Ray Bradbury, Cormac McCarthy & George Romero walk into a bar...

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY INFECTIVE PEOPLE by William Todd Rose swings back and forth between a present-day contagion and the future atrocities which follow. Ironically, I was reluctant to read this book because I'm not a fan of time-travel fiction. However, the idea of zombies and time travel mixed together intrigued me enough to give this book a chance. I'm so glad I didn't pass up this story -- it is amazing! Although, the zombies, known as rotters, are just mere mentions, so don't expect an undead survival tale.

There are two POVs, which switch every time a new chapter starts. The first POV is Bosely, a guy who has obviously killed someone in an attempt to prevent an apocalyptic event he has seen during his time-travel experiences. Bosely claims his consciousness is able to project forward through something called the Eye of Aeons. When he does, he takes up residence in the mind of young teen girl named Ocean.

Ocean provides the second POV, describing horrific living conditions and personalizing the hopelessness of the future. While Bosely's story recaps the events leading up to the murder, Ocean's story focuses on the new group of survivors she's joined.

What really impresses me with Rose's writing style is how the author keeps raising the level of suspense from one chapter to the next by cutting back and forth between the POVs at the most climatic moments...kind of like every chapter ending on a cliffhanger with either Bosely or Ocean, and suddenly switching to the other. This thrilling blend of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic horror will leave your mind in a twist!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fantastic Revenge Novel

GYPSY by Dan Foley (Grinning Skull Press) takes a common plot device, rape, and uses it to orchestrate a suspenseful and entertaining tale of revenge, without being sexually graphic or overly violent. While I don't necessarily consider this horror, as much as a supernatural crime drama, this story beats the pants off Richard Bachman's Thinner and offers readers something far more substantial than I Spit On Your Grave.

I love the way Foley's characters, Tim and Celeste, find a way to connect over their personal tragedies, as they use the extreme differences in their lives to exact revenge against a group of scum who absolutely deserve their deaths. The couple take teamwork to a metaphysical level. The details with the dreams and tarot cards are the perfect touch. Somehow Foley managed to surprise me with the ending, which is just one more aspect I love about this story.

I'm recommending this one to all fiction readers. Even if you're the type to "wait for the movie," make an exception for this novel.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bad Connection

DARK WEB by Kelvin Teo is a clever mix of crime drama, time travel and horror. This flash fiction piece had me hooked all the way through, but the ending is too abrupt. There are just enough details about Malcom and his friend Jackie to make me care about the two teens, so I can't let it go. The story idea is too good not to develop into a novel.

You don't have to be a horror fan to appreciate the suspense created by Teo.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Uneventful Time Travel

Saturnine has regrets.

Sometimes, she wishes she could go back and do things differently. Don’t we all?

She just found out that she can.

Thanks to the good people at Kronotastic Inner Journeys, Saturnine is about to “retrexperience” the unresolved circumstances of her last relationship. Hopefully, as she regresses into the past within her own chronological perception, she’ll be able to figure out what went wrong and finally get over it.

However, time paradoxes and probability theory can really get in the way of closure.

Whether in the past, present, or future, life never does turn out as planned...

Saturnine, In Her Head, Out of Time by Ray Hecht is a science fiction short story exploring the paradox of time travel. Saturnine is trying to figure out why her boyfriend ghosted her and most of his friends. The lack of closure has been messing with her head and her relationships for two years. Unfortunately, the process doesn't allow changes, in order to preserve the timeline.

The ending is quite a surprise. I'm glad the readers are given closure, but the story seems so vanilla. No real action, nothing dramatic...just a troubled young woman reliving one night from her past.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Backup Plans For Backup Plans

Insurance by Matt Darst is a short piece written for charity. All proceeds will be donated to Stand Up To Cancer. The story is a blend of science fiction and crime drama, and well-done at that. Every bit of this time travel journey came with a surprise, avoiding the typical clichés and plot devices. Usually, I have trouble following the timelines of stories in this sub-genre (no pun intended), but Darst does an excellent job of connecting the dots for the reader to travel along.

Of course, when I read something I enjoy this much, I always want more, but I feel pretty strongly that Darst should create a full-length novel for his character Lash. Seems a shame to create something so elaborate just for a short story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Let's Explore Time Travel...

Times of Trouble Anthology
edited by Lane Adamson
345 pages
$5.99 Kindle version

While I appreciate a good science fiction story every now and then, I'm not really a fan of the genre...and I'm even less of a fan of the sub-genre of time travel. So, imagine my absolute SHOCK that, not only did I enjoy this anthology, I had nightmares and weeks of extremely vivid dreams because of this particular story collection. That has NEVER happened before...not for so long, with such intensity. I give full credit to the authors - I would call them highly imaginative, but that would be an understatement.

HIROSHIMA SUNFLOWERS by Stephen Gaskell has an emotional depth that I would never expect in this genre.

PREVIOUS by David Gullen gave me mixed feelings: in the beginning, I hated the characters, hated the sterile environment of the future, but, towards the end, I loved the characters and their interaction with the past.

THE SCAVENGER by Michael C. Lea is a great interaction of multiple time-travelers...the disruptive timelines, the squid...outstanding imagery - hell, even We Will Rock You was a small detail that made a huge impression. Definitely one of my favorites.

LITTLE GIRL LOST by Jeff Drake is a mix of Hellraiser and Lovecraft.

A TORNADO IN TIME by Craig DiLouie has a great explanation of time travel consequences; one of the best stories in the anthology.

LET ME TAKE YOU THERE by Rakie Keig is a touching love story. Absolutely a five star story!

TO RUN INDEFINITELY by Brian P. Easton is another story that stands out. I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective of the character, Oris.

THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE by Jason S. Hornsby is depressing beyond words.

TEMPUS FUGITIVE by Rob Pegler and Thom Brannan is a story of exploitation.

MANDATORY WAITING PERIOD by Aaron Polson is one hell of a family feud!!

SCREWING CHRISTA by Wayne Helge is one of the most twisted stories in the collection, and also one of the best.

FORGETTING by Frank Farrar focuses more on our perception of the past.

DECOHERENCE by Mark Harding is another favorite...I loved all the storylines!

HOUNDED by Joshua Reynolds is a dark and twisted mindscrew.

THE TRANSCENDENTAL MAN by Timothy Martinez has an ending that I found to be quite pleasing.

RABID SEASON by Matthew Baugh is freaking HILARIOUS!!

MULLIGAN by Peter Clines is simply BRILLIANT and sure to be a favorite with all readers.

FACES OF NEFERTITI by Ruth Nestvold is another five star story that I would like to see turned into a full-length novel.

BIODEGRADABLE by Gregory L. Norris truly stood out from all the others in the collection.

THE TIME TRAVELER'S LATE WIFE by Stan Timmons is a ZOMBIE story!!

A HATFUL OF YESTERDAY by Lane Adamson has a confusing ending that I'm still trying to work out...

AMONG FLOWERS AND BONES by Frank Summers is a quiet ending to the anthology.

Honestly, you don't even have to be a fan of science fiction to appreciate the creativity that went into each and every one of these stories. It's a fantastic mix of authors, and will most likely be my top pick of anthologies for 2015.

As always,
AstraDaemon