Spring Forward - Last stop ... the future. Find startling futures with a triad of Spring Forward authors, and dare to navigate the time stream.
Fall Back - Step away into history! Join three imaginative Fall Back writers who take you to a past which might be your future.
Stories include:
“A Spirit Guide to Taking the Egg” by E J Delaney “The Pyres of Striga” by Rebecca Hardy “The Endless Marching of the Ghosts” by Mike Morgan “Quantum Unraveling in a Future Rewoven” by Cameron E Quinn “Spirit Machine” by Amy Treadwell “The Wrong Ferrandini” by J. Edward Tremlett
Two collections of time-travel short stories presented back-to-back in the style of the old Ace Double SF books. The tales in question are rich conceptually and soaked with atmosphere, bringing unique imaginative twists to a well-worn genre. A trove of all-new nostalgia.
I’ve finished Spring Forward. Taking a break before flipping the book over and reading Fall Back.
Spring Forward is a 3+ book for me. Not quite the time travel to the future I was expecting. The 3 short stories are good, but possibly too short.
Spirit Machine by Amy Treadwell has a great setting, but I felt like there was more to the story. Also, didn’t feel like time travel. 3 stars
Quantum Unraveling in a Future Rewoven by Cameron E Quinn is my favorite of the three stories and felt the most complete. Also, clearly has time travel. 4 stars
The Pyres of Striga by Rebecca Hardy is another 3 stars for me. It could be an introduction to a larger world and story. And I’m not convinced that the character actually time traveled.
Having returned to the Fall Back side of this do-si-do book, I have the same feelings about Fall Back as I did for Spring Forward.
A Spirit Guide to Taking the Egg by E J Delaney - This book could definitely be expanded. I want more character and world building. The premise is interesting and I enjoyed the subtle reveal at the end. 3.5 stars, but could be 4 if it was a little longer.
The Wrong Ferrandini by J Edward Tremlett - This was my least favorite of the 3 Fall Back stories. I personally found it a little confusing. Not bad, but not for me. 3 stars.
The Endless Marching of the Ghosts by Mike Morgan - This was the longest of the Fall Back stories, and the extra length helped. 4 stars.
Both sides of the book taken as a whole is a 3+ for me. Fun stories, and an interesting concept for a book.