Alternative Witness Vol1 (Inspirational Short Stories) [Kindle Edition]

H. A. Titus (Author), Mike Olmsted (Author), Pauline Creeden (Author), Heather Dannewitz (Author), Len Kuntz (Author), M. L. Archer (Author), Elizabeth Bråten (Author)

Book Description

Ten inspirational short stories by seven up and coming authors. Edgy Christian fiction pushes the envelope on what is acceptable. You won't find politically correct, polite fiction here. No bonnets. No one is perfect.

Product Details

• File Size: 203 KB
• Print Length: 67 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: AltWit Press (April 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007XNV8I0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,346 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it July 12, 2012

By Karl Kronlage

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was labeled as Christian fiction and each piece features a Christian or has some minor detail to make it slightly Christian, but don't let that deter you. The book is full of stories that aren't preachy and some even surprised me insofar as coming from Christian writers. I enjoyed all the stories and there are so many different genres represented that you are bound to find something that you like. Each story is an excellent length and hooks the reader - I highly recommend it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting collection with a few gems April 30, 2012

By Laura Andrews

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I downloaded this to my Kindle, not expecting much. There's nothing really very 'edgy' here, except for a few cuss words and maybe a tad bit of suggestiveness in one or two of the stories.
So, I'll go down the list of each story and make a short review of each.

1. A Piece of the Action. This is probably my favorite out of all of them, despite it's being the darkest story of the bunch and no Christianity to be seen. It's in the dystopian genre, and I think it's set in Chicago, but not sure. I don't want to ruin it for you, but suffice it to say that it's about two high schools competing for a very unusual sort of state championship. Five stars for this one.

2. The Blind Date. This is an odd little story that was well written, but I'm not quite sure what the point of it was. That people with good teeth are good people? That most blind dates are disasters? At any rate, it has a slightly surprise ending that made up for all the angst of the main character. Three and a half stars.

3. Sanctuary. Now this one was really good, although very scary. It has you wondering if the main characters will escape the rabid dogs and infected people right the whole way through (and I'm not going to tell you if they do!). The only slightly cliche part of this story was how they called the people who had been infected 'the bitten'. Other than that, however, this would rank up there with 'A Piece of the Action'. Five stars.

4. As Time Goes By. This was another odd story. I don't think it needed the curse words, especially since I'm assuming the main character is a Christian. It also has some suggestive stuff in it. The basic storyline is a high schooler who sings with a group at bars, and ends up touching one man's heart with a certain song. Three stars.

5. Rainbow Revelations. This is the only one I didn't like at all, and I didn't even finish it. The idea isn't... bad, per se. But I didn't like how it was written, as though a 'gay pride parade' can really have an atmosphere of friendliness and community; gays aren't there for that. They are there to flaunt their perversion and try to normalize it. Another thing is that there are two Christian groups at this parade. One is all hateful and is shouting out 'You're going to hell!', while the other is all loving and is handing out tracts that say 'Forgive us'. They want the gay (sodomite is more accurate) community to forgive the church for how they've "mistreated 'gays'". I'm sorry, but sodomy is an abomination according to God, and you really can't be too harsh in condemning them. Of course we shouldn't hate them, but on the other hand we shouldn't be going out there asking them to 'forgive us'. I'm sure most people will disagree with me on this, but, those're my thoughts. One star.

6. A Little Thing. I think I'd have to read this one over to really get it. It was another odd story, and there's not a whole lot to say about it. Three stars.

7. Teacher's Log. I really found this one to be strange. At first it's not. It's a sci-fi sort of story, where all the children on this space station are encouraged to have all sorts of things done so that they'll look exactly alike. But one little boy refuses to be altered, saying that he is special and he doesn't want to be like everyone else. The strange part begins when the aliens come to visit the schoolhouse. Just barely three stars.

8. The Fiddler. This one was extremely well written, but unfortunately it felt a wee bit cliche. I enjoyed it, but thought it was all a little too... convenient. All in all, I'd rate it four stars out of five.

9. Flash Mob. I have a feeling this was partially inspired by the food court flash mob that sang the Hallelujah Chorus. A lovely, dystopian story that unfortunately had something of a weak ending. For being 'edgy' Christian fiction, **SPOILERS** not a single person dies. I think if a few of the people had died, then it would have been a stronger, albeit sadder, ending. But it was well written and had a good message. Four and a half stars.

10. The Seventh Year. This is a story somewhat reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit. It's very sweet and I quite enjoyed it, though there was nothing terribly original here. Five stars.

So, in conclusion? Get it while it's free, and if it goes up to two or three or even four dollars, I'd say it was worth that price as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, imaginative collection June 23, 2012

By ZM

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a nice collection because of the variety of scenes and subject matters. Some of the stories are very imaginative, espacially Pauline Creeden's pieces, "Sanctuary" and "Teacher's Log". In the former, life's struggles are nothing but the effort one has to make to keep out the dogs and the bitten--a little like keeping out the living dead in Night of the Living Dead, but just a little. As a piece of Christian writing, one surmises that Jennie's praying to Jesus for help, and then eventually, after an ordeal in getting to the church just in time, seeing her brother safely there too, her prayers are answered. This was an interesting story, well written and creatively plotted. However, I couldn't help ask the question, exactly what about Christianity derived from this story, the writer wanted the reader to take with him? Was it that prayers can be answered and we should believe, have faith and pray more? I wondered naturally about all those other people who were bitten, whose prayers wouldn't have been answered. There are obviously much deeper questions in this piece that this story begs discussion of. "Teacher's Log" I found to be another very creative piece by Creeden. Her imagination is astounding. The idea of normalization, and future procedures in a future world, even on another planet to which earthlings have access, that would recommend such or even require it so there's an even playing field for all, is brilliant. However, I wasn't sure in the end, whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for the youngboy to reject the procedures and I couldn't be sure whether the story was trying to recommend it or not or what the writer thought the Christian viewpoint was on that. Maybe the intention was for the reader to simply go home and think about it--but in any event, good food for thought and no story achieves a better purpose than making one think about it long after it's been read. "The Fiddler" by HA Titus was also well written, the others in this collection providing insight into and thought about a range of issues touching on the experiences, dealings and moralities of man. Well worth reading.