I don't think that's right either). Just a personal taste thing. But if you're like me and the foreward is turning you off, keep reading. The first story captured me right away.
#DontTell by Peter Cawdron: 4.5 stars. This one really surprised me, and was a perfect choice to start out the anthology with a bang. The narrator was fantastic, very realistic, sympathetic, and just felt like I could relate to what she was feeling through the whole thing. The stories told by Mr. X were fantastic and really made me feel like I could understand what Tells were like in this world. For a short story, it really managed to drag the feels out of me and make me think. Strangely enough the reveal at the end confused me. But that might be just me not making that final leap. My mind goes in different directions, but I'm not satisfied with my own internal conclusions, so I just feel lost. Otherwise fantastic.
The Elm Tree by E.E. Giorgi: 3 stars. This one felt a bit more paranormal-esque to me. Wasn't really much delving into the telepath ability...it was just there in Celine. Story was more about the mystery being solved. The conclusion came kind of fast, and I wasn't quite sure how it resolved things for Celine, but...I don't know. *shrugs*
Stability by Theresa Kay: 5 stars. Very quickly sucked into the intrigue in the plot surrounding the compound Cora is in. And it was a nice buildup to the world of the Psionics. Through Cora's interactions with Bastian, really got a sense of what these abilities are like and how they differ and can affect the lives of the Psis. Had some twists and turns I absolutely DID NOT see coming, and of course now I just want more.
Dreampath by Elle Casey: 4 stars. The narrator had a very relaxed feel to her, so that it didn't take much to like her. Was a completely different take on Telepathy that I wasn't expecting. B/C it was in the discovery phase for the narrator, didn't really get as much of a feel for the ability as I would like, but LOVED the plot twist and tension.
Tortured by Nicolas Wilson: 3.5 stars. I think I would have appreciated this story more if I had already read the series that this is related to. I found myself dissatisfied with the detail surrounding the torture part. The two differing sides to such a pinnacle event was intriguing. Seeing telepathy from both the character who has it and is surrounded by people who fear her, and the character who fears her and the unknown was unique.
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn: 4 stars. Want to hear a secret? For the first page and a half I thought Zeph was a girl. It amused me. Intriguing concept that I think I'm still trying to wrap my mind around. Will definitely be checking out the Mindjack Trilogy though, want to learn more!
Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta: 3 stars. Not my thing. I just had a lengthy discussion with my husband trying to explain what I didn't like about this story, and I don't think I ever got it across, b/c he had no problems with it (not that he read it all, but I was just trying to get across the style). I think I'm just not a hard sci-fi girl, and so I lose interest when things get too technical and intellectual or something.... So basically, I have nothing of use to offer on this story, other than to say it didn't work for me. And that it was the writing style, not the story that didn't work for me. Plot was interesting and unique.
Venus in Red by Therin Knite: 3.5 stars. Lots of action and kicking butt, reminded me a LOT of the Matrix fight scenes. I occasionally had a hard time suspending my disbelief with the enhanced tech being used (couldn't imagine writing code at the speed of light). My fave part was when the narrator was talking to Venus. The AI, and the relationship between the narrator and the AI was intriguing. The name twist at the end just left me underwhelmed and confused...there were a few possibilities, and it made my tired brain cranky that I didn't know which one. Didn't really delve into telepathy much, was just a weapon used really.
Decode by Autumn Kalquist: 4.5 stars. Well developed characters for a shorter story. Set in a future that I could totally believe could happen (unfortunately). Lots of little bits of plot, but tied together nicely. Thought the telepathy was intriguing and well explained. Definitely will be reading more in this world.
The Null by Vincent Trigili: 3.5 stars. Had a bit of a Watchman (Watchmen?) feel to it for me. Resistant superheros/villains and such. Plot was cool. Enjoyed the concept of the Null power. I have other thoughts, but I can't seem to articulate them (or when I do I question why I think that way). Helpful huh?
Green Gifts by Endi Webb: 2.5 stars. I'm not entirely sure what I just read. It didn't really follow a plot arc. I'm also really bad with complex science stuff and big words. Not that I don't like them, but if it's too much in a row, then I can't get absorbed into the story b/c I spend too much time being confused and having to concentrate and think hard. That's what I was left with for this story - a lot of confusion.
Little Blue by Chris Reher: 4.5 stars. Totally want to read more in this universe, but definitely want to learn more about Cyann. While it didn't delve into the nature of the telepathy inherent in Cyann, you did get to see a bit through Jovan. But the plot and Cyann (even though I'm not a kid person) totally captured me. Only issue I had was sometimes the POV was hard to follow (switched to Jovan without really making it clear).
No More Lies by Nina Croft: 5 stars. Ooooo....really enjoyed this. Vivid world. Great characters. Intriguing plot. Dark, twisted, but with a sense that not all is bad. And enough of the telepathy to keep me satisfied. Yup, will definitely be watching for this series when it comes.
Word-Bound by MeiLin Miranda: 4.5 stars. LOVED the concept on this one! I guess I must be like the author, b/c this so intrigued me -- what the world would be like if most were telepaths, and you were not. And the twist!! Nice.... Half a star lost b/c I'm not good with reading baby talk (even though it was kind of appropriate in the context it was used, and wasn't overused). Just a personal quirk thing.
Overview: I'm sometimes wary of anthologies with a lot of different authors, but as long as I know a few of them, I figure it's worth it. Well colour me surprised when I thoroughly enjoyed most of them! And the ones I didn't as much was just a personal taste thing you know? That's pretty impressive if you ask me. There were so many different takes on telepathy -- some more in depth, some where it was just a side tool not really elaborated on. I personally enjoyed the ones where telepathy *itself* was explored a bit more. But it definitely has something for everyone. And I DEFINITELY found a few new authors (and series) that I need to add to my wishlist. Overall I think it's probably almost a 4.5 stars for me!
Foreward by Samuel Peralta: I don't think I'm a typical Science Fiction reader, so I didn't really enjoy the foreward. It felt too serious for me or something (I keep thinking pretentious, but I don't think that's right either). Just a personal taste thing. But if you're like me and the foreward is turning you off, keep reading. The first story captured me right away.
#DontTell by Peter Cawdron: 4.5 stars. This one really surprised me, and was a perfect choice to start out the anthology with a bang. The narrator was fantastic, very realistic, sympathetic, and just felt like I could relate to what she was feeling through the whole thing. The stories told by Mr. X were fantastic and really made me feel like I could understand what Tells were like in this world. For a short story, it really managed to drag the feels out of me and make me think. Strangely enough the reveal at the end confused me. But that might be just me not making that final leap. My mind goes in different directions, but I'm not satisfied with my own internal conclusions, so I just feel lost. Otherwise fantastic.
The Elm Tree by E.E. Giorgi: 3 stars. This one felt a bit more paranormal-esque to me. Wasn't really much delving into the telepath ability...it was just there in Celine. Story was more about the mystery being solved. The conclusion came kind of fast, and I wasn't quite sure how it resolved things for Celine, but...I don't know. *shrugs*
Stability by Theresa Kay: 5 stars. Very quickly sucked into the intrigue in the plot surrounding the compound Cora is in. And it was a nice buildup to the world of the Psionics. Through Cora's interactions with Bastian, really got a sense of what these abilities are like and how they differ and can affect the lives of the Psis. Had some twists and turns I absolutely DID NOT see coming, and of course now I just want more.
Dreampath by Elle Casey: 4 stars. The narrator had a very relaxed feel to her, so that it didn't take much to like her. Was a completely different take on Telepathy that I wasn't expecting. B/C it was in the discovery phase for the narrator, didn't really get as much of a feel for the ability as I would like, but LOVED the plot twist and tension.
Tortured by Nicolas Wilson: 3.5 stars. I think I would have appreciated this story more if I had already read the series that this is related to. I found myself dissatisfied with the detail surrounding the torture part. The two differing sides to such a pinnacle event was intriguing. Seeing telepathy from both the character who has it and is surrounded by people who fear her, and the character who fears her and the unknown was unique.
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn: 4 stars. Want to hear a secret? For the first page and a half I thought Zeph was a girl. It amused me. Intriguing concept that I think I'm still trying to wrap my mind around. Will definitely be checking out the Mindjack Trilogy though, want to learn more!
Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta: 3 stars. Not my thing. I just had a lengthy discussion with my husband trying to explain what I didn't like about this story, and I don't think I ever got it across, b/c he had no problems with it (not that he read it all, but I was just trying to get across the style). I think I'm just not a hard sci-fi girl, and so I lose interest when things get too technical and intellectual or something.... So basically, I have nothing of use to offer on this story, other than to say it didn't work for me. And that it was the writing style, not the story that didn't work for me. Plot was interesting and unique.
Venus in Red by Therin Knite: 3.5 stars. Lots of action and kicking butt, reminded me a LOT of the Matrix fight scenes. I occasionally had a hard time suspending my disbelief with the enhanced tech being used (couldn't imagine writing code at the speed of light). My fave part was when the narrator was talking to Venus. The AI, and the relationship between the narrator and the AI was intriguing. The name twist at the end just left me underwhelmed and confused...there were a few possibilities, and it made my tired brain cranky that I didn't know which one. Didn't really delve into telepathy much, was just a weapon used really.
Decode by Autumn Kalquist: 4.5 stars. Well developed characters for a shorter story. Set in a future that I could totally believe could happen (unfortunately). Lots of little bits of plot, but tied together nicely. Thought the telepathy was intriguing and well explained. Definitely will be reading more in this world.
The Null by Vincent Trigili: 3.5 stars. Had a bit of a Watchman (Watchmen?) feel to it for me. Resistant superheros/villains and such. Plot was cool. Enjoyed the concept of the Null power. I have other thoughts, but I can't seem to articulate them (or when I do I question why I think that way). Helpful huh?
Green Gifts by Endi Webb: 2.5 stars. I'm not entirely sure what I just read. It didn't really follow a plot arc. I'm also really bad with complex science stuff and big words. Not that I don't like them, but if it's too much in a row, then I can't get absorbed into the story b/c I spend too much time being confused and having to concentrate and think hard. That's what I was left with for this story - a lot of confusion.
Little Blue by Chris Reher: 4.5 stars. Totally want to read more in this universe, but definitely want to learn more about Cyann. While it didn't delve into the nature of the telepathy inherent in Cyann, you did get to see a bit through Jovan. But the plot and Cyann (even though I'm not a kid person) totally captured me. Only issue I had was sometimes the POV was hard to follow (switched to Jovan without really making it clear).
No More Lies by Nina Croft: 5 stars. Ooooo....really enjoyed this. Vivid world. Great characters. Intriguing plot. Dark, twisted, but with a sense that not all is bad. And enough of the telepathy to keep me satisfied. Yup, will definitely be watching for this series when it comes.
Word-Bound by MeiLin Miranda: 4.5 stars. LOVED the concept on this one! I guess I must be like the author, b/c this so intrigued me -- what the world would be like if most were telepaths, and you were not. And the twist!! Nice.... Half a star lost b/c I'm not good with reading baby talk (even though it was kind of appropriate in the context it was used, and wasn't overused). Just a personal quirk thing.
January 15, 2015
What a fascinating collection of short stories this was - all about the same concept, but so many different interpretations. Among my favorites were:
Venus in Red by Therin Knite - I've read two books by this author, Othella and Echoes, and know I can always count on supreme world-building, kick-ass action sequences, and snarky dialogue and this short story wasn't an exception. A women with a grudge tries to break into a seemingly impenetrable fortress - something that may not be quite as difficult with her newly acquired neural enhancements and power to manipulate the minds of others.
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn - The idea of mindjacking pulled me into this story immediately, and I clicked with the MC, Zeph, right away. I was thrilled when I read in the author's note at the end that Mindjacker is a series, so now I have more books to add to my towering TBR pile!
Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta - Probably the shortest story in the book, but the ability to get into person's mind has huge ramifications in this story about an assassinated senator.
This anthology includes some very talented and imaginative writers and I enjoyed reading their varied takes on the same theme. A real treat for sci-fi lovers!
I received a digital ARC from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Venus in Red by Therin Knite - I've read two books by this author, Othella and Echoes, and know I can always count on supreme world-building, kick-ass action sequences, and snarky dialogue and this short story wasn't an exception. A women with a grudge tries to break into a seemingly impenetrable fortress - something that may not be quite as difficult with her newly acquired neural enhancements and power to manipulate the minds of others.
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn - The idea of mindjacking pulled me into this story immediately, and I clicked with the MC, Zeph, right away. I was thrilled when I read in the author's note at the end that Mindjacker is a series, so now I have more books to add to my towering TBR pile!
Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta - Probably the shortest story in the book, but the ability to get into person's mind has huge ramifications in this story about an assassinated senator.
This anthology includes some very talented and imaginative writers and I enjoyed reading their varied takes on the same theme. A real treat for sci-fi lovers!
I received a digital ARC from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2014
What can I say about The Telepath Chronicles? With a single theme, the fourteen writers turned out stories each with its own unique style and perspective. Every one was a delight, and I only guessed the ending of one of them.
I’m hard pressed to decide on the top three, but here they are (in no particular order). Okay, I couldn’t decide so I’ve listed four, not three:
The Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta: A very short story with a brilliant ending. I can’t say anything else without ruining it!
Venus in Red by Therin Knite: If you want unrelenting action and lots of dead bodies, look no further than Venus in Red.
Decode by Autumn Kalquist: The author made me keenly feel the pain the main character goes through, but I did guess the ending. To be fair, it was only in the last few paragraphs, so perhaps that doesn’t count!
Word-Bound – MeiLin Miranda: I loved the angle used in this story, where people who do not have telepathic powers – the word-bound – are deemed to have a disability. The story challenges the assumption that having the disability ‘fixed’ with implants is desirable. Great twist ending!
I’m hard pressed to decide on the top three, but here they are (in no particular order). Okay, I couldn’t decide so I’ve listed four, not three:
The Trauma Room by Samuel Peralta: A very short story with a brilliant ending. I can’t say anything else without ruining it!
Venus in Red by Therin Knite: If you want unrelenting action and lots of dead bodies, look no further than Venus in Red.
Decode by Autumn Kalquist: The author made me keenly feel the pain the main character goes through, but I did guess the ending. To be fair, it was only in the last few paragraphs, so perhaps that doesn’t count!
Word-Bound – MeiLin Miranda: I loved the angle used in this story, where people who do not have telepathic powers – the word-bound – are deemed to have a disability. The story challenges the assumption that having the disability ‘fixed’ with implants is desirable. Great twist ending!
January 11, 2015
First of all I read the Look Inside - then I borrowed the ebook via the Library option via my Kindle Prime membership and read a bit more. Then I bought the paperback.
That ought to tell you everything. But if it doesn't then here's some more information:
This book was an absolute delight!
I thought I'd seen the last of wonderful sci-fi compilations of this standard with Asimov, Bradbury, Arthur C Clarke, Anne McCaffrey. The last book of short stories around a sci-fi theme I enjoyed this much was Consider her Ways by John Wyndham.
I will not go through each story giving my analysis because I went into this book 'cold' and I recommend you do the same so you don't lose any of the joy of discovery.
The sheer enjoyment of finding story after story maintaining equally as high a quality as the one before it was something that I needed to cheer me up during a rather depressing start to 2015.
I am now eagerly awaiting my copy of
The Alien Chronicles to arrive which I bought almost immediately after finishing the Telepath Chronicles.
That ought to tell you everything. But if it doesn't then here's some more information:
This book was an absolute delight!
I thought I'd seen the last of wonderful sci-fi compilations of this standard with Asimov, Bradbury, Arthur C Clarke, Anne McCaffrey. The last book of short stories around a sci-fi theme I enjoyed this much was Consider her Ways by John Wyndham.
I will not go through each story giving my analysis because I went into this book 'cold' and I recommend you do the same so you don't lose any of the joy of discovery.
The sheer enjoyment of finding story after story maintaining equally as high a quality as the one before it was something that I needed to cheer me up during a rather depressing start to 2015.
I am now eagerly awaiting my copy of
The Alien Chronicles to arrive which I bought almost immediately after finishing the Telepath Chronicles.
November 6, 2014
I was excited to get my hands on The Telepath Chronicles when I found out one of my favorite authors, Susan Kaye Quinn, had a story included in it. She takes us back to her Mindjack world with a little taste of what might be coming from her in the future. I can't wait to read more!
The Telepath Chronicles is listed as being in the Sci-fi genre. To be prefectly honest, Sci-fi is one of those genres that I have always avoided. I just thought it was not my cup of tea - avoid it at all costs kind of thing. Well, let me tell you, this collection of stories opened up a whole new reading world to me!
I went into it expecting to just read Susan's story and but I found myself devouring the rest. It was like eating potato chips, I'll just read one more and then I'll stop, just one more and then I'll stop. But the thing was, I couldn't stop!
I highly recommend The Telepath Chronicles! It is filled with amazing stories and each one gave me a chance to sample the words of 13 authors that I was not already familiar with. I love it when I find new authors to read!
The Telepath Chronicles is listed as being in the Sci-fi genre. To be prefectly honest, Sci-fi is one of those genres that I have always avoided. I just thought it was not my cup of tea - avoid it at all costs kind of thing. Well, let me tell you, this collection of stories opened up a whole new reading world to me!
I went into it expecting to just read Susan's story and but I found myself devouring the rest. It was like eating potato chips, I'll just read one more and then I'll stop, just one more and then I'll stop. But the thing was, I couldn't stop!
I highly recommend The Telepath Chronicles! It is filled with amazing stories and each one gave me a chance to sample the words of 13 authors that I was not already familiar with. I love it when I find new authors to read!
November 7, 2014
Wow, what a great collection ! Each one with a entirely different storyline but the same theme of telepathy, each one draws you into a new reality where mind reading and mind control is entirely possible. Each short story left me wanting more, and inbetween each one is a bit of information from the author and details of their other work, great for when you're so engrossed in that particular story that you just can't wait to read more. I've since one-clicked several of these and haven't been disappointed.
Fantastic little book at a great price, and even contains a short from one of my favourite authors, Theresa Kay - what more could I want ? Don't hesitate - buy it - and open up a whole new world where anything is possible..
Fantastic little book at a great price, and even contains a short from one of my favourite authors, Theresa Kay - what more could I want ? Don't hesitate - buy it - and open up a whole new world where anything is possible..
September 15, 2015
A Mental Rollercoaster Ride
The next instalment of ‘The Future Chronicles’ is another good collection with a variety of stories to enjoy. I’m glad to have yet again been introduced to some new writers who I wouldn’t have come across, if not for the series. The anthology, didn’t impact me as much as it’s predecessor—which blew me away and who’s stories were all of a very high calibre—but this could be a personal taste issue; maybe I prefer metal to mental … Anyways, below are the individual reviews:
#DontTell: Cool opening story. Loved the etymological slant on telepathy. Subject X's character was so real his voice practically jumped from the page (even after I'd replaced his accent to that of an East Londoner). 4 stars.
The Elm Tree: Well structured story. All the senses covered, some lovely similes and metaphors and some spot-on observational writing. I fancied a little more development as regards Ethan. 3.5 stars
Stability: OK start. Wouldn't have continued had this not been an ARC. The dialogue quickly became unbelievable and progressively worsened. One would expect a telepathic narrator to know more than your average Joe but the exposition could've been handled better. The innuendos made me uncomfortable and had me believe the story was leading up to some erotica, which I enjoy but it didn't fit this story. I guess the sexual references were used to help explain Bastian's character; if this was the case, it could have been executed better (his name itself, for some reason, evokes the erotic s: ). In fact, all of it, whilst having some potential, could improve. The Author's Note indicates that Kay is still a little green. But she comes across enthusiastic to write and this is all one needs when working hard at the craft; I wouldn't discourage her from continuing to do so. 2 stars.
Dreampath: Good concept. Shallow Story. However, a fun writing voice—I would like to read another from Elle Casey based on this element alone. 2 stars
Tortured: A moderate start, which got much better. I thoroughly enjoyed Sam’s conflicted mind and the attention, to which the author paid to psychology. It’s always a delight to see pristine writing, so hats tipped to the author and editor. There were some treats too, like empathy towards foods. It became apparent that the world was well developed and any questions one might have had were covered as the story progressed. But I figured this short story must be a part of a bigger picture and therefore I was left wanting to read an extended/more developed version. Based on that, it made 3.49 stars. In the Author’s Note I learnt that it was, in fact, part of a larger story—an additional exploratory/explanatory piece of ‘The Sontem Trilogy’, which I now would like to read, along with anything else Nicolas Wilson has to offer. PS DivHead made me giggle, I’m wondering whether the Nicolas knows what that means in the UK?
The Locksmith: Awesome concepts with a wicked, humorous tone. A well-thought out piece set in an equally realized world (like ‘Tortured’ I suspected it was part of something more). There were so many aspects to enjoy and threads leaving the mind to wander. Ideal for the YA/Sci-(or is that Psy-)fi lover. Susan Kaye Quinn has bagged herself another reader; I’ll be following on to her ‘Mindjack Saga’ at some point. 4.5 Stars
Trauma Room: Another short and swelling story from Peralta. Impactful and beautiful prose once again. One for the flash fiction lovers. For those who may be wanting more, though, check out the others in his Labyrinth Series too; it'll help you connect the dots. 4 stars.
Venus in Red: Fast. High-octane action. Simple writing. Not sure whether the author intended on writing everything in short sentences with scant regard to grammar and punctuation—and if so, whether it was it to create that intimate sense of urgency by writing straight from the narrator’s thought process—but it risked throwing the reader off. Sentences with one to a few words have the desired impact when used in the right way. It could do with an edit. Even so, I got into the style as it went along, though, occasionally a sentence (or a clause posing as one) was too confusing and I had to really work on figuring out the meaning. Thus pulling me out of the story. Still though, the short story was ok but I probably won’t be reading anything else from Therin Knite, unless maybe a memoir. 3 Stars.
Decode: Poignant writing with real characters, believable dialogue and a very possible future. The story is well-structured and doesn’t fall upon extremes of drama, tech or suspense; it just bobs along nicely. I enjoyed the GM slant on telepathy, the theme on the dangers of experimental science (a reminder we all need from time to time) and I liked the neologism—Grimp. I’d like to read the other stories in Autumn Kalquist’s series. 4 stars.
The Null: Something but not ‘really something’—but not nothing either. Just an easy-read opera. Not unpleasant but not particularly deep. 2 stars
Green Gifts: So good to see Endi Webb here again. This time with teasing short, set in a well-realized universe. Papito’s fun tone complete with foul-mouthery was welcoming and the other characters were enticing too; all very human. Belen’s colour and vibrancy fills the mind’s eye. *Possible spoiler: I just love a bit of nature interconnection. I was wondering when one of these authors was gonna to allow telepathy to transcend humankind. I should have known Endi would had it covered.* High 5 (stars)!
Little Blue: Hopping from the green and serene planet of the last story to the bright and blue world of Chris Reher’s. Another cool short story: vibrant alien races; vivid, colourful settings; and a telepathic child that would act just as any child would when thinking she was doing something wrong. At the end I flicked the page expecting more. Not because it was unfinished, quite the contrary, because I wanted to continue, and the story’s loaded potential could easily permit that. What followed made up for it—my favourite Author’s Note so far, which was forthright and inspiring to fellow sci-fi writers (and readers). Glad to already have a copy of Sky Hunter! 5 stars
No More Lies: I like Nina. I’ve enjoyed a couple of her stories. In fact ‘The Robot Chronicles’ introduced me to her. So I say this with due respect (and in the style of her protagonist): the scene entitled ‘The Tribe’ was totally and gruesomely awesome, the rest was f’in cack! When I started reading I was bummed out by the fact the story just wasn’t capturing me. It was flat. Also something about the protagonist seemed too similar to character(s) of Nina Croft’s other works and so her thoughts and actions seemed a little cliche. Moreover there was a major inconsistency when Kaitlin said she doesn’t lie and yet in an earlier scene had lied to her superior. Anyways, thank goodness for ‘that’ scene. It saved the day. The rest (inc. the last 2 scenes) are superfluous drivel IMO and if the author isolated that scene, maybe with a tiny rewrite, it would make wicked flash fiction. Terrible low + big high = 3 stars.
Word-Bound: I’ve just been left speechless. Literally mouth-agape; too stunned to even cry. What. A. Story. Saving the best till last would be an understatement. I think I have just fallen in love. Not with a person, because I’ve no idea who MeiLin Miranda is, but with that person’s mind. I’ve never had that feeling for an author’s work before. I’ve been moved; don’t get me wrong but this struck a chord that resonated deep, and is still going. Being a linguaphile, this type of story would naturally entertain me but MeiLin’s did something more. It wasn’t just about the concept or themes, which were incredible by the way—I’ll be recommending it to my deaf friends—, it was about the relationships between the characters. They were so poignant, so real, I almost feel sorry for the mind that created them, since if she hadn’t experienced something similar in her own life, she most definitely would have had to ‘feel’ those emotions when writing. And even if she didn’t, that’s all acceptable with me too because one swift arrow has left me a fanboy—all puppy loved up and wanting more of those words. 5 stars
So an average of 3.6 stars (if my maths is correct). Having read ‘The Robot Chronicles’, I knew this collection would have some high quality treats. It’s a shame they weren’t as consistent, but, with fourteen stories, one’s bound to prefer some to others; it’s all a matter of subjectivity. Grab yourself a copy, it’s highly probable you’ll enjoy a good percentage. I’m ruthless, yet still half my ratings were 4+ stars, which, at the current price, you could say is value for money. If, however, you’re short on the dough and can’t decide between this or ‘The RC’ I recommend you choose the metal first, mental second!
The next instalment of ‘The Future Chronicles’ is another good collection with a variety of stories to enjoy. I’m glad to have yet again been introduced to some new writers who I wouldn’t have come across, if not for the series. The anthology, didn’t impact me as much as it’s predecessor—which blew me away and who’s stories were all of a very high calibre—but this could be a personal taste issue; maybe I prefer metal to mental … Anyways, below are the individual reviews:
#DontTell: Cool opening story. Loved the etymological slant on telepathy. Subject X's character was so real his voice practically jumped from the page (even after I'd replaced his accent to that of an East Londoner). 4 stars.
The Elm Tree: Well structured story. All the senses covered, some lovely similes and metaphors and some spot-on observational writing. I fancied a little more development as regards Ethan. 3.5 stars
Stability: OK start. Wouldn't have continued had this not been an ARC. The dialogue quickly became unbelievable and progressively worsened. One would expect a telepathic narrator to know more than your average Joe but the exposition could've been handled better. The innuendos made me uncomfortable and had me believe the story was leading up to some erotica, which I enjoy but it didn't fit this story. I guess the sexual references were used to help explain Bastian's character; if this was the case, it could have been executed better (his name itself, for some reason, evokes the erotic s: ). In fact, all of it, whilst having some potential, could improve. The Author's Note indicates that Kay is still a little green. But she comes across enthusiastic to write and this is all one needs when working hard at the craft; I wouldn't discourage her from continuing to do so. 2 stars.
Dreampath: Good concept. Shallow Story. However, a fun writing voice—I would like to read another from Elle Casey based on this element alone. 2 stars
Tortured: A moderate start, which got much better. I thoroughly enjoyed Sam’s conflicted mind and the attention, to which the author paid to psychology. It’s always a delight to see pristine writing, so hats tipped to the author and editor. There were some treats too, like empathy towards foods. It became apparent that the world was well developed and any questions one might have had were covered as the story progressed. But I figured this short story must be a part of a bigger picture and therefore I was left wanting to read an extended/more developed version. Based on that, it made 3.49 stars. In the Author’s Note I learnt that it was, in fact, part of a larger story—an additional exploratory/explanatory piece of ‘The Sontem Trilogy’, which I now would like to read, along with anything else Nicolas Wilson has to offer. PS DivHead made me giggle, I’m wondering whether the Nicolas knows what that means in the UK?
The Locksmith: Awesome concepts with a wicked, humorous tone. A well-thought out piece set in an equally realized world (like ‘Tortured’ I suspected it was part of something more). There were so many aspects to enjoy and threads leaving the mind to wander. Ideal for the YA/Sci-(or is that Psy-)fi lover. Susan Kaye Quinn has bagged herself another reader; I’ll be following on to her ‘Mindjack Saga’ at some point. 4.5 Stars
Trauma Room: Another short and swelling story from Peralta. Impactful and beautiful prose once again. One for the flash fiction lovers. For those who may be wanting more, though, check out the others in his Labyrinth Series too; it'll help you connect the dots. 4 stars.
Venus in Red: Fast. High-octane action. Simple writing. Not sure whether the author intended on writing everything in short sentences with scant regard to grammar and punctuation—and if so, whether it was it to create that intimate sense of urgency by writing straight from the narrator’s thought process—but it risked throwing the reader off. Sentences with one to a few words have the desired impact when used in the right way. It could do with an edit. Even so, I got into the style as it went along, though, occasionally a sentence (or a clause posing as one) was too confusing and I had to really work on figuring out the meaning. Thus pulling me out of the story. Still though, the short story was ok but I probably won’t be reading anything else from Therin Knite, unless maybe a memoir. 3 Stars.
Decode: Poignant writing with real characters, believable dialogue and a very possible future. The story is well-structured and doesn’t fall upon extremes of drama, tech or suspense; it just bobs along nicely. I enjoyed the GM slant on telepathy, the theme on the dangers of experimental science (a reminder we all need from time to time) and I liked the neologism—Grimp. I’d like to read the other stories in Autumn Kalquist’s series. 4 stars.
The Null: Something but not ‘really something’—but not nothing either. Just an easy-read opera. Not unpleasant but not particularly deep. 2 stars
Green Gifts: So good to see Endi Webb here again. This time with teasing short, set in a well-realized universe. Papito’s fun tone complete with foul-mouthery was welcoming and the other characters were enticing too; all very human. Belen’s colour and vibrancy fills the mind’s eye. *Possible spoiler: I just love a bit of nature interconnection. I was wondering when one of these authors was gonna to allow telepathy to transcend humankind. I should have known Endi would had it covered.* High 5 (stars)!
Little Blue: Hopping from the green and serene planet of the last story to the bright and blue world of Chris Reher’s. Another cool short story: vibrant alien races; vivid, colourful settings; and a telepathic child that would act just as any child would when thinking she was doing something wrong. At the end I flicked the page expecting more. Not because it was unfinished, quite the contrary, because I wanted to continue, and the story’s loaded potential could easily permit that. What followed made up for it—my favourite Author’s Note so far, which was forthright and inspiring to fellow sci-fi writers (and readers). Glad to already have a copy of Sky Hunter! 5 stars
No More Lies: I like Nina. I’ve enjoyed a couple of her stories. In fact ‘The Robot Chronicles’ introduced me to her. So I say this with due respect (and in the style of her protagonist): the scene entitled ‘The Tribe’ was totally and gruesomely awesome, the rest was f’in cack! When I started reading I was bummed out by the fact the story just wasn’t capturing me. It was flat. Also something about the protagonist seemed too similar to character(s) of Nina Croft’s other works and so her thoughts and actions seemed a little cliche. Moreover there was a major inconsistency when Kaitlin said she doesn’t lie and yet in an earlier scene had lied to her superior. Anyways, thank goodness for ‘that’ scene. It saved the day. The rest (inc. the last 2 scenes) are superfluous drivel IMO and if the author isolated that scene, maybe with a tiny rewrite, it would make wicked flash fiction. Terrible low + big high = 3 stars.
Word-Bound: I’ve just been left speechless. Literally mouth-agape; too stunned to even cry. What. A. Story. Saving the best till last would be an understatement. I think I have just fallen in love. Not with a person, because I’ve no idea who MeiLin Miranda is, but with that person’s mind. I’ve never had that feeling for an author’s work before. I’ve been moved; don’t get me wrong but this struck a chord that resonated deep, and is still going. Being a linguaphile, this type of story would naturally entertain me but MeiLin’s did something more. It wasn’t just about the concept or themes, which were incredible by the way—I’ll be recommending it to my deaf friends—, it was about the relationships between the characters. They were so poignant, so real, I almost feel sorry for the mind that created them, since if she hadn’t experienced something similar in her own life, she most definitely would have had to ‘feel’ those emotions when writing. And even if she didn’t, that’s all acceptable with me too because one swift arrow has left me a fanboy—all puppy loved up and wanting more of those words. 5 stars
So an average of 3.6 stars (if my maths is correct). Having read ‘The Robot Chronicles’, I knew this collection would have some high quality treats. It’s a shame they weren’t as consistent, but, with fourteen stories, one’s bound to prefer some to others; it’s all a matter of subjectivity. Grab yourself a copy, it’s highly probable you’ll enjoy a good percentage. I’m ruthless, yet still half my ratings were 4+ stars, which, at the current price, you could say is value for money. If, however, you’re short on the dough and can’t decide between this or ‘The RC’ I recommend you choose the metal first, mental second!
May 24, 2015
Inredible read.
I especially liked
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
STORY SYNOPSES
#DontTell (Peter Cawdron)
For centuries, people have wondered what it would be like to read someone’s mind. Little do they know, they already have. To see the anguish on someone’s face, to watch tears fall, or hear their cries and empathize with them—this is the essence of mind reading. In the 21st century, our natural ability to empathize with others has finally evolved into true telepathy, but it’s an evolutionary change that threatens the status quo. The world, it seems, isn’t ready for true mind readers.
The Elm Tree (E.E. Giorgi)
When sixteen-year-old Lily Andrews takes her life, one of the darkest secrets of the small town of Mariposa Springs is buried with her. Three months later, baffled by an inconclusive investigation, County Sheriff Albert Contardo turns to the only person who can help him uncover the secret: the doctor who held Lily’s heart while she died.
Stability (Theresa Kay)
Cora has spent most of her life in a clandestine medical facility, isolated from the world and content to submit to tests and experiments at the request of her keepers. Content, that is, until the day she discovers their end goal: breeding her to create a more stable telepath. So when an attack on the facility gives Cora her chance at escape, she seizes it. But as she gets closer to freedom and learns more about the world outside, Cora finds she doesn’t know whether she’d rather be outside or in—or whom she can trust.
Dreampath (Elle Casey)
Chronically fatigued Kelli Erickson takes her naps very seriously, and when she dreams, she dreams big. Flying without wings? Breathing underwater? Yeah, baby. All that and more. But when a stranger’s voice shows up in her head telling her she needs to Save the girl, things get a little crazier than normal.
Tortured (Nicolas Wilson)
When Vipisana “Sam” Samatha sought refuge on the Nexus, she knew the decision would cause turmoil. But she didn’t expect that Pete, effectively the Nexus’s second-in-command, would feel so threatened by her telepathic abilities that he would stoop to torture in order to understand them. Now, as both Sam and Pete deal with the repercussions of Pete’s decision, Pete finds himself having nightmares—nightmares from which he awakes to find himself being throttled by his own two hands. He thinks Sam is somehow inside his head, trying to kill him—and Sam’s not so sure he’s wrong.
The Locksmith (Susan Kaye Quinn)
In a world filled with mindreaders, Zeph is a mindjacker who wants to stay hidden—even if it means the cute mindreader in his Latin class is forever out of his reach. He locks and unlocks minds for a ruthless mindjacker Clan in exchange for protection and the chance to have a normal life with his parents and little sister. But when a girl he doesn’t know reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, Zeph is forced to make a choice: unlock—and ultimately destroy—the mind of a young jacker changeling… or turn his back on everyone he loves.
Trauma Room (Samuel Peralta)
In the trauma room, a man lies on a gurney, fragments of an assassin’s bullet in his skull. He carries a secret that could save millions of lives. And if he dies, that secret dies with him.
Venus in Red (Therin Knite)
Grayson Dynamics, led by the illustrious Mick Grayson, is the most powerful technology firm in the world. But underneath the fame and fortune exists a dark and dirty history. Corruption. Lies. Betrayal. Now, a woman with a grudge intends to wipe clean that filthy slate—by killing the CEO who wronged her years ago and ending the global coup he’s been planning for years. And how will she accomplish this? With her newly acquired neural enhancements, of course. Complete with the power to manipulate the minds of others.
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
Disease ravages humanity, killing millions across the globe. Haunted by the loss of her son to the deadly illness, geneticist Avia Sherman must find the strength to keep going. To find a cure. To save the last remnants of mankind… before the world plunges into desolation.
The Null (Vincent Trigili)
He had left that life behind, sworn he would never return to it. He had a new life—a wife, a daughter. He was happy. But in a wretched twist of events, he finds himself forced to reclaim what he once was in order to save those who are most precious to him. Or else…
Green Gifts (Endi Webb)
Of all the worlds settled by humanity at the end of the Robot Wars, Belen held the biggest secret: native life. For centuries the colonists have protected her secret from the Empire’s grasp, sealing her, quite literally, to their skin. But over time, things change; people, and planets, adapt. Slowly, tentatively, these changes become felt by only a few. A lonely child. A dying grandfather. A troubled biologist. Each lives upon and loves Belen. And apparently she loves them back.
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
All is right with the world when five-year-old Cyann visits her doctors about that odd synaptic anomaly. Nothing to worry about, they said. The voice in her head is just an imaginary friend for the daughter of two busy career officers. But even they cannot protect her when the rebel wars deliver devastation right to their door.
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
Kaitlin grew up as part of a covert operations group, using her particular talents for what she has always believed to be the greater good. They promised her a world with no more lies. A better world. But when her twin brother disappears, Kaitlin must decide where her loyalties lie.
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
Four-year-old Campbell and his parents are word-bound, among the few who cannot hear or communicate via thought. Implant surgery might end Campbell’s disability—but it might also end his family.
I especially liked
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
STORY SYNOPSES
#DontTell (Peter Cawdron)
For centuries, people have wondered what it would be like to read someone’s mind. Little do they know, they already have. To see the anguish on someone’s face, to watch tears fall, or hear their cries and empathize with them—this is the essence of mind reading. In the 21st century, our natural ability to empathize with others has finally evolved into true telepathy, but it’s an evolutionary change that threatens the status quo. The world, it seems, isn’t ready for true mind readers.
The Elm Tree (E.E. Giorgi)
When sixteen-year-old Lily Andrews takes her life, one of the darkest secrets of the small town of Mariposa Springs is buried with her. Three months later, baffled by an inconclusive investigation, County Sheriff Albert Contardo turns to the only person who can help him uncover the secret: the doctor who held Lily’s heart while she died.
Stability (Theresa Kay)
Cora has spent most of her life in a clandestine medical facility, isolated from the world and content to submit to tests and experiments at the request of her keepers. Content, that is, until the day she discovers their end goal: breeding her to create a more stable telepath. So when an attack on the facility gives Cora her chance at escape, she seizes it. But as she gets closer to freedom and learns more about the world outside, Cora finds she doesn’t know whether she’d rather be outside or in—or whom she can trust.
Dreampath (Elle Casey)
Chronically fatigued Kelli Erickson takes her naps very seriously, and when she dreams, she dreams big. Flying without wings? Breathing underwater? Yeah, baby. All that and more. But when a stranger’s voice shows up in her head telling her she needs to Save the girl, things get a little crazier than normal.
Tortured (Nicolas Wilson)
When Vipisana “Sam” Samatha sought refuge on the Nexus, she knew the decision would cause turmoil. But she didn’t expect that Pete, effectively the Nexus’s second-in-command, would feel so threatened by her telepathic abilities that he would stoop to torture in order to understand them. Now, as both Sam and Pete deal with the repercussions of Pete’s decision, Pete finds himself having nightmares—nightmares from which he awakes to find himself being throttled by his own two hands. He thinks Sam is somehow inside his head, trying to kill him—and Sam’s not so sure he’s wrong.
The Locksmith (Susan Kaye Quinn)
In a world filled with mindreaders, Zeph is a mindjacker who wants to stay hidden—even if it means the cute mindreader in his Latin class is forever out of his reach. He locks and unlocks minds for a ruthless mindjacker Clan in exchange for protection and the chance to have a normal life with his parents and little sister. But when a girl he doesn’t know reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, Zeph is forced to make a choice: unlock—and ultimately destroy—the mind of a young jacker changeling… or turn his back on everyone he loves.
Trauma Room (Samuel Peralta)
In the trauma room, a man lies on a gurney, fragments of an assassin’s bullet in his skull. He carries a secret that could save millions of lives. And if he dies, that secret dies with him.
Venus in Red (Therin Knite)
Grayson Dynamics, led by the illustrious Mick Grayson, is the most powerful technology firm in the world. But underneath the fame and fortune exists a dark and dirty history. Corruption. Lies. Betrayal. Now, a woman with a grudge intends to wipe clean that filthy slate—by killing the CEO who wronged her years ago and ending the global coup he’s been planning for years. And how will she accomplish this? With her newly acquired neural enhancements, of course. Complete with the power to manipulate the minds of others.
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
Disease ravages humanity, killing millions across the globe. Haunted by the loss of her son to the deadly illness, geneticist Avia Sherman must find the strength to keep going. To find a cure. To save the last remnants of mankind… before the world plunges into desolation.
The Null (Vincent Trigili)
He had left that life behind, sworn he would never return to it. He had a new life—a wife, a daughter. He was happy. But in a wretched twist of events, he finds himself forced to reclaim what he once was in order to save those who are most precious to him. Or else…
Green Gifts (Endi Webb)
Of all the worlds settled by humanity at the end of the Robot Wars, Belen held the biggest secret: native life. For centuries the colonists have protected her secret from the Empire’s grasp, sealing her, quite literally, to their skin. But over time, things change; people, and planets, adapt. Slowly, tentatively, these changes become felt by only a few. A lonely child. A dying grandfather. A troubled biologist. Each lives upon and loves Belen. And apparently she loves them back.
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
All is right with the world when five-year-old Cyann visits her doctors about that odd synaptic anomaly. Nothing to worry about, they said. The voice in her head is just an imaginary friend for the daughter of two busy career officers. But even they cannot protect her when the rebel wars deliver devastation right to their door.
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
Kaitlin grew up as part of a covert operations group, using her particular talents for what she has always believed to be the greater good. They promised her a world with no more lies. A better world. But when her twin brother disappears, Kaitlin must decide where her loyalties lie.
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
Four-year-old Campbell and his parents are word-bound, among the few who cannot hear or communicate via thought. Implant surgery might end Campbell’s disability—but it might also end his family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2014
Continuing his line of The Future Chronicles anthologies, Samuel Peralta follows-up this past summer’s The Robot Chronicles with a new anthology centered around telepathy. Collecting fourteen short stories from various authors, The Telepath Chronicles explores the ramifications of one of science fictions most enduring staples. Assembled here are stories that span time and space, ranging from a present-day murder investigation to an alien world that is, itself, a sentient entity.
A few of the highlights for me:
Peter Cawdron‘s #DontTell kicks off the anthology with an excellent piece that explores the social implications of a burgeoning telepathic community and the fear it brings, acting as an allegory of minority rights. It’s a terrific opener, and provides a street-level view of the action presented through the eyes of a celebrity journalist.
Stability, by Theresa Kay, presented an intriguing premise that’s a bit like X-Men by way of a prison break, involving a central telepath, Cora, and several psionics who are attempting to free her from a sinister breeding program. There are hints of a darker world outside the prison and the story is effectively engaging. This is a world I would happily return to if the author decides to explore the territory any further.
Susan Kaye Quinn‘s story, The Locksmith, takes place in her Mindjack universe, but stands alone and requires no former knowledge of her prior works. It works well and the world-building on display was strong and interesting enough to goad me into picking up her novel, Open Minds, book one of the Mindjack series. Her short story in this anthology also promises to continue the series with a new trilogy, and I’m certainly interested in reading more from her.
Therin Knite‘s Venus in Red is another strong contender. Her stand-alone piece is a fun sci-fi actioneer revolving around a corporate assassination with the telepathy aspect playing an integral part via high-tech cerebral upgrades. It’s a serious bit of entertainment, and Knite brings her usual flair to the story, as exhibited in her earlier release, Othella.
MeiLin Miranda uses the concept of telepathy to write one of the anthologies more dramatically striking stories. Word-Bound focuses on a family that is incapable of communicating telepathically in a society where telepathy is the norm. Four-year-old Campbell is about to undergo corrective surgery to have an implant placed in his skull that will help him receive and transmit thoughts, and be capable of living a normal life. It’s a fascinating parable of the hearing-impaired that inverts the typical telepath-story mold, presenting a story of “outsiders” in an original and intriguing way, and, similar to Cawdron’s opening short, looks at the societal implications and the changing landscape that such a gift would bring.
As with any anthology, some stories stuck a stronger chord than others, and there were a few that did not quite resonate with me as well as others. Overall, though, I found it to be a fun and engaging read, and the breadth and depth that some writers were able to bring to the table made for a very pleasant mix.
A few of the highlights for me:
Peter Cawdron‘s #DontTell kicks off the anthology with an excellent piece that explores the social implications of a burgeoning telepathic community and the fear it brings, acting as an allegory of minority rights. It’s a terrific opener, and provides a street-level view of the action presented through the eyes of a celebrity journalist.
Stability, by Theresa Kay, presented an intriguing premise that’s a bit like X-Men by way of a prison break, involving a central telepath, Cora, and several psionics who are attempting to free her from a sinister breeding program. There are hints of a darker world outside the prison and the story is effectively engaging. This is a world I would happily return to if the author decides to explore the territory any further.
Susan Kaye Quinn‘s story, The Locksmith, takes place in her Mindjack universe, but stands alone and requires no former knowledge of her prior works. It works well and the world-building on display was strong and interesting enough to goad me into picking up her novel, Open Minds, book one of the Mindjack series. Her short story in this anthology also promises to continue the series with a new trilogy, and I’m certainly interested in reading more from her.
Therin Knite‘s Venus in Red is another strong contender. Her stand-alone piece is a fun sci-fi actioneer revolving around a corporate assassination with the telepathy aspect playing an integral part via high-tech cerebral upgrades. It’s a serious bit of entertainment, and Knite brings her usual flair to the story, as exhibited in her earlier release, Othella.
MeiLin Miranda uses the concept of telepathy to write one of the anthologies more dramatically striking stories. Word-Bound focuses on a family that is incapable of communicating telepathically in a society where telepathy is the norm. Four-year-old Campbell is about to undergo corrective surgery to have an implant placed in his skull that will help him receive and transmit thoughts, and be capable of living a normal life. It’s a fascinating parable of the hearing-impaired that inverts the typical telepath-story mold, presenting a story of “outsiders” in an original and intriguing way, and, similar to Cawdron’s opening short, looks at the societal implications and the changing landscape that such a gift would bring.
As with any anthology, some stories stuck a stronger chord than others, and there were a few that did not quite resonate with me as well as others. Overall, though, I found it to be a fun and engaging read, and the breadth and depth that some writers were able to bring to the table made for a very pleasant mix.
November 21, 2014
This review originally posted at www.fanboycomics.net.
The Telepath Chronicles is one of those rare anthologies where each piece beautifully matches the others, so while my emotional response varies from story to story, I never feel like any contribution is part of a game of “one of these things is not like the other.” While the genres vary slightly from hardcore space sci-fi to what I refer to as sci-fi light (There’s technology we don’t currently have, but the world is otherwise the same.), each explores different aspects of telepathy, gently tying the diverse tales together. This is truly a book where if one story doesn’t appeal to you, skip ahead, because I guarantee that there’s something engaging for almost all readers in the pages.
All of the stories in the anthology entertained me, but my stand-out favorites were probably "#Don’tTell" by Peter Cawdron, "Decode" by Autumn Kalquist, and "No More Lies" by Nina Croft. Each of the stories focused more on the human angle of telepathy, which intrigues me more than new species who communicate mind to mind. "#Don’tTell" is an insidious, little tale of a strange interview between a celebrity reporter and a telepath who is willing to share details of his or her ability. "Decode" follows a doctor whose life fell apart after her only child died in an epidemic. Meeting a young girl who has developed special abilities due to a gene modification project helps get both their lives on track and may save lives. "No More Lies" follows a young telepath who is being marketed as a weapon to the government due to her strength at getting information out of detainees who won’t talk; however, when she gains a hint about what her keepers really intend for her and her fellow telepaths, she takes a stand to make a life for herself.
I also had the opportunity to beta-read MeiLin Miranda’s contribution to The Telepath Chronicles, "Word-Bound." Seeing how the writing had tightened and coalesced between my version and the one in print was gratifying.
I don’t dare give more details about the plots of each story, because a large part of my enjoyment came from piecing the plots together on my own. Each of the contributing authors has a wider range of works to investigate if they catch your fancy, and links to their pages on Amazon, social media, or personal websites are included in the eBook editions.
I really enjoyed reading The Telepathy Chronicles, and I look forward to more installments in Samuel Peralta’s The Future Chronicles anthology series. If you love sci-fi, telepathy, or stories that look at a wide range of possibilities for our future, I definitely recommend this. The stories are all well written, engaging, and diverse enough for most tastes.
5 Interpretations of What It Means to Speak Mind to Mind out of 5
The Telepath Chronicles is one of those rare anthologies where each piece beautifully matches the others, so while my emotional response varies from story to story, I never feel like any contribution is part of a game of “one of these things is not like the other.” While the genres vary slightly from hardcore space sci-fi to what I refer to as sci-fi light (There’s technology we don’t currently have, but the world is otherwise the same.), each explores different aspects of telepathy, gently tying the diverse tales together. This is truly a book where if one story doesn’t appeal to you, skip ahead, because I guarantee that there’s something engaging for almost all readers in the pages.
All of the stories in the anthology entertained me, but my stand-out favorites were probably "#Don’tTell" by Peter Cawdron, "Decode" by Autumn Kalquist, and "No More Lies" by Nina Croft. Each of the stories focused more on the human angle of telepathy, which intrigues me more than new species who communicate mind to mind. "#Don’tTell" is an insidious, little tale of a strange interview between a celebrity reporter and a telepath who is willing to share details of his or her ability. "Decode" follows a doctor whose life fell apart after her only child died in an epidemic. Meeting a young girl who has developed special abilities due to a gene modification project helps get both their lives on track and may save lives. "No More Lies" follows a young telepath who is being marketed as a weapon to the government due to her strength at getting information out of detainees who won’t talk; however, when she gains a hint about what her keepers really intend for her and her fellow telepaths, she takes a stand to make a life for herself.
I also had the opportunity to beta-read MeiLin Miranda’s contribution to The Telepath Chronicles, "Word-Bound." Seeing how the writing had tightened and coalesced between my version and the one in print was gratifying.
I don’t dare give more details about the plots of each story, because a large part of my enjoyment came from piecing the plots together on my own. Each of the contributing authors has a wider range of works to investigate if they catch your fancy, and links to their pages on Amazon, social media, or personal websites are included in the eBook editions.
I really enjoyed reading The Telepathy Chronicles, and I look forward to more installments in Samuel Peralta’s The Future Chronicles anthology series. If you love sci-fi, telepathy, or stories that look at a wide range of possibilities for our future, I definitely recommend this. The stories are all well written, engaging, and diverse enough for most tastes.
5 Interpretations of What It Means to Speak Mind to Mind out of 5
November 20, 2014
The Telepath Chronicles (The Future Chronicles Book 2) is an anthology of excellent short stories on telepathy. The various artists featured in the book, do a great job showing what the mind is capable of, even if it is fiction. Who knows what is to come in the future? There surely may be a day coming when humans communicate mostly with their minds. The story that displays this mode of thought best is MeiLin Miranda’s ‘Word Bound’.
My personal favorite is ‘Green Gifts’ by Endi Webb. Endi writes a descriptive planet, full of beauty, energy, and vitality. This planet is named ‘Belen’. I love the way she connects nature with the strong characters.
Another close runner-up is ‘Venus In Red’ by Therin Knite. Therin writes an action packed, page turner, that leaves the reader riveted to their seats, and best of all, he leaves the reader with an unexpected ending.
I loved this book and look forward to reading more from all the authors featured in the anthology. I highly recommend this book to all who read Science Fiction, all who are interested in telepathy, and the future of the mind.
I received a PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2...
My personal favorite is ‘Green Gifts’ by Endi Webb. Endi writes a descriptive planet, full of beauty, energy, and vitality. This planet is named ‘Belen’. I love the way she connects nature with the strong characters.
Another close runner-up is ‘Venus In Red’ by Therin Knite. Therin writes an action packed, page turner, that leaves the reader riveted to their seats, and best of all, he leaves the reader with an unexpected ending.
I loved this book and look forward to reading more from all the authors featured in the anthology. I highly recommend this book to all who read Science Fiction, all who are interested in telepathy, and the future of the mind.
I received a PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2...
November 15, 2014
I'm not normally a huge short story fan as I love getting stuck into a nice thick novel, but this collection of stories had some real gems and I didn't feel cheated that the stories ended too soon.
What I particularly liked about this collection was the exploration of how telepathy would change human society, and the huge variety of how these differences would be played out. For instance, there were a number of stories where the telepaths were a feared minority, others where they were used as a weapon by society, and a couple of stories where they were the majority. Mei Lin Miranda's story about a non-telepathic woman living in a telepath world was particularly moving.
I loved the story about the artificial intelligence computer being saved from itself - this was a really good exploration of artifical telepathy, created by technology rather than through natural brain changes.
Anyway, I highly recommend this selection, I really enjoyed it.
I was gifted a copy for review by one of the authors....
What I particularly liked about this collection was the exploration of how telepathy would change human society, and the huge variety of how these differences would be played out. For instance, there were a number of stories where the telepaths were a feared minority, others where they were used as a weapon by society, and a couple of stories where they were the majority. Mei Lin Miranda's story about a non-telepathic woman living in a telepath world was particularly moving.
I loved the story about the artificial intelligence computer being saved from itself - this was a really good exploration of artifical telepathy, created by technology rather than through natural brain changes.
Anyway, I highly recommend this selection, I really enjoyed it.
I was gifted a copy for review by one of the authors....
November 7, 2014
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this anthology. When given an opportunity to read it early, how could I say no? Autumn Kalquist, Elle Casey, & Susan Kaye Quinn are all some of my favorite authors and I couldn't believe they were all in the same anthology! All of the stories were brilliant, and I'm happy to report I've discovered authors I would like to read more from. In particular, I loved the stories by Autumn Kalquist and Susan Kaye Quinn. I have read (and loved) Kalquist's Defect series and Quinn's Mindjack trilogy so I was excited to have more of a glimpse into both of those worlds. I highly recommend this anthology.
I absolutely loved this anthology. When given an opportunity to read it early, how could I say no? Autumn Kalquist, Elle Casey, & Susan Kaye Quinn are all some of my favorite authors and I couldn't believe they were all in the same anthology! All of the stories were brilliant, and I'm happy to report I've discovered authors I would like to read more from. In particular, I loved the stories by Autumn Kalquist and Susan Kaye Quinn. I have read (and loved) Kalquist's Defect series and Quinn's Mindjack trilogy so I was excited to have more of a glimpse into both of those worlds. I highly recommend this anthology.
January 11, 2015
What a great set of stories. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into some new authors and visiting a few I know very well.
Decode by Autumn Kalquist might be one of my favorite since I am a devoted fan of her Fractured Era series and this one goes along with it!
I also enjoyed Theresa Kay's story Stability. Theresa is a very talented writer and I've loved all she has written!
I look forward to looking into the other authors in this book and seeing more of their work!
Decode by Autumn Kalquist might be one of my favorite since I am a devoted fan of her Fractured Era series and this one goes along with it!
I also enjoyed Theresa Kay's story Stability. Theresa is a very talented writer and I've loved all she has written!
I look forward to looking into the other authors in this book and seeing more of their work!
April 17, 2015
I’m really enjoying these collections, edited by Gatewood. In this one, Peter Cawdron’s contribution didn’t impress me as some of his others, but I still picked it up given that he was opening the collection.
Pretty much all the stories were gripping here. The Locksmith, The Null, Little Blue, No More Lies and Word-Bound stood out, but every single one was worth reading and, as with the Robot Chronicles, I’ve put authors on my list to go look up their other works.
Pretty much all the stories were gripping here. The Locksmith, The Null, Little Blue, No More Lies and Word-Bound stood out, but every single one was worth reading and, as with the Robot Chronicles, I’ve put authors on my list to go look up their other works.
November 5, 2014
Again, I don't usually rate my own books, but this is another solid anthology I'm in. My story "Word-Bound" appears with a dozen other strong stories you won't regret reading.
November 19, 2014
I really enjoyed several of the stories in this anthology. Given that there were stories by so many different authors, I'm just going to go through them as they come in the book.
#Don'tTell (Peter Cawdron)
This was an interesting take on how society would react to telepaths. As humans we often seek to control what we do not understand and this story is a good indication of that tendency. There are several things to consider when discussing the possibility of telepathy. One of the primary things to consider is that a person's ability to lie to another would be greatly impeded. Additionally, to be an accepted part of society telepaths would need to limit themselves with regard to individual privacy of those they encounter. As with anything new, fear is often the precursor of understanding and this story does a good job of showing that. As readers of Peter Cawdron's stories have come to appreciate, this story does not end as one would expect. It was a good kickoff to the anthology and put me in the right mindset for the stories to follow.
The Elm Tree (E.E. Giorgi)
This was a mystery as well as a telepath tale with several twists and turns. Dr. Celine Bent unexpectedly finds herself in an unusual situation as she tries to save a young girl in this story. Nothing is as she expects and the experience throws her for a loop for lack of a better explanation. County Sheriff Albert Contardo turns to Dr. Bent for help with the investigation. The revelations to come are intriguing. I enjoyed this story. I wasn't surprised by the ending, but the writing was good it was a sign of good things to come as the second story of this anthology.
Stability (Theresa Kay)
Cora is an easy character to follow through this story. When we meet her, she has been a test subject for years and has willingly complied with the testing and limitation of her freedom. However, this attitude changes when Cora finds out that the end goal of those who care for her is to breed a stable telepath that can operate in the real world. An unexpected escape attempt by an outside group thrusts Cora into the center of the action when they decide to help her escape. Along the way Cora has to determine who to trust and whether she is safer as an escapee or a patient.
Dreampath (Elle Casey)
Kelli Erickson is a different sort of character, kind of apathetic with her overall regard of the world. She sleeps when she wants, enjoys delving into her dreams more than going our or making friends, has a job that accommodates her changing view on how much sleep she needs and is just an all around stay-at-home type. During one of her napping sessions Kelli's peaceful snoozing is interrupted unexpectedly. What Kelli uncovers in between her naps may determine the course of the rest of her life. I don't want to spoil the story so we'll just have to leave it at that for this one.
Tortured (Nicholas Wilson)
This was a good all around science fiction story. The telepathy was a major part of the story's backdrop, but the real story here was about personal acceptance and fear of the unknown. I really enjoyed the character study that took place here and feel the author did a good job of exploring not only the fears of those who might encounter a telepath, but also of the telepath herself and what she fears her capabilities may actually be.
The Locksmith (Susan Kaye Quinn)
The author put forth an interesting concept here. If the world were full of telepaths then there would most likely be some desire to protect oneself from their intrusions, especially for more unsavory dealings. This story takes us into the underworld of crime with Zeph, a mindjacker who locks and unlocks minds for a local gang. Zeph has a lot of decisions to make during this story and it was certainly a unique perspective.
Trauma Room (Samuel Peralta)
This was an interesting tale with some real world things to think about. Imagine that a major military leader has information in his head that can save the day and you'll be on the right track for this story. I don't want to ruin the story. This is a pretty short slice of life tale with lots to think about.
Venus in Red (Therin Knite)
I really enjoyed this story. It was an unexpected bonus for me in the book. Mick Grayson, head of Grayson Dynamics, is taking mankind on a one-way trip while he feeds his own sense of self-importance. Along comes someone to save the world from Mick and what a formidable enemy she is. This isn't only a story about telepathy, but about artificial intelligence as well and was definitely a page turner. Aside from Therin Knite's blog I hadn't really read any of this author's work, but was well pleased with this story and may go hunt down some more because of it. This is definitely an action-packed tale that was fleshed out nicely. If you enjoy stories that not only make you think, but also keep your pulse going then this might just be a story for you.
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
This is a pretty emotional story. Geneticist Avia Sherman is pretty much involved in her own world of personal grief and desperately continuing research to help humanity. Along the way she is asked to consult on another case involving a young girl. What seems like an interruption may be the key to unlocking secrets that Avia desperately needs to continue her work.
The Null (Vincent Trigili)
The Null was a little bit darker tale of an operative with an interesting version of telepathy. I enjoyed this story and found myself following right along with the main character as he made his way through. Our character teams up with an unlikely character to complete his mission and protect his family. Once again, too short of a tale to give too much detail, but I enjoyed the story and the character.
Green Gifts (Endi Webb)
I enjoyed this story, but the tone reminded me of the Darkover series right off. I don't know if that is fair or not, but that's what it made me think of...that and Captain Jack Sparrow's moving rocks from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I liked the story, but was a little distracted by my own thoughts of other stories and movies that this tale brought to the forefront as I read. You'll have to decide about this one on your own.
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
Cyann is a great character. I really enjoyed the childish enthusiasm of this character. Cyann is a hybrid between humans and the Delphi. She is a very engaging character and this story was easy to enjoy. There's some telepathy going on here, but there is a greater mystery that I would like to delve into with regard to this story. There is a completely unknown character involved in this story that is helping Cyann along. That is the character I want to know more about. There is a word from the author at the end of each of these stories and I have to agree with Chris Reher that space opera is about people. The author did a great job of showing the people in this story.
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
This story explores the inability of normal people to lie to telepaths. The normal humans in this story have developed a workaround for this problem, but when they start employing that workaround more and more questions arise for the telepaths working with them. What information are the others trying to hide from the telepaths and how will that affect them all going forward? This isn't too long of a story. There is no original science fiction, but as there have been several different series that covered many of these elements I wasn't at all surprised by the ending. Some elements of this story have been used from Dune to Futurama and I saw where it was leading pretty quickly.
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
This was a really intriguing look at how society would develop and react to the advent of telepathy in everyday life. This particular tale caught and kept my attention right to the very end. I don't want to spoil the overall story, but imagine being one of the few people in the world who cannot communicate with telepathy and how that would put you on the outside of society's norms. It's an interesting way to look at a fictional situation that is all too real when it comes to deaf and mute members of our society, especially with regard to language and the different ways we communicate.
That's a wrap for today. I have lots going on as we head toward the holidays, but am still plugging along on my reading list. We have Thanksgiving here in America next week so I plan to spend several days reading and lounging with my family. I've made some progress on the backlog and anticipate I might even get caught up before too long. Hopefully, I'll make some progress on that over the holiday. Always feel free to contact me if you're interested in having your book reviewed
I received a copy of this book from a Facebook giveaway in return for an honest review. Please note this review originally appeared on my blog and is worded as such, http://tjhapney.wordpress.com/
#Don'tTell (Peter Cawdron)
This was an interesting take on how society would react to telepaths. As humans we often seek to control what we do not understand and this story is a good indication of that tendency. There are several things to consider when discussing the possibility of telepathy. One of the primary things to consider is that a person's ability to lie to another would be greatly impeded. Additionally, to be an accepted part of society telepaths would need to limit themselves with regard to individual privacy of those they encounter. As with anything new, fear is often the precursor of understanding and this story does a good job of showing that. As readers of Peter Cawdron's stories have come to appreciate, this story does not end as one would expect. It was a good kickoff to the anthology and put me in the right mindset for the stories to follow.
The Elm Tree (E.E. Giorgi)
This was a mystery as well as a telepath tale with several twists and turns. Dr. Celine Bent unexpectedly finds herself in an unusual situation as she tries to save a young girl in this story. Nothing is as she expects and the experience throws her for a loop for lack of a better explanation. County Sheriff Albert Contardo turns to Dr. Bent for help with the investigation. The revelations to come are intriguing. I enjoyed this story. I wasn't surprised by the ending, but the writing was good it was a sign of good things to come as the second story of this anthology.
Stability (Theresa Kay)
Cora is an easy character to follow through this story. When we meet her, she has been a test subject for years and has willingly complied with the testing and limitation of her freedom. However, this attitude changes when Cora finds out that the end goal of those who care for her is to breed a stable telepath that can operate in the real world. An unexpected escape attempt by an outside group thrusts Cora into the center of the action when they decide to help her escape. Along the way Cora has to determine who to trust and whether she is safer as an escapee or a patient.
Dreampath (Elle Casey)
Kelli Erickson is a different sort of character, kind of apathetic with her overall regard of the world. She sleeps when she wants, enjoys delving into her dreams more than going our or making friends, has a job that accommodates her changing view on how much sleep she needs and is just an all around stay-at-home type. During one of her napping sessions Kelli's peaceful snoozing is interrupted unexpectedly. What Kelli uncovers in between her naps may determine the course of the rest of her life. I don't want to spoil the story so we'll just have to leave it at that for this one.
Tortured (Nicholas Wilson)
This was a good all around science fiction story. The telepathy was a major part of the story's backdrop, but the real story here was about personal acceptance and fear of the unknown. I really enjoyed the character study that took place here and feel the author did a good job of exploring not only the fears of those who might encounter a telepath, but also of the telepath herself and what she fears her capabilities may actually be.
The Locksmith (Susan Kaye Quinn)
The author put forth an interesting concept here. If the world were full of telepaths then there would most likely be some desire to protect oneself from their intrusions, especially for more unsavory dealings. This story takes us into the underworld of crime with Zeph, a mindjacker who locks and unlocks minds for a local gang. Zeph has a lot of decisions to make during this story and it was certainly a unique perspective.
Trauma Room (Samuel Peralta)
This was an interesting tale with some real world things to think about. Imagine that a major military leader has information in his head that can save the day and you'll be on the right track for this story. I don't want to ruin the story. This is a pretty short slice of life tale with lots to think about.
Venus in Red (Therin Knite)
I really enjoyed this story. It was an unexpected bonus for me in the book. Mick Grayson, head of Grayson Dynamics, is taking mankind on a one-way trip while he feeds his own sense of self-importance. Along comes someone to save the world from Mick and what a formidable enemy she is. This isn't only a story about telepathy, but about artificial intelligence as well and was definitely a page turner. Aside from Therin Knite's blog I hadn't really read any of this author's work, but was well pleased with this story and may go hunt down some more because of it. This is definitely an action-packed tale that was fleshed out nicely. If you enjoy stories that not only make you think, but also keep your pulse going then this might just be a story for you.
Decode (Autumn Kalquist)
This is a pretty emotional story. Geneticist Avia Sherman is pretty much involved in her own world of personal grief and desperately continuing research to help humanity. Along the way she is asked to consult on another case involving a young girl. What seems like an interruption may be the key to unlocking secrets that Avia desperately needs to continue her work.
The Null (Vincent Trigili)
The Null was a little bit darker tale of an operative with an interesting version of telepathy. I enjoyed this story and found myself following right along with the main character as he made his way through. Our character teams up with an unlikely character to complete his mission and protect his family. Once again, too short of a tale to give too much detail, but I enjoyed the story and the character.
Green Gifts (Endi Webb)
I enjoyed this story, but the tone reminded me of the Darkover series right off. I don't know if that is fair or not, but that's what it made me think of...that and Captain Jack Sparrow's moving rocks from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I liked the story, but was a little distracted by my own thoughts of other stories and movies that this tale brought to the forefront as I read. You'll have to decide about this one on your own.
Little Blue (Chris Reher)
Cyann is a great character. I really enjoyed the childish enthusiasm of this character. Cyann is a hybrid between humans and the Delphi. She is a very engaging character and this story was easy to enjoy. There's some telepathy going on here, but there is a greater mystery that I would like to delve into with regard to this story. There is a completely unknown character involved in this story that is helping Cyann along. That is the character I want to know more about. There is a word from the author at the end of each of these stories and I have to agree with Chris Reher that space opera is about people. The author did a great job of showing the people in this story.
No More Lies (Nina Croft)
This story explores the inability of normal people to lie to telepaths. The normal humans in this story have developed a workaround for this problem, but when they start employing that workaround more and more questions arise for the telepaths working with them. What information are the others trying to hide from the telepaths and how will that affect them all going forward? This isn't too long of a story. There is no original science fiction, but as there have been several different series that covered many of these elements I wasn't at all surprised by the ending. Some elements of this story have been used from Dune to Futurama and I saw where it was leading pretty quickly.
Word-Bound (MeiLin Miranda)
This was a really intriguing look at how society would develop and react to the advent of telepathy in everyday life. This particular tale caught and kept my attention right to the very end. I don't want to spoil the overall story, but imagine being one of the few people in the world who cannot communicate with telepathy and how that would put you on the outside of society's norms. It's an interesting way to look at a fictional situation that is all too real when it comes to deaf and mute members of our society, especially with regard to language and the different ways we communicate.
That's a wrap for today. I have lots going on as we head toward the holidays, but am still plugging along on my reading list. We have Thanksgiving here in America next week so I plan to spend several days reading and lounging with my family. I've made some progress on the backlog and anticipate I might even get caught up before too long. Hopefully, I'll make some progress on that over the holiday. Always feel free to contact me if you're interested in having your book reviewed
I received a copy of this book from a Facebook giveaway in return for an honest review. Please note this review originally appeared on my blog and is worded as such, http://tjhapney.wordpress.com/
May 1, 2019
This is a great collection of stories
The Telepath Chronicles is a fantastic collection of short stories with a focus on the world of telepathy and telepath rights.
What makes it such a great collection is that despite the common theme, each of the authors has a different vision of how prevalent telepathy would be, and what its existence would mean at the individual and social levels.
If you like sci-fi stories that are driven by characters, you're going to love this collection.
The Telepath Chronicles is a fantastic collection of short stories with a focus on the world of telepathy and telepath rights.
What makes it such a great collection is that despite the common theme, each of the authors has a different vision of how prevalent telepathy would be, and what its existence would mean at the individual and social levels.
If you like sci-fi stories that are driven by characters, you're going to love this collection.
December 24, 2019
Explore new authors
I haven't read an anthology since high school. I remember them.as annoying - too short to become invested in the characters, too sha!low for someone who loves epic, era spanning tales like i do. I
I was pleasantly surprised to find that each of these short stories were.rich, and thought provoking, and not the least bit annoying, as I had remembered this format. Even better, I discovered four new to me authors and have purchased their novels as a resultsult of discovering them here.
I haven't read an anthology since high school. I remember them.as annoying - too short to become invested in the characters, too sha!low for someone who loves epic, era spanning tales like i do. I
I was pleasantly surprised to find that each of these short stories were.rich, and thought provoking, and not the least bit annoying, as I had remembered this format. Even better, I discovered four new to me authors and have purchased their novels as a resultsult of discovering them here.
June 21, 2017
This is a volume of short story's , did not come across one I did not like to be honest. Lots of variety, none ran along the same theme, will read again and I enjoy these short story's as I find new Authors.
January 12, 2019
The stories in this collection are extremely well-written, with few errors. I can’t pick just one out as a favorite, because I liked them all equally well! I will be looking for more collections such as this.
September 1, 2018
As always with a collection of stories, some are fabulous and others not so much.
August 18, 2022
Helped me find new authors but i got sucked into the stories and always wanted more!!!!!
December 31, 2014
I was provided an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Loved it. Will review very soon.
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Below are individualized ultra-mini-reviews on each short story in order.
"#DontTell" by Peter Cawdron was a truly interesting look at telepathy at its most fundamental level - down to the construction of the word. It didn't take long at all for me to get wrapped up in this interview-centric short story, and by the end I was just as surprised as our interviewer by the identity of the telepath in question.
"The Elm Tree" by E. E. Giorgi may or may not have missed the mark when it came to the theme of this anthology. It was an all right story with all right characters, but the telepathy there was more like "psychometry" and the science fiction was more like "paranormal." Also, too long.
"Stability" by Theresa Kay was pretty obviously a short story caught in the jaws of another, larger universe right from the beginning. The writing read pretty young, but it was still entertaining if nothing else with an easily decipherable plotline and simple language.
"Dreampath" by Elle Casey was extremely cheesy and more tell than show. Luckily it was short and simple, too.
"Tortured" by Nic Wilson was obviously a part of a larger universe from the start, but - seeing as how I have added this very series to my TBR already - I appreciated the sneak peek into a world I haven't yet had the opportunity to explore. I'm now more excited, getting a taste of the human–alien relations glimpsed in this short story.
"The Locksmith" by Susan Kaye Quinn. Omg more please. I understand there's a whole universe out there behind this one (or ahead of it, I should say), but omg I need more of it as soon as I can get my hands on some.
"Trauma Room" by Samuel Peralta took me by surprise. The language used, diagramming the brain and networking the different systems of the body which stemmed from a shot to a man's head, instantly drew me in. It's that nerdy ass kinda science talk that sometimes speaks to me the most. But it was also interlaced with simplistically beautiful wording and phrasing that I feel like I try to accomplish but never do in my own writing. Will definitely have to check out what more this author - this poet - has to offer.
"Venus in Red" by Therin Knite, true to form, absolutely floored me. I have read everything Knite has published so far, and I will continue to for a long time coming, I predict. There's nothing like falling into a familiar framework with new and exciting figures at play. With every single word, I was reminded of why I love Knite's writing so much. And I never wanted it to stop.
"Decode" by Autumn Kalquist was riveting! Mostly due to the characters. The story was simple (yet no less intriguing for it), so the characters had real opportunity to shine here, and both came together very quickly to form a fully fleshed out story in its own right that I would read again, given the chance. I guess I'll just have to settle for reading what else this author has to offer.
"The Null" by Vincent Trigili was... a little underwhelming for me. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but the sparseness of the language, of the world, and the kinda corny descriptions had me skimming the second half. Good idea, not so good execution.
"Green Gifts" by Endi Webb is meant to entice readers to become interested in the space Saga that it's based in and, Webb, job well-done. I'm interested. Space operas aren't usually my thing but the focus on nature, and the dreamy, introspective style of writing has me hooked. I'm on board for more, all right.
"Little Blue" by Chris Reher was easily one of the weakest pieces this anthology has to offer. I skimmed most of it. Though the story may have been interesting, the writing fell flat and it felt like perspectives changed mid-paragraph or mid-scene.
"No More Lies" by Nina Croft has a lot of potential, but the execution there failed miserably. The writing was mediocre, the story was underdeveloped, the characters were a little lackluster and the world was almost altogether nonexistent. Not a bad start, but not a good short story. Also, supremely rushed.
"Word-Bound" by MeiLin Miranda was... quite possibly the sweetest, saddest thing I have read in a long, long time. This heart wrenching story about a family of outcasts in a world of telepaths hit that soft, adult part of me that's been growing more prominent inside me lately. It's driving me crazy, but I feel like it's that quality that makes Word-Bound one of the strongest selections in this anthology. Will be looking up more Miranda.
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Below are individualized ultra-mini-reviews on each short story in order.
"#DontTell" by Peter Cawdron was a truly interesting look at telepathy at its most fundamental level - down to the construction of the word. It didn't take long at all for me to get wrapped up in this interview-centric short story, and by the end I was just as surprised as our interviewer by the identity of the telepath in question.
"The Elm Tree" by E. E. Giorgi may or may not have missed the mark when it came to the theme of this anthology. It was an all right story with all right characters, but the telepathy there was more like "psychometry" and the science fiction was more like "paranormal." Also, too long.
"Stability" by Theresa Kay was pretty obviously a short story caught in the jaws of another, larger universe right from the beginning. The writing read pretty young, but it was still entertaining if nothing else with an easily decipherable plotline and simple language.
"Dreampath" by Elle Casey was extremely cheesy and more tell than show. Luckily it was short and simple, too.
"Tortured" by Nic Wilson was obviously a part of a larger universe from the start, but - seeing as how I have added this very series to my TBR already - I appreciated the sneak peek into a world I haven't yet had the opportunity to explore. I'm now more excited, getting a taste of the human–alien relations glimpsed in this short story.
"The Locksmith" by Susan Kaye Quinn. Omg more please. I understand there's a whole universe out there behind this one (or ahead of it, I should say), but omg I need more of it as soon as I can get my hands on some.
"Trauma Room" by Samuel Peralta took me by surprise. The language used, diagramming the brain and networking the different systems of the body which stemmed from a shot to a man's head, instantly drew me in. It's that nerdy ass kinda science talk that sometimes speaks to me the most. But it was also interlaced with simplistically beautiful wording and phrasing that I feel like I try to accomplish but never do in my own writing. Will definitely have to check out what more this author - this poet - has to offer.
"Venus in Red" by Therin Knite, true to form, absolutely floored me. I have read everything Knite has published so far, and I will continue to for a long time coming, I predict. There's nothing like falling into a familiar framework with new and exciting figures at play. With every single word, I was reminded of why I love Knite's writing so much. And I never wanted it to stop.
"Decode" by Autumn Kalquist was riveting! Mostly due to the characters. The story was simple (yet no less intriguing for it), so the characters had real opportunity to shine here, and both came together very quickly to form a fully fleshed out story in its own right that I would read again, given the chance. I guess I'll just have to settle for reading what else this author has to offer.
"The Null" by Vincent Trigili was... a little underwhelming for me. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but the sparseness of the language, of the world, and the kinda corny descriptions had me skimming the second half. Good idea, not so good execution.
"Green Gifts" by Endi Webb is meant to entice readers to become interested in the space Saga that it's based in and, Webb, job well-done. I'm interested. Space operas aren't usually my thing but the focus on nature, and the dreamy, introspective style of writing has me hooked. I'm on board for more, all right.
"Little Blue" by Chris Reher was easily one of the weakest pieces this anthology has to offer. I skimmed most of it. Though the story may have been interesting, the writing fell flat and it felt like perspectives changed mid-paragraph or mid-scene.
"No More Lies" by Nina Croft has a lot of potential, but the execution there failed miserably. The writing was mediocre, the story was underdeveloped, the characters were a little lackluster and the world was almost altogether nonexistent. Not a bad start, but not a good short story. Also, supremely rushed.
"Word-Bound" by MeiLin Miranda was... quite possibly the sweetest, saddest thing I have read in a long, long time. This heart wrenching story about a family of outcasts in a world of telepaths hit that soft, adult part of me that's been growing more prominent inside me lately. It's driving me crazy, but I feel like it's that quality that makes Word-Bound one of the strongest selections in this anthology. Will be looking up more Miranda.
December 14, 2015
Never get back with your ex.
Even if listening to Adele's "Hello" you may feel totally inclined to call your ex, try your best to resist. Get back with an ex is always disappointing, and this is true with literary lovers, too.
I deeply loved science fiction, for years, then I went to read different subjects, but when I saw this Telepath Chronicles I could not resist. Telepathy has always been of the sf scenarios I liked the most, and I always had a soft spot for short stories, too.
But I was to be disappointed, as it must be with great loves that come to an end.
Maybe I changed, and can no longer find in sf the same wonder, awe, surprise and bewilderment that had me so thrilled 30 years ago. The good thing about this collection of short stories is that everyone has a different setting, a different point of view, making telepathy a very rich subject. But the leading idea of the stories, and the writing, seemed not so high to me. None of the stories caught me by surprise: Don't tell is tenuous, The Elm tree is kind of paranormal teen story, the idea in Stability is good but there are too many useless details draining on the story itself, Dreampath is nice but there's no wonder, Tortured is way too fantasy and the ending is too mushy, the Locksmith is probably the best but I'm not too convinced about the ending. Trauma room is no story, and as for Venus in red I understood the turn on page 1, Decode has too many useless words, boring, The null is predictable and patterned on cinema heroes (or maybe it is written to become one of them). I still have to read the last 4 stories, but I feel I can write this review anyway. Should I discover something like Nightfall by Asimov, or a Brown's story, I'll immediately update this review.
Anyhow, 3 stars out of never forgotten affection and gratitude for the many happy reading hours science fiction gave me those many years ago.
Even if listening to Adele's "Hello" you may feel totally inclined to call your ex, try your best to resist. Get back with an ex is always disappointing, and this is true with literary lovers, too.
I deeply loved science fiction, for years, then I went to read different subjects, but when I saw this Telepath Chronicles I could not resist. Telepathy has always been of the sf scenarios I liked the most, and I always had a soft spot for short stories, too.
But I was to be disappointed, as it must be with great loves that come to an end.
Maybe I changed, and can no longer find in sf the same wonder, awe, surprise and bewilderment that had me so thrilled 30 years ago. The good thing about this collection of short stories is that everyone has a different setting, a different point of view, making telepathy a very rich subject. But the leading idea of the stories, and the writing, seemed not so high to me. None of the stories caught me by surprise: Don't tell is tenuous, The Elm tree is kind of paranormal teen story, the idea in Stability is good but there are too many useless details draining on the story itself, Dreampath is nice but there's no wonder, Tortured is way too fantasy and the ending is too mushy, the Locksmith is probably the best but I'm not too convinced about the ending. Trauma room is no story, and as for Venus in red I understood the turn on page 1, Decode has too many useless words, boring, The null is predictable and patterned on cinema heroes (or maybe it is written to become one of them). I still have to read the last 4 stories, but I feel I can write this review anyway. Should I discover something like Nightfall by Asimov, or a Brown's story, I'll immediately update this review.
Anyhow, 3 stars out of never forgotten affection and gratitude for the many happy reading hours science fiction gave me those many years ago.
January 9, 2015
This was a very quick, enjoyable read that has introduced me to authors I wasn't previously familiar with. The quality of the stories overall was high, and there were several that I really loved. "Venus in Red" by Therin Knite may be one of my favorite short stories ever, and MeiLin Miranda's "Word-Bound" and Theresa Kay's "Stability" also stood out as particularly good. The few stories I didn't care for as much weren't so much bad as they were not in the format I thought was most effective for the ideas -- a couple felt like well-edited plot bunnies for future novels rather than standalone short stories.
What I liked most about this anthology was that it approached the idea of telepathy from many different directions. I read a lot of sci-fi with this theme, so sometimes it's difficult to find stories that do anything original with it. But several of these stories explored aspects of the concept I hadn't seen before, and I finished the book with food for thought, which is always a plus.
I'm pleased to find that there are a couple of other anthologies in this series, and am looking forward to more.
What I liked most about this anthology was that it approached the idea of telepathy from many different directions. I read a lot of sci-fi with this theme, so sometimes it's difficult to find stories that do anything original with it. But several of these stories explored aspects of the concept I hadn't seen before, and I finished the book with food for thought, which is always a plus.
I'm pleased to find that there are a couple of other anthologies in this series, and am looking forward to more.
December 7, 2014
Good collection from numerous authors. While I didn't necessarily enjoy all the stories, there are a lot of creative ideas represented in this collection. Here is one summary.
DECODE by Autumn Kalquist
This short story was a cool glimpse into the start of the Infinitek projects. It's beneficial to have read the other books out in this series, but not necessary. Avia is a recluse of society, by choice; when a new problem arises from a past experiment, Avia gets involved begrudgingly, but ends up learning more than she had expected.
DECODE by Autumn Kalquist
This short story was a cool glimpse into the start of the Infinitek projects. It's beneficial to have read the other books out in this series, but not necessary. Avia is a recluse of society, by choice; when a new problem arises from a past experiment, Avia gets involved begrudgingly, but ends up learning more than she had expected.
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