Short(ish)

[threemonkeys]

Well I can't say that I wasn't warned. But the thing is that over the years I have enjoyed the occasional short short story - the sub 1000 word form that seems to have acquired the flash fiction label in recent years. But in the past these very short stories were not all that common. The odd little gem in an author collection or in one of the magazines. Always I looked for and enjoyed them. I suspect it is a phenomenon related to the pervasive nature of the internet, but there are more of these stories around now - hence the trigger for the form to get its own label. The type of subject and story addressed has widened too. That then is the background to why, despite warnings, I bought Flashspec edited by Neil Cladingboel. I should have listened.

The first few stories in this collection are truly dire. I almost didn't read any further. Then suddenly the stories got noticeably better. It is no coincidence that that is the point where the first person narrative stories stopped. Maybe its just me, but first person just does not suit this form. The rest were a mixed bag. Some were pretty good but others were ordinary at best. I think it comes down to execution. The ideas were generally pretty good even if the hidden monster reveal was overdone but they were not always handled that well. This very short form requires hard edged writing. If you will pardon the simile, it has to stab your consciousness like a dagger - too many of these stories were more of a bludgeon. So my advice to anybody attempting these stories - polish and sharpen (repeat). When this happens, perhaps I will read a few more.