Random Realities [Kindle Edition]

Melanie Fletcher (Author), Jana Oliver (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ranging from the farthest reaches of outer space to the chilly shores of England, Melanie Fletcher's RANDOM REALITIES offers ten tales that cheerfully romp across space, time, and a wide variety of genres.

Featuring an introduction by the award-winning writer Jana Oliver, this collection includes a disturbing take on the future of acting ("Star Quality"), a bubba-heavy paranormal black comedy that was included in the 2007 Nebula Award nominee long list ("The Padre, the Rabbi, and the Devil His Own Self"), and a flamboyant riff on 50's space opera that predates Captain Jack Harkness by two years ("Lusts of the Cat Queen: a Dash Manning Adventure").

In addition to previously published material, RANDOM REALITIES also includes two never-before published stories; a dark look at a loveless queen ("All on a Summer's Day"), and two dear friends spending their final days together ("The Quiet Sound of Bees).

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 204 KB
• Publisher: Belaurient Press (January 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006SJKTY4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,794 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Melanie Fletcher is an expatriate Chicagoan who currently lives in North Dallas with her husband the Bodacious Brit™ and their fabulous furbags JJ, Jordan, Jessica, and Jeremy (yes, they were following a theme, moving along now).

When not herding cats, she turns into Specfic Writer Girl, and has the SFWA membership card to prove it. Her fiction can be found in a variety of anthologies and online zines, and her first full-length novel A Most Malicious Murder will be released in 2012. In related activities, she fences with the SFWA Musketeers and performs with the Yard Dog Press Feral Chihuahuas at SF conventions around the country.

But wait -- she doesn't just write specfic. She also works as a technical writer, web designer and graphic artist, and produces the comedy podcast Don't Quit Your Day Job: The Podcast with Jerry J. Davis, Patrick Gaik and Stacy the News Girl. In fact, if you want to tally up all the things Melanie can do, she can write, edit, paint, sing, dance, act, fence, play a number of musical instruments, build dollhouses, knit and crochet, quilt, do needlepoint, cross stitch and crewelwork, moderate panels, edit podcasts and videocasts, fix cars, perform simple plumbing and electrical work, perform somewhat more complex carpentry, make a damn good deep dish pizza from scratch, and marry people.

When she refers to herself as a Renaissance Broad, she's not kidding.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure trove, January 8, 2012

By 

sandra g. (Pacific Northwest USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Random Realities (Kindle Edition)

I came away from reading this collection of ten short stories feeling as if I'd been sampling from the best box of assorted chocolates I'd ever been given; all chocolate raspberry fudges and no horrible bright pink coconut nougats amongst the lot. The stories are varied in style and genre, yet each of them are uniquely the writer's own; she's got quite an impressive range.

I don't want to give details away--because where's the fun in ruining it for prospective readers?--but I was deeply moved by my favourite, "The Quiet Sound of Bees"; thoroughly enjoyed "Lost in Whitby"; reveled in the dark lushness of "Tides"; and felt deeply disturbed (in the best possible way) by "Star Quality". And oh, would I love to see certain people meet the same fate, re: "The Padre, The Rabbi and the Devil His Own Self"!

A definite recommendation from this camp.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smiles and Belly Laughs, Chills and Tears..., January 16, 2012

By 

Dorris Beaird (Pflugerville, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Random Realities (Kindle Edition)

Review by Jim Reader (Dorris' husband)

There are a lot of factors that go into making a good story, but in my humble opinion, 'voice' is one of the most important. If there is no distinctive voice in the writing, if it comes across as generic prose that any decent wordsmith could've cranked out, then I don't think it can ever rate above 'okay'.

I don't give five stars to 'okay'.

Melanie, as an author and a person, has a very distinctive voice and it's in fine fettle and grandly on display in this collection. In these ten stories Melanie proves she can write any genre she puts her mind to and gracefully bring forth whatever emotional response she wants from the reader.

Damn, I wish I'd written these stories. Every one is a treasure and I hope to see another collection from her soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Treat!, January 14, 2012

By 

Kaye Bellot - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Random Realities (Kindle Edition)

The short story is an art form, and it's rare to find someone who has mastered it across genres, but Melanie Fletcher is definitely one such writer. Her book, Random Realities delivers thirteen little gems in a delightful read that range from wickedly funny revenge to bittersweet subtlety and everything in-between.

I particularly enjoyed the psychological chills in `All on a Summer's Day', a look deep into the mind of a famous neglected wife, while the sweet melancholy of `The Quiet Sound of Bees' had me reaching for the Kleenex as I sniffled. Truthfully, none of these stories should be skipped. Ms Fletcher is a gifted writer and I keenly look forward to the next offering from her.

You should be too--trust me on this!