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Vast: Stories of Mind, Soul and Consciousness in a Technological Age

C.R. Dudley (Goodreads Author) (Editor),

Peter Burton,

Jonathan D. Clark (Goodreads Author),

Thomas Cline,

Juliane Graef,

Ellinor Kall (Goodreads Author),

Ava Kelly (Goodreads Author),

Sergio 'ente per ente' Palumbo,

more…

4.22 · Rating details · 9 ratings · 4 reviews

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Paperback, 162 pages

Published February 28th 2020 by Orchid's Lantern

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· 9 ratings · 4 reviews

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Feb 22, 2020 Gavin Jefferson rated it it was amazing

Vast, the first anthology from Orchid's Lantern, is something special. I finished reading it almost a month ago and, in that time, I haven't stopped thinking about some of the tales. This, probably, is why I haven't been able to write a review.
My personal highlights were:
Chimy and Chris, as it garnered similar feelings to Flowers for Algernon.
Little Thief was gorgeous, intense, and terrifying.
Every Aspect of Every Recollection, was heartbreaking, and beautifully written.
The Dreamcube Thread was ...more

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Jul 15, 2020 Logan rated it it was amazing

This collection has a very interesting undercurrent running through it. An anthology with a true theme, as the tagline states: Stories of mind, soul and consciousness in a technological age. A lot of science fiction deals with what it means to be human, or, what it means to be alive and aware. This collection of ten authors all delve into similar territory, but what struck me was the linked nature of these supposedly standalone short stories. However, having read editor/publisher C.R. Dudley's t This collection has a very interesting undercurrent running through it. An anthology with a true theme, as the tagline states: Stories of mind, soul and consciousness in a technological age. A lot of science fiction deals with what it means to be human, or, what it means to be alive and aware. This collection of ten authors all delve into similar territory, but what struck me was the linked nature of these supposedly standalone short stories. However, having read editor/publisher C.R. Dudley's two books of short stories/flash fiction, I guess I'm not totally surprised that CONNECTION is not only a theme in her books but also how this anthology works. There's the tangible and intangible holding hands in that idea. In reading VAST, yes, these authors tackle what it means to be human, but almost every story has a more direct question: What's next for humans? What will become of the mind in a post-human world? The consensus seems to be UNITY. While all these stories struggle with the idea of the individual, many are occupied with the dissolution of the individual so that it may be absorbed into the whole. I find that pretty intriguing. Like, a book of short stories, which all exist, at least in part, as a means of self-expression, seem to describe a longing to be absolved of the responsibilities of the self while becoming a part of something larger. Which is complicated in itself. How is "one" a "part" of any "whole"? Who knows, but that's what this book got me thinking about, and I'm impressed by this anthology's ability to have all these different stories from different people talking to each other, in a sense, while remaining singular, but also part of the whole. I mean, all that said, each story could absolutely be read alone, by itself. Which likely is why the anthology, as a WHOLE, worked in the first place. Anyway, I'll let others respond more directly to the individual stories/authors, but as someone who is a longtime proponent for the BOOK as being an entity unto itself, something whole, complete, an object living in the world, divorced of its creators, and with its own sense of logic/reality and so on, I'm glad to have the opportunity to read something like it. Definitely recommend picking up a copy (it's a quick read despite how long I took to read it) and checking out other works by its talented (and smart and fun) authors and editor. ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 Aaron rated it it was amazing

Great collection, these are the kinds of stories that are thought provoking and intelligently written. They will have you question reality, mind, and soul. Due to the format of the short story they are not overwhelming, and have a stong focus on charachter - yet they still offer us lessons, and the oppertunity to question ourselves and our world. Each one can be read quickly for fun, and thought about for a long time after.

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Mar 21, 2020 Tristan McTeirney rated it liked it

Chimy and Chris by Stephen Oram (61 brains out of 100)
3 good things
1. Unlike anything I've read before.
2. You can feel the relationship between Chimy and Chris develop throughout.
3. That ending.
3 bad things
1. It is easy to get lost in the piece, given its POV perspective.
2. A bit repetitious with its word use, especially near the end (understandable within the context of the story, but still. . . .)
3. That ending. . . .
Quotes
"Communication is everything,she tells me. Conversation, d ...more

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About C.R. Dudley

C.R. Dudley

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C.R Dudley is a visual artist, writer and self-proclaimed mind explorer. She is fascinated by the human condition in all of its guises, and has been heavily influenced by Jungian psychology, existentialism and eastern mysticism.

Often writing from unusual perspectives, she weaves together esoteric philosophies with modern scientific and technological developments to give a many-layered approach to ...more