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The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy
Based On the Life of the Famous Arabian Horse Witez II
M.J. Evans
2023 Silver Medal
274 Pages
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Fiction - Animals
Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite
The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy: Based On the Life of the Famous Arabian Horse Witez II is a work of historical fiction by M.J. Evans set in the period 1943 - 1965. Teodor is a non-communicative autistic boy living in Hostau, Czechoslovakia, where the finest captured horses from all over Europe are sent to a Nazi breeding farm. Teodor meets Witez, the two bond immediately, and he becomes a worker at the farm where he trains as Witez’s groom. Later, as the war ends and the horses come under the threat of being slaughtered for food by the advancing Russian Army, some German officers ask the United States Army to rescue the animals and take them out of Czechoslovakia. Soon, Teodor accompanies Witez to America on the adventure of a lifetime.
In The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy, M.J. Evans gives us an entertaining and informative account of the Polish horse who became a premier stallion in the pedigree of the Arabian breed in the United States. Told in part through the fictional character of Teodor and sensitive to his therapeutic and devoted bond with Witez over the years, it blends the suspense of a World War II military rescue operation with the subsequent challenges of resettlement in a new land with new owners. The narrative is engaging and moves at a good pace. The choice of an autistic protagonist adds a special dimension, and Teodor is both relatable and believable. Suitable for young adult and adult readers, this story is sure to please anyone who enjoys good historical fiction.
The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy: Based On the Life of the Famous Arabian Horse Witez II is a work of historical fiction by M.J. Evans set in the period 1943 - 1965. Teodor is a non-communicative autistic boy living in Hostau, Czechoslovakia, where the finest captured horses from all over Europe are sent to a Nazi breeding farm. Teodor meets Witez, the two bond immediately, and he becomes a worker at the farm where he trains as Witez’s groom. Later, as the war ends and the horses come under the threat of being slaughtered for food by the advancing Russian Army, some German officers ask the United States Army to rescue the animals and take them out of Czechoslovakia. Soon, Teodor accompanies Witez to America on the adventure of a lifetime.
In The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy, M.J. Evans gives us an entertaining and informative account of the Polish horse who became a premier stallion in the pedigree of the Arabian breed in the United States. Told in part through the fictional character of Teodor and sensitive to his therapeutic and devoted bond with Witez over the years, it blends the suspense of a World War II military rescue operation with the subsequent challenges of resettlement in a new land with new owners. The narrative is engaging and moves at a good pace. The choice of an autistic protagonist adds a special dimension, and Teodor is both relatable and believable. Suitable for young adult and adult readers, this story is sure to please anyone who enjoys good historical fiction.
Recommend this book:
The Dog in the Hollow
Will Lowrey
2023 Bronze Medal
198 Pages
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Fiction - Animals
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Living in the rough at the end of a chain, with meager portions of food once a day, isn’t much of a life for a dog. To be taken into a ring to fight to the death isn’t much better. So, when wounded and abandoned by the dog-fighting hustler, Goose realizes his chain is unlocked and he has his ticket to freedom. His dog mates urge him to escape and a friendly coyote helps him limp to safety. Deeper in the woods, Goose finds Clarence living alone in a rustic cabin, hiding from the world. Injured and with no fight left, Goose gives in to Clarence’s tender care and the two develop a deep bond. When Goose leads Clarence back to the dog fighting enclave, a shocked Clarence realizes he has to return to town to seek help, only help isn’t always easy to find when the powers that be are only too glad to see him return to the woods.
Will Lowrey’s novel, The Dog in the Hollow, is a raw look at a sad side of reality: dog fighting. It’s illegal and downright barbaric, but people continue to raise dogs to fight and support this malicious sport. Told in third person narrative, mostly from Goose’s point of view, the plot follows the injured dog to freedom and a good life with someone he really can trust and love. Readers' eyes will be filled with tears as they follow Goose's trail, and they’ll enjoy some of the tender sweet moments shared between Goose and his new friend, Clarence. Dialogue is used sparingly as the story unfolds in narrative form until the plot reveals Clarence’s sad story. Like the many classic animal stories, such as Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, Margaret Marshall Saunders’ Beautiful Joe, and many others, this story will definitely find its place in the hearts of those that enjoy them.
Living in the rough at the end of a chain, with meager portions of food once a day, isn’t much of a life for a dog. To be taken into a ring to fight to the death isn’t much better. So, when wounded and abandoned by the dog-fighting hustler, Goose realizes his chain is unlocked and he has his ticket to freedom. His dog mates urge him to escape and a friendly coyote helps him limp to safety. Deeper in the woods, Goose finds Clarence living alone in a rustic cabin, hiding from the world. Injured and with no fight left, Goose gives in to Clarence’s tender care and the two develop a deep bond. When Goose leads Clarence back to the dog fighting enclave, a shocked Clarence realizes he has to return to town to seek help, only help isn’t always easy to find when the powers that be are only too glad to see him return to the woods.
Will Lowrey’s novel, The Dog in the Hollow, is a raw look at a sad side of reality: dog fighting. It’s illegal and downright barbaric, but people continue to raise dogs to fight and support this malicious sport. Told in third person narrative, mostly from Goose’s point of view, the plot follows the injured dog to freedom and a good life with someone he really can trust and love. Readers' eyes will be filled with tears as they follow Goose's trail, and they’ll enjoy some of the tender sweet moments shared between Goose and his new friend, Clarence. Dialogue is used sparingly as the story unfolds in narrative form until the plot reveals Clarence’s sad story. Like the many classic animal stories, such as Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, Margaret Marshall Saunders’ Beautiful Joe, and many others, this story will definitely find its place in the hearts of those that enjoy them.
Recommend this book:
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38
Anthology of Award-Winning Sci-Fi and Fantasy Short Stories
L. Ron Hubbard
2023 Bronze Medal
525 Pages
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Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38 is an anthology of award-winning sci-fi and fantasy short stories. It consists of 16 science fiction short stories, several beautiful illustrations, and a total of four helpful articles about writing stories. The anthology features some of the best absurd yet inspiring fantasy and science fiction, where each story tells a different tale of life, love, determination, responsibility, and the future. My favorite was The Squid is My Brother by Mike Jack Stoumbos, which features Michaela Kessler from Neptune as she struggles through the horrors of human middle school. The Mystical Farrago, The Daddy Box, The Island on the Lake, and Agatha’s Monster are all my favorites, to be honest.
This is a great collection that features a little bit of everything. The stories touch upon different themes of science fiction and fantasy. I love how the anthology gives us a different author with each story and makes it possible for us to enjoy different narrative styles in one collection. It's hard for me to choose which story is the best, but The Squid is My Brother, and The Daddy Box are two that stand out to me the most. The illustrations are wonderful and add more life to the stories. There is something for everyone, especially for picky readers like me who like certain types of science fiction and not others. One piece of advice is to take your time, savor each story, and you will love it and this collection to bits.
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38 is an anthology of award-winning sci-fi and fantasy short stories. It consists of 16 science fiction short stories, several beautiful illustrations, and a total of four helpful articles about writing stories. The anthology features some of the best absurd yet inspiring fantasy and science fiction, where each story tells a different tale of life, love, determination, responsibility, and the future. My favorite was The Squid is My Brother by Mike Jack Stoumbos, which features Michaela Kessler from Neptune as she struggles through the horrors of human middle school. The Mystical Farrago, The Daddy Box, The Island on the Lake, and Agatha’s Monster are all my favorites, to be honest.
This is a great collection that features a little bit of everything. The stories touch upon different themes of science fiction and fantasy. I love how the anthology gives us a different author with each story and makes it possible for us to enjoy different narrative styles in one collection. It's hard for me to choose which story is the best, but The Squid is My Brother, and The Daddy Box are two that stand out to me the most. The illustrations are wonderful and add more life to the stories. There is something for everyone, especially for picky readers like me who like certain types of science fiction and not others. One piece of advice is to take your time, savor each story, and you will love it and this collection to bits.
Recommend this book:
Shoot the Horses First
Leah Angstman
2023 Honorable Mention
238 Pages
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Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Kathy Golden for Readers' Favorite
Shoot the Horses First by Leah Angstman is a well-written and engaging collection of short stories. The stories vary in length and the subjects covered, but each is filled with rich imagination, and it was wonderful to read about characters so vividly portrayed, emotionally, mentally, and subtly, in certain aspects. I was glad to see the drawings of the horses right at the beginning of each story. Images and drawings in collections like these are one of the things I appreciate most. I especially like that different stories were introduced with varying parts of the horses. This particular feature indicated the individuality of each story and that the reader should expect something new and different and possibly unexpected as they embarked on and entered into each new drama.
In Leah Angstman’s Shoot the Horses First, the most captivating aspects of these stories are the meticulous attention to detail and how a reader is drawn into a given story so that they would never want that story to end. Yet, end it does and, depending on the story's nature and its emotional impact, the reader might be inclined to laugh, cry, contemplate, or wish that things might have turned out differently. Yet, I don’t think that anyone reading this collection could finish it without feeling that they have been privileged to know what it’s like to enter into the short-story world of a master storyteller. Thank you, Leah Angstman, for giving us such a compelling collection.
Shoot the Horses First by Leah Angstman is a well-written and engaging collection of short stories. The stories vary in length and the subjects covered, but each is filled with rich imagination, and it was wonderful to read about characters so vividly portrayed, emotionally, mentally, and subtly, in certain aspects. I was glad to see the drawings of the horses right at the beginning of each story. Images and drawings in collections like these are one of the things I appreciate most. I especially like that different stories were introduced with varying parts of the horses. This particular feature indicated the individuality of each story and that the reader should expect something new and different and possibly unexpected as they embarked on and entered into each new drama.
In Leah Angstman’s Shoot the Horses First, the most captivating aspects of these stories are the meticulous attention to detail and how a reader is drawn into a given story so that they would never want that story to end. Yet, end it does and, depending on the story's nature and its emotional impact, the reader might be inclined to laugh, cry, contemplate, or wish that things might have turned out differently. Yet, I don’t think that anyone reading this collection could finish it without feeling that they have been privileged to know what it’s like to enter into the short-story world of a master storyteller. Thank you, Leah Angstman, for giving us such a compelling collection.
Recommend this book:
The Executioners
Jason Cordova and Matt Novotny
2023 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
Juwan Washington did not expect his foray into the mercenary business to turn out this way. Outgunned and outmaneuvered, his unit is annihilated in its first engagement. He ends up a slave on a distant planet until the day fortune favors him in meeting two peacemakers. They free him and recruit him on their clandestine mission. They are the last of their race and want to find out what happened to the last remaining female of their kind who happened to also be a Peacemaker candidate but died in suspicious circumstances. Their journey will lead them to betrayal and a conspiracy so vast it could topple the entire Peacemaker program in The Executioners by Jason Cordova and Matt Novotny.
The eighth book in the Four Horsemen Universe lives up to its hype with Jason Cordova and Matt Novotny weaving together a storyline that is as deeply emotional as it is suspense-filled. The Executioners has an interesting array of characters whose descriptions are quite vivid, leaving very little to the imagination. I love the way the humorous undertone is maintained throughout the book despite its businesslike flow. The subplots are just as interesting as the main storyline with Juwan's attempts to be viewed as an equal by his new friends despite his human shortcomings being particularly noteworthy. The battles are simply delightful to follow as Cordova and Novotny spare no effort to bring this alien universe to life. The Executioners is a science fiction aficionado's dream. The perfect mix of action, adventure, and drama.
The audio quality of the book is quite clear and simple enough to follow. The way Daniel Wisniewski conveniently transitions from seriousness to dark humor while voicing different characters is impressive. He conveys a wide range of emotions effortlessly in an immersive manner. I was particularly impressed with the sometimes creepy utterances of Larz the Tortantula.
Juwan Washington did not expect his foray into the mercenary business to turn out this way. Outgunned and outmaneuvered, his unit is annihilated in its first engagement. He ends up a slave on a distant planet until the day fortune favors him in meeting two peacemakers. They free him and recruit him on their clandestine mission. They are the last of their race and want to find out what happened to the last remaining female of their kind who happened to also be a Peacemaker candidate but died in suspicious circumstances. Their journey will lead them to betrayal and a conspiracy so vast it could topple the entire Peacemaker program in The Executioners by Jason Cordova and Matt Novotny.
The eighth book in the Four Horsemen Universe lives up to its hype with Jason Cordova and Matt Novotny weaving together a storyline that is as deeply emotional as it is suspense-filled. The Executioners has an interesting array of characters whose descriptions are quite vivid, leaving very little to the imagination. I love the way the humorous undertone is maintained throughout the book despite its businesslike flow. The subplots are just as interesting as the main storyline with Juwan's attempts to be viewed as an equal by his new friends despite his human shortcomings being particularly noteworthy. The battles are simply delightful to follow as Cordova and Novotny spare no effort to bring this alien universe to life. The Executioners is a science fiction aficionado's dream. The perfect mix of action, adventure, and drama.
The audio quality of the book is quite clear and simple enough to follow. The way Daniel Wisniewski conveniently transitions from seriousness to dark humor while voicing different characters is impressive. He conveys a wide range of emotions effortlessly in an immersive manner. I was particularly impressed with the sometimes creepy utterances of Larz the Tortantula.
Recommend this book:
 by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades. Finding out you were adopted is enough of a shock, but discovering you have magical powers is on another level. Follow Sophia on her journey as she learns to control fire magic wh...){kind=link}
The Fire Prophecy
Hidden Legends: Academy of Magical Creatures Book 1
Megan Linski, Alicia Rades
2023 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite
Sophia Henley finds herself in a world she never knew existed in The Fire Prophecy (Hidden Legends: Academy of Magical Creatures Book 1) by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades. Finding out you were adopted is enough of a shock, but discovering you have magical powers is on another level. Follow Sophia on her journey as she learns to control fire magic while falling for a guy who is the literal opposite.
The Fire Prophecy by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades has everything a fantasy lover could want—drama, action, and a romance that seems doomed from the start but has you rooting for their love all the way. I loved the concept of the Elemental tribes and the addition of familiars, which added something more to this magical world. Sophia and Liam are wonderful leads, and I loved their POVs. I can easily say this book has become a favorite of mine, and I will add this series to my list of must-read books.
The narration by Jennifer Jill Araya and Graham Halstead was beautifully done with clear and well-paced reading, good enunciation, and just the right amount of emotion sprinkled into the audiobook. Both narrators have unique styles, but I felt they complemented each other and made for a cohesive audiobook. Araya and Halstead allowed me to become engrossed in the story as they carried me through every page, and I found it easy to picture every detail without any awkward breaks. This is now one of my favorite audiobooks.
Sophia Henley finds herself in a world she never knew existed in The Fire Prophecy (Hidden Legends: Academy of Magical Creatures Book 1) by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades. Finding out you were adopted is enough of a shock, but discovering you have magical powers is on another level. Follow Sophia on her journey as she learns to control fire magic while falling for a guy who is the literal opposite.
The Fire Prophecy by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades has everything a fantasy lover could want—drama, action, and a romance that seems doomed from the start but has you rooting for their love all the way. I loved the concept of the Elemental tribes and the addition of familiars, which added something more to this magical world. Sophia and Liam are wonderful leads, and I loved their POVs. I can easily say this book has become a favorite of mine, and I will add this series to my list of must-read books.
The narration by Jennifer Jill Araya and Graham Halstead was beautifully done with clear and well-paced reading, good enunciation, and just the right amount of emotion sprinkled into the audiobook. Both narrators have unique styles, but I felt they complemented each other and made for a cohesive audiobook. Araya and Halstead allowed me to become engrossed in the story as they carried me through every page, and I found it easy to picture every detail without any awkward breaks. This is now one of my favorite audiobooks.
Recommend this book:
Eye of the Moon
Book One
Ivan Obolensky
2023 Honorable Mention
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite
Mysteries are unveiled and secrets come to life in Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky. Percy and Johnny, men who were once thicker than thieves, find themselves reunited once again at an extravagant party in the notorious Rhinebeck estate. When strange things start to happen, and the circumstances surrounding the death of Johnny’s aunt are brought into question, the plot thickens. What secrets will come to light and to what lengths will people go to hide theirs?
Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky is an intriguing story centered on the mysterious happenings at the Rhinebeck estate. We get to see in great detail the life of the affluent before things are thrown into chaos. I found the story interesting and the characters very likable, albeit many details were centered on the setting instead of the story. While I am a fan of detailed world-building, I feel this leaned more toward overly detailed scene settings, which took away from the overall plotline.
The narration by Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson was well done, and I think the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing this story to light. The audio was clear, and both voice actors read with good pronunciation and tone. There were times when I felt Roy could have read with a bit more emotion, especially during the more suspenseful scenes, but other than that, I was very pleased with the audiobook quality overall.
Mysteries are unveiled and secrets come to life in Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky. Percy and Johnny, men who were once thicker than thieves, find themselves reunited once again at an extravagant party in the notorious Rhinebeck estate. When strange things start to happen, and the circumstances surrounding the death of Johnny’s aunt are brought into question, the plot thickens. What secrets will come to light and to what lengths will people go to hide theirs?
Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky is an intriguing story centered on the mysterious happenings at the Rhinebeck estate. We get to see in great detail the life of the affluent before things are thrown into chaos. I found the story interesting and the characters very likable, albeit many details were centered on the setting instead of the story. While I am a fan of detailed world-building, I feel this leaned more toward overly detailed scene settings, which took away from the overall plotline.
The narration by Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson was well done, and I think the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing this story to light. The audio was clear, and both voice actors read with good pronunciation and tone. There were times when I felt Roy could have read with a bit more emotion, especially during the more suspenseful scenes, but other than that, I was very pleased with the audiobook quality overall.
Recommend this book:
 written by Strungbound and narrated by Daniel Wisniewski would appeal most to those who enjoy LitRPG adventure stories. A normal day quickly turns into chaos as aliens bring untold carnage and devastation to Earth. This alien arrival sees Alistair and planet Earth thrown into an empire that is control...){kind=link}
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1
A LitRPG Adventure
Strungbound, Daniel Wisniewski, Royal Guard Publishing LLC
2023 Finalist
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 (A LitRPG Adventure) written by Strungbound and narrated by Daniel Wisniewski would appeal most to those who enjoy LitRPG adventure stories. A normal day quickly turns into chaos as aliens bring untold carnage and devastation to Earth. This alien arrival sees Alistair and planet Earth thrown into an empire that is controlled by a powerful AI system. Will Alistair choose to fight for power or to stand against evil?
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 by Strungbound is a well-written and well-narrated audiobook with an enticing cover image that grabbed my interest the moment I saw it. The cover may have been what first got my attention, but the story itself is what kept me listening to the book hour after hour as I had to keep following Alistair’s journey. As someone who has greatly enjoyed RPG, manga, and anime, I found this audiobook to be a true marvel as the world-creation aspects were beyond what I have enjoyed in the past. I loved how the author was able to effortlessly fuse aspects of science fiction and fantasy together in a way that not only made perfect sense but left me excited for the next audiobook in the series!
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 by Strungbound is narrated by Daniel Wisniewski. Mr. Wisniewski is an experienced voice actor with many voice acting credits to his name including Gryff the Griffin Rider: Omnibus Book 1-5, Battleborne, and A Neet's Guide to Becoming a God. Mr. Wisniewski’s previous experience with gamer book narration makes him very well-suited for the narration of this audiobook. It felt like he really got into the story, which could be heard by the emotion he put into the characters. Well done.
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 (A LitRPG Adventure) written by Strungbound and narrated by Daniel Wisniewski would appeal most to those who enjoy LitRPG adventure stories. A normal day quickly turns into chaos as aliens bring untold carnage and devastation to Earth. This alien arrival sees Alistair and planet Earth thrown into an empire that is controlled by a powerful AI system. Will Alistair choose to fight for power or to stand against evil?
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 by Strungbound is a well-written and well-narrated audiobook with an enticing cover image that grabbed my interest the moment I saw it. The cover may have been what first got my attention, but the story itself is what kept me listening to the book hour after hour as I had to keep following Alistair’s journey. As someone who has greatly enjoyed RPG, manga, and anime, I found this audiobook to be a true marvel as the world-creation aspects were beyond what I have enjoyed in the past. I loved how the author was able to effortlessly fuse aspects of science fiction and fantasy together in a way that not only made perfect sense but left me excited for the next audiobook in the series!
Ghost of the Truthseeker 1 by Strungbound is narrated by Daniel Wisniewski. Mr. Wisniewski is an experienced voice actor with many voice acting credits to his name including Gryff the Griffin Rider: Omnibus Book 1-5, Battleborne, and A Neet's Guide to Becoming a God. Mr. Wisniewski’s previous experience with gamer book narration makes him very well-suited for the narration of this audiobook. It felt like he really got into the story, which could be heard by the emotion he put into the characters. Well done.
Recommend this book:
The New Empire
Alison McBain
2023 Silver Medal
340 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The New Empire is a work of fiction in the historical, action, and alternative timeline subgenres. It is best suited to mature teen and adult readers owing to some scenes of graphic violence concurrent with history, and was penned by author Alison McBain. Set in an eighteenth century very far from our own, we find ourselves following the author into a world where China was the first to land in what we know as the United States of America, merging and allying themselves with the Native American tribespeople there. Our protagonist Jiangxi is sold as a slave the moment he arrives in this harsh land, but the path to freedom has its own problems too.
Author Alison McBain perfectly captures the spirit of the historical novel with such credibility, atmosphere, and detail that I can readily imagine the alternate universe where this history is playing out right now. I was absolutely fascinated by the tribal confederacies and the way that the settlers divided the land and governmental systems. I also especially enjoyed the unique relationship that develops between Jiangxi and Onas, which took turns I wasn’t expecting and played out in a suitably Dickensian fashion for the era, but without glossing over all the gory, difficult details of the reality of the life that starts with slavery. McBain delivers a sensitively portrayed clash of cultures that never relies on stereotypes but is based on the very plausible and dangerous reactions of humans who find themselves in total control of others, and that is what makes the work so believable and thrilling at its core. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The New Empire to alternative history readers everywhere for its accomplished concept and no-holds-barred storytelling style.
The New Empire is a work of fiction in the historical, action, and alternative timeline subgenres. It is best suited to mature teen and adult readers owing to some scenes of graphic violence concurrent with history, and was penned by author Alison McBain. Set in an eighteenth century very far from our own, we find ourselves following the author into a world where China was the first to land in what we know as the United States of America, merging and allying themselves with the Native American tribespeople there. Our protagonist Jiangxi is sold as a slave the moment he arrives in this harsh land, but the path to freedom has its own problems too.
Author Alison McBain perfectly captures the spirit of the historical novel with such credibility, atmosphere, and detail that I can readily imagine the alternate universe where this history is playing out right now. I was absolutely fascinated by the tribal confederacies and the way that the settlers divided the land and governmental systems. I also especially enjoyed the unique relationship that develops between Jiangxi and Onas, which took turns I wasn’t expecting and played out in a suitably Dickensian fashion for the era, but without glossing over all the gory, difficult details of the reality of the life that starts with slavery. McBain delivers a sensitively portrayed clash of cultures that never relies on stereotypes but is based on the very plausible and dangerous reactions of humans who find themselves in total control of others, and that is what makes the work so believable and thrilling at its core. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The New Empire to alternative history readers everywhere for its accomplished concept and no-holds-barred storytelling style.
Recommend this book:
The Bookseller
And Other Stories
Peter Briscoe
2023 Finalist
74 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite
The Bookseller: And Other Stories by Peter Briscoe is a series of stories written in elegant, literary style. The first three pieces are very short with the ambiguity of Wallace Stevens’ poems. They seem unfinished, thus, the question: what do they mean? The featured piece of the collection is the much more formidable The Bookseller with the same elevated, challenging style but a tale with a beginning, middle and end. It’s a mystery involving a mysterious series of thefts from a major Latin American library. Amid his world travels, after a fine meal, a bookseller tells the tale to his admirers. A library patron is fed up with his inability to find the books he wants to read and makes a fuss, which eventually reveals that major book pilfering has been going on for years. The quest then becomes to find the who, when and why. Detective Robles and the library’s director of collections Dr. Andres Vidal launch an investigation.
If you love the beauty and depth of fine literature, you will love The Bookseller. Peter Briscoe’s prose is brilliant and flawless, right up there with all the canon’s greats. The plot combines mystery, police investigation, and library protocol. But what I liked most is the idea (theme) behind the majesty of composition: the present clash of the ancient tradition of books and libraries with the present emergence of digital technology, the former to evaluate and codify knowledge and the latter merely to collect it. There’s also the aesthetic and psychological comparison between reading a book and viewing a screen. I think we’ve all seen the clash in our local libraries where books are dumped to make way for computer monitors. In the magnificent tapestry of Briscoe’s story, all these elements blend to perfection along with a startling surprise at the end. If you appreciate mystery, ideas, characterization, libraries, and elegantly written expression reminiscent of Balzac, all woven into a memorable work of literary art, The Bookseller is for you.
The Bookseller: And Other Stories by Peter Briscoe is a series of stories written in elegant, literary style. The first three pieces are very short with the ambiguity of Wallace Stevens’ poems. They seem unfinished, thus, the question: what do they mean? The featured piece of the collection is the much more formidable The Bookseller with the same elevated, challenging style but a tale with a beginning, middle and end. It’s a mystery involving a mysterious series of thefts from a major Latin American library. Amid his world travels, after a fine meal, a bookseller tells the tale to his admirers. A library patron is fed up with his inability to find the books he wants to read and makes a fuss, which eventually reveals that major book pilfering has been going on for years. The quest then becomes to find the who, when and why. Detective Robles and the library’s director of collections Dr. Andres Vidal launch an investigation.
If you love the beauty and depth of fine literature, you will love The Bookseller. Peter Briscoe’s prose is brilliant and flawless, right up there with all the canon’s greats. The plot combines mystery, police investigation, and library protocol. But what I liked most is the idea (theme) behind the majesty of composition: the present clash of the ancient tradition of books and libraries with the present emergence of digital technology, the former to evaluate and codify knowledge and the latter merely to collect it. There’s also the aesthetic and psychological comparison between reading a book and viewing a screen. I think we’ve all seen the clash in our local libraries where books are dumped to make way for computer monitors. In the magnificent tapestry of Briscoe’s story, all these elements blend to perfection along with a startling surprise at the end. If you appreciate mystery, ideas, characterization, libraries, and elegantly written expression reminiscent of Balzac, all woven into a memorable work of literary art, The Bookseller is for you.
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