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Discovery: QSF's Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest (QSF Flash Fiction, #1)

Angel Martinez (Goodreads Author) (Editor),

Eloreen Moon (Goodreads Author) (Contributor),

Brian Barr (Goodreads Author) (Contributor),

J.R. Gershen-Siegel (Goodreads Author),

Kirby Quinlan (Goodreads Author) (Contributor),

M. LeAnne Phoenix (Goodreads Author) (Contributor)

4.70 · Rating details · 20 ratings · 6 reviews

The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.

The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises ...more

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Paperback, First , 226 pages

Published June 10th 2015 by Mischief Corner Books

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Start your review of Discovery: QSF's Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest (QSF Flash Fiction, #1)

Jul 22, 2015 'Nathan Burgoine rated it really liked it

Shelves: anthologies, glbt, my-writing

I often feel very self-serving when I talk about anthologies in which I have a story included. I generally discuss them without mentioning my story at all. In this particular case, not including myself there are over a hundred other authors, so I'm feeling very little shame in talking about this anthology.

The blurb really covers the structure, so here it is: The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT I often feel very self-serving when I talk about anthologies in which I have a story included. I generally discuss them without mentioning my story at all. In this particular case, not including myself there are over a hundred other authors, so I'm feeling very little shame in talking about this anthology.

The blurb really covers the structure, so here it is: The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.

The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.

Broken into a few chapters, each of these flash fiction pieces clocks in at 300 words or less. There are two sections of Science Fiction that bracket sections of Fantasy, Horror, and the Paranormal. With over a hundred entries, I can honestly say there'll be something in here you'll enjoy. As we all know how squeamish I can be about horror, there was a whole section I was actively dreading, frankly, but even that piece had entries that caught my attention and made me smile.

Are there reoccurring themes? Yes and no - I noticed quite a bit of romance tied into the various flash fiction pieces, and there was a larger 'G' component from the LGBTQ spectrum than any of the other letters (though I was super-stoked to see an Ace story, and that's not to say there were no L's or B's or T's in there).

Here's the thing, though - I'm not usually a reader of flash fiction, and I have to admit that reading it was quite relaxing. Maybe that's not the right word for it - there was not a lot of effort required. Each story was there so briefly that I got to enjoy it and smile, and then I was ready to turn the page or turn out the light (it was my bedside book for a couple of weeks) and I didn't have to remember anything for my next reading of the book.

It's fun to read that way. I couldn't do it every time, but I really appreciated the book for the opportunity to do so. Especially while my house is under renovation and concentration is limited, this was the perfect book. It'd be great for a book-bag, work breaks, or any other "Catch-as-catch-can" reading time.

And even when I didn't connect completely with a story it wasn't a big deal. Investment wise, I'd spent very little time, so I didn't feel as let down as when I'm fifty pages into a book and decide I'm done (that's my own personal rule: if I'm not there by page fifty, I stop). And for all that there are over a hundred stories here, I didn't have that moment very often. I liked them.

Perhaps because they all have that "discovery" theme, there's most often a little sideways twist involved in the micro story, and as such, it feels like reading a series of "aha!" stories. Micro mysteries, almost, or cunning reveals. And I like those.

Did I have favourites? Of course. I really got a chuckle out of Storm Grant's "A Rock and a Hard Place," where a man's ex attacks the new boyfriend, and the poor guy discovers things are not at all what they seem in a very big way. I also really liked Astrid Amara's "Anomalous," and Jenn Burke's "Self Actuating," which won the contest - both were a little dark and sad, but so clever.

So, I'm stoked I took part, happy that the anthology includes my little story, and really quite pleased to have discovered what was - to me - a very different reading experience. ...more

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Oct 15, 2015 J.R. Gershen-Siegel rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

This book is a mix, as many anthologies are. From hot stuff to sweet romance to chilling horror, the writers delve into the LGBTQ experience via science fiction and fantasy.

In the interests of full disclosure, I have a story in this anthology. But I had not read most of the other stories until now. There is much that's good in here. Give it a try! ...more

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Sep 01, 2015 Ilona rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, paranormal-etc, science-fiction

If you want a quick five minute read before bed or whilst waiting for an appointment than this book is full of them and all of them are either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal with an LGBT vibe.
I am probably biased as I have a small story in this book but I will admit to the others being of a far better quality than my poor effort and well worth every penny you pay for it.

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Jan 14, 2019 Blaine added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-wrote, book-anthology, genre-fantasy, genre-horror, genre-paranormal, genre-science-fiction, characters-rainbow, book-out-of-print

Now that Discovery is, unfortunately, out of print, my contribution, BARREN MAIDEN FAIR, can now be read on Wattpad, or on my website ...more

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Jul 11, 2017 Jay rated it it was amazing

Not gonna lie, I need the anthology for every one of these contests ever.

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Dec 29, 2016 Jaylee added it

Shelves: queer-lit, short-stories, did-not-finish

No star rating because I didn't finish it. This book is *long* and has SO MANY stories in it. I feel like they weren't really curated very well? This was their first ever contest so I imagine the books get better as time goes, but this one just seemed like you had to slog through a lot of meh to get to some of the good pieces. I don't really have the patience to finish it. ...more

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Dawn rated it really liked it
Oct 13, 2015

Wt Prater rated it it was amazing
Jul 20, 2015

Sep 12, 2015 Kirby Quinlan rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

1 like · Like

Alicia rated it it was amazing
Dec 29, 2015

Madalyn rated it it was amazing
Dec 14, 2018

Jan 23, 2016 Brian Barr rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Jaycee rated it liked it
Jul 19, 2015

B.A. Brock rated it it was amazing
Oct 13, 2016

Sara rated it really liked it
Jun 29, 2019

Karla Quinlan rated it it was amazing
Oct 04, 2015

Aug 09, 2018 Eloreen Moon rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Patty rated it it was amazing
Aug 08, 2017

Annie rated it it was amazing
Aug 08, 2017

Stephan Knox rated it it was amazing
Feb 01, 2020

Dustin rated it it was amazing
Apr 24, 2017

Jennifer rated it really liked it
May 19, 2016

Jul 08, 2015 Jenn added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-wrote-2015, sfr-other

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Jul 10, 2015 Aidee Ladnier is currently reading it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

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Science Fiction

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Anthologies

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Fantasy

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Science Fiction Fantasy

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About Angel Martinez

Angel Martinez

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Angel Martinez currently lives part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head. She has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.

Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude. ...more