FlashSpec Volume 2

A Collection of Speculative Flash Fiction

Edited by Neil Cladingboel

Equilibrium Books

Web: http://www.flashspec.equilibriumbooks.com/

FlashSpec is an anthology series, showcasing short, high quality speculative fiction from around the world. The uniqueness of flash fiction is that it emphasizes quality of over quantity since the story must be told in a limited space, indeed in this second volume the tale must be under 750 words.

It is certainly the case that less is more and most of the tales tend to be on the more unusual even darker side of fiction with unusual conclusions which are not what you would expect. Some of the best tales are those which emphasize imagery and mood rather since these can be successfully evoked in a short tale, but this does not mean that there are not tales which offer impressive plot and character development in such a short space.

Volume 2 surpasses the high quality standard of the first volume and offers a range of tales from a diverse range of flash fiction authors from around the world.

While there has been some criticism of flash fiction being somewhat tired and using clichés and well worn literary twists, the tales in this volume are innovative, evocative and stretch the envelope when it comes to what flash fiction can be. It has been argued that Flash Fiction lacks narrative content, yet if we take as example Indigo by Debra Findlay, we have an excellent narrative created by what seems to be a lover and her potential suitor. It places us within the context of the characters and then hits us head on with the twist at the end.

Personally I think the editor has done an exceptional job of choosing some of the more creative and interesting flash fiction stories from what is essentially a flood of stories available.

Stories in this volume cannot be easily categorized and range from what could be defined as dark and horror to fantasy and tales with a psychological twist. Of course, tales vary throughout the volume from short “snacks” to full length (750 word) Flash Fiction, but while they vary in quality, all kept my attention and interest and I highly recommend FlashSpec Volume 2.