Migration Queer Sci-Fi's Flash Fiction #6
LGBTQ, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Anthology
Other Worlds Ink
July 24, 2019
256
MI-GRA-TION (Noun)
1) Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
2) Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.
3) Movement from one part of something to another.
Three definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 120 of our favorites.
Migration feaures 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
Available at Amazon.
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
This was a writer’s challenge, write sci-fi/fantasy/horror of LGBTIQA stories using no more than 300 words, the theme migration. I am going to list the authors whose stories were chosen to be in the book and then write a review for the winners and the judge’s choice. The categories in this book are horror, paranormal, fantasy and science fiction.
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS:
Sionnain Buckley/Warren Rochelle/Marita O’Connor/C.Taylor-Butler/Amanda Thomas/Kevin Klehr/Andrea Speed/Bob Goddard/M Joseph Murphy/Chloe Spencer/Crysta K.Coburn/Sydney Blackburn/Monique Cuilerier/C.A. McDonald/Lauren Ring/Elizabeth Andre/Robyn Walker/Be Allatt/Sara Testarossa/Eytan Bernstein/Foster Bridget Cassidy/KC Burn/Treasure Nguyen/Damian Serbu/Joshua Darrow/Paula McGrath/Kayleigh Sky/Mere Rain/Kim Fielding/Nathan Alling Long/Adrienne Wilder/Trevor Barton/R R Angell/J.R. Frontera/Krishan Coupland/C.L. Mannarino/Dave Creek/S R Jones/K E Olukoya/Steve Fuson/Jessie Pinkham/Shannon Brady/Diane Morrison/Hank Edwards/Antonia Aquilante/Isobel Granby/Carey Ford Compton/E.M. Hamill/X. Marduk/Shannon West/Harry F. Rey/Ether Nepenthes/Steven Harper/Devon Widmer/Helen De Cruz/Evelyn Benvie/Nils Odlund/A.M. Leibowitz/Adrik Kemp/Shirley Meier/Carol Holland March/Mary Newman/Siri Paulson/
4★★★★ ONCE A YEAR – DIANNE HARTSOCK – 300 WORDS
A moan stopped a man causing him to look down where he saw a man buried in leaves and blood on his mouth. The only word the man said was “run” but instead he bent down and kissed him tasting rot and feeling something strange entering him, a perfect example of no good deed goes unpunished.
3 Judges’ Winners
1ST PLACE: METTLE – DIE BOOTH
Craig got some piercings that two nights later disappeared leaving no trace of them ever being there. Time and again he redid the piercings only to have them migrate as well, then tired of spending so much money and having nothing to show for it he decided to do the piercings himself that was when he learned the truth and it was quite a surprise.
2ND PLACE: THE SPECK – BEY DECKARD
When Matt notices a speck in his eye keeps moving and when he suddenly sees creatures he wears an eye patch. He is sure the creatures still exist behind his eye patch but if he doesn’t see them he can live with it until his husband Wayne lets out a scream and everything changes, and not for the better.
3RD PLACE: THE WOMAN WITH NO NAME – SIRI PAULSON
Brighid sits with a woman with no name, a woman she was kissing in the morning and a woman who asks her to return something of hers, something that will result in her leaving. The woman with no name disappears and Brighid prepares for her trip to America. This was a sweet love story.
JUDGES’ CHOICES
THE ESSENCE – L. M. BROWN
A Vessel is dying leaving the one occupying it to find another and it is necessary to find one immediately since the vessel is being tracked. Although a sleeping body is easiest to occupy the vessel decides to take a woman in the middle of sex, a woman who screams her pleasure and a woman who promises to return the favor but not quite in the same way.
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS – ZIGGY SCHUTZ
At the age of eight Agnes first saw the river a river that was not there a day ago and a river that seems to grow with her. At the age of eighteen she sees someone floating on her river claiming he is going away, away from those who want him to be what they want and not be what he wants leaving Agnes with a decision to make.
ZULU-KEVIN KLEHR
Allister loves his hair and one day while admiring it he sees that a little green man named Zulu is living in it. Zulu begs Allister to allow him to stay since his planet is dying and of course Allister is only too happy to let him. Then each day another little person appears until there is finally an entire city living there so something has to be done and the solution is simple and works for everyone.
THE CURIOUS CABINET-GINGER STREUSEL
Asa has a haunted cabinet and brings it to Blair’s Antique Repair and Curse Removal. Warned to never open it, it opened by itself when he moved. A demon is bound to his grandmother’s hair in the cabinet and it needs to be destroyed to rid it of the demon and the stink of cabbage, but it would also remove something precious belonging to his grandmother so Asa has a decision to make.
SKIN HUNGER – TREASURE NGUYEN
Sex and teeth and at times distasteful but also sexy.
REPEATING HISTORY – J. SUMMERSET
Like family before my mother and I are migrating hoping for a better life and wondering if they did the right thing. Now once again we leave and hope for better.
This anthology is referred to as flash fiction which reminds me of speed dating and not exactly my cup of tea some of the stories confused me, some I enjoyed and some left me speechless but there are more than enough stories to satisfy anyone, they are short and a quick read. Since there were more stories I liked then disliked even though there were some I didn’t even understand this book was more than a worthwhile read.