Our latest volume of Fiction River is special for a couple of reasons. One, it is the result of an experiment launched by our 2014 Fiction River Subscription Drive on Kickstarter. Two, that experiment was a resounding success, yielding a volume with the kind of uniqueness that Fiction River is known for.
Let me explain.
When we conducted our first subscription drive, we brainstormed a lot of different options for rewards. One of the possibilities series editor Dean Wesley Smith came up with was innovative but risky (no shock there when Deans involved). He offered to co-edit a volume with someone hed never met or worked with. As an editor, I can tell you that can be a terrifying prospect. Editing styles can vary greatly. As in vehemently disagreeing about a story. So, for two people to edit a volume together, well, thats a potentially explosive experiment.
Mind you, anthologies are co-edited all the time. Dean and his wife and fellow series editor, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, co-edited our very first Fiction River volume, Unnatural Worlds, together. But they know each other well (obviously) and have worked together before. To agree to co-edit a volume with anyone willing to pony up for the reward. Well, like I said, Deans a risk-taker.
Heres the thing about risk-takers, though. The good ones (and Dean falls solidly into this category) only take calculated risks. If theres not a good chance of success, they wont make the leap. Dean knew he could find a way to make this experiment work.
And, oh boy, was he right.
Enter Felicia Fredlund, Deans co-editor for Last Stand. Felicia had never edited an anthology before, but she possesses the strength of character and confidence in her decision-making of a person more experiences that her years would indicate. And her contributions to this volume made it all the stronger.
We strive to bring different voices to Fiction River. Felicia is a wonderful addition to our range of editorial voices. And she is now a Fiction River author, as well, with her first (but certainly not last) story appearing in this volume. (And, in case youre wondering how this co-editing things works, Dean chose and edited Felicia’s story.)
And now, without further ado, heres the synopsis:
History offers many heroic tales of final battles. And in Last Stand, sixteen courageous authors offer their take on the topic. From a heartwarming tale of not-so-friendly business competition to a battle of the godssort offor the fate of the world to a tale of looking for love in all the wrong places. These inventive stories make Last Stand one of the most creativeand memorableFiction River volumes yet.
Table of Contents
The Great Ice Cream War of Grovers Hollow by Annie Reed
Slow Motion by Eric Kent Edstrom
Do Not Resuscitate by Dory Crowe
Sunset, Fall, Home by Dan C. Duval
Til Death Do Us Part by Kerrie L. Hughes & John Helfers
Circle Round by M. L. Buchman
Unto the Ether by M. E. Owen
Bury My Son at Home by Angela Penrose
The Flare by Laura Ware
Whats Left of Me by Bonnie Elizabeth
The Counter by Rob Vagle
The Toymaker of Kelsium Rye by Chuck Heintzelman
Magic and Sacrifice by Felicia Fredlund
Lady Elizabeths Betrothal Ball by Anthea Sharp
Suppose They Gave a Ragnarok and Nobody Came? by Lee Allred
Death Bunnies of Toxic Island by Travis Heermann
I will now stop writing about this fantastic volume and let you go start reading it. You can pick up your copy here.
Enjoy!
Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.