RETRO SPEC: TALES OF FANTASY AND NOSTALGIA uses the prisms of science fiction, fantasy, and horror to examine the culture, society, and politics of our recent past, the 1920s to the 1980s, in the United States and Europe. Twenty-six authors have contributed short stories and poetry to the anthology, twining history with speculation to find out what happens when suffragettes construct robots, insects spread cultural movements, women carry out the first "manned" space flights, or hair metal bands make deals with the devil. Along the way, RETRO SPEC hits many of the notches on the 20th century timeline, including World War II, the 60s counterculture, Chernobyl, and the fall of the Berlin wall, testing their limits with genre elements such as alien invasion, ghosts, alternate history, and time travel. Contributors include Robert Borski, Bruce Boston, Don D'Ammassa, Dayle A. Dermatis, Lyn C. A. Gardner, David D. Levine, Cat Rambo, Leonard Richardson, Ann K. Schwader, Marge Simon, and 16 others.
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Although some of these pieces are only nominally related to the time of their setting, overall, what we have here are moments from the recent past, viewed aslant. --Lois Tilton, Locus Online Reviews
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Format:Paperback
Retro Spec takes readers back in time, to events that are memorable and some made up. Then it adds in a fun fantasy/science fiction twist. Some stories are just taking a look back at what once was or what could have been.
Some stories included in the anthology:
Hula Hoop by Jude-Marie Green, opens up the anthology with a visually stunning story. The images just pop right off the pages.
Storm on Fifth Avenue by Neil Coghlan, visits the Empire State Building during it's construction. Although this time it is haunted by the German Navy.
Beat People by Bruce Boston, is a short poem about how the world would have been if the Beats had stuck around. I really enjoyed this brief glimpse into Beat life and what it would have been like if the Beats ran things.
New and Improved by Jennifer Rachel Baumer, visits a housewife who wants more out of life. Only we find out we've traveled back in time to this housewife in order to fight aliens that are attacking. This one hits home about the life of housewives in the 50's/60's (I'm estimating here, it's not stated in the story) and then puts that extraterrestrial spin on.
Zeb by Karen A. Romanko, is a story set in the 70's warning readers about meeting men in clubs. You never know if they are really aliens in "disguise" trying to abduct you. This one got a few chuckles out of me. The disguise the aliens chose is hilarious.
The Fix by Marge Simon, takes us back to the 1940's, and shows readers how certain inventions got pushed forward in their creators heads. Lets just say someone had to get in those heads to clear up the jumbled mess and pick out what was important. The Fix is unique, and I really think this one could be a full fledged novel. Very cool.
Mercury 13 - And Beyond by Brenta Blevins, shows us what could have been if women were the only ones who could travel to space. Thus resulting in a female President much sooner than later.
***
I enjoyed all of the tales in Retro Spec, some more than others, but overall they are fun short stories that will have you laughing or really get you thinking about the past and how things really happened.
Some stories included in the anthology:
Hula Hoop by Jude-Marie Green, opens up the anthology with a visually stunning story. The images just pop right off the pages.
Storm on Fifth Avenue by Neil Coghlan, visits the Empire State Building during it's construction. Although this time it is haunted by the German Navy.
Beat People by Bruce Boston, is a short poem about how the world would have been if the Beats had stuck around. I really enjoyed this brief glimpse into Beat life and what it would have been like if the Beats ran things.
New and Improved by Jennifer Rachel Baumer, visits a housewife who wants more out of life. Only we find out we've traveled back in time to this housewife in order to fight aliens that are attacking. This one hits home about the life of housewives in the 50's/60's (I'm estimating here, it's not stated in the story) and then puts that extraterrestrial spin on.
Zeb by Karen A. Romanko, is a story set in the 70's warning readers about meeting men in clubs. You never know if they are really aliens in "disguise" trying to abduct you. This one got a few chuckles out of me. The disguise the aliens chose is hilarious.
The Fix by Marge Simon, takes us back to the 1940's, and shows readers how certain inventions got pushed forward in their creators heads. Lets just say someone had to get in those heads to clear up the jumbled mess and pick out what was important. The Fix is unique, and I really think this one could be a full fledged novel. Very cool.
Mercury 13 - And Beyond by Brenta Blevins, shows us what could have been if women were the only ones who could travel to space. Thus resulting in a female President much sooner than later.
***
I enjoyed all of the tales in Retro Spec, some more than others, but overall they are fun short stories that will have you laughing or really get you thinking about the past and how things really happened.
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