The pandemic lockdowns gave me the perfect excuse to avoid other people and read hundreds of stories (780 Kindle titles, not counting paperbacks). I must say this year also brought out the best of many authors...I had a difficult time choosing which stories would make my Top Fiction list. I decided to include several categories, so I could include more variety.
In no particular order, I give you my TOP 2020 FICTION recommendations:
SHORT STORIES
SLEEPING BEAUTI by D.B. Green and A.K. Stein is a mix of science fiction, fantasy and horror, and more plausible than the backstory of the Matrix movies.
FEAR INCORPORATED by Hervey Copeland is a combination of The Belko Experiment, Escape Room and The Condemned, written with the flair of Stephen King and the intensity of Tom Clancy.
ELFRIC by S.O. Bailey is a mix fantasy and suspense to teach compassion for others, especially those who have suffered great loss.
BEST DAY OF SUMMER: THE KEEPER by Clark Roberts is an extremely terrifying short story, especially if you're a parent.
WAIT FOR NIGHT by Stephen Graham Jones is a fantastic twist on a popular legend.
NOVELS
THE GHOSTS OF DAVID BROOK by Amy Cross is a fantastic ghost story.
HORRORFROST by Edward Newton involves an unseen force hunting during a whiteout.
THE MONSTERS WITHIN by Kody Boye is a coming-of-age story with a Donnie Darko twist in a Dreamscape setting.
SETH by Christy Aldridge introduces readers to an evil entity who wears a paper bag on his head.
THE CHILDREN OF RED PEAK by Craig DiLouie is an explanation of how the unraveling of the world can begin with just a small group of people.
NOVELLAS
TRANSFER by Terry M. West is frightening...The Slender Man and Sinister mixed together to form one hell of a creepypasta.
MELT by Christopher Motz is a mix of sci-fi and horror, and so much better than any version of The Blob movies.
ONE FOR THE ROAD by Wesley Southard is one of the few stories I've read which lives up to all the accolades. This really is a mix of Silent Hill, Jacob's Ladder and Lost Highway.
THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR by James Loscombe is the darkest story I've read by this author, thus far.
PIRANHA by Eric S. Brown is very much like a SyFy movie, but with the savage brutality the author regularly unleashes on his fans...not your daddy's piranha.
ANTHOLOGIES
NO REST by Joslyn Chase is a collection of fourteen short stories, ranging from crime drama to mystery-suspense, featuring the best and worst of human nature.
THE OCEAN OF SKY by John A Connor is a collection of twenty-three short stories and flash fiction pieces mixing sci-fi, horror and suspense.
LEADERS OF THE PACK is a fantastic collection of werewolf stories from twelve authors, such as Jeff Strand and Ray Garton.
BOOK SERIES
ROADS LESS TRAVELED is a five-book series by C. Dulaney. A young woman named Kasey actually has a "Z-plan" in place before the zombie outbreak in the story. While traveling, Kasey and her friends make some startling discoveries about the undead. The story arc is amazing and unlike any other end-of-the-world scenario I've ever read, but the evolution of the characters is what really stands out. Dulaney digs into her creations, tears them into pieces and scatters their remains across each novel.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
PAN by Christopher Ruz is a dark version of the Peter Pan story, mixing folklore and mythology from more than one source. I absolutely love all the sinister secrets revealed through the POV of a Lost Boy named Jimmy. Once the narrator's identity is revealed, this short story became one of my all-time favorites.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY by Naomi Kritzer is a flash fiction fantasy story, and I am BEGGING the author to write more. I love this story. I love all the details, the suspense, but the ending is too abrupt...the interaction is too fleeting.
There you have it...my list of must-read stories from 2020. Please share this list to give these authors the recognition they deserve. I sincerely hope 2021 is better for everyone. Stay safe and keep reading!
As always,
AstraDaemon
SO MANY NEW THINGS TO EXPLORE!!!
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