ISF # 1 Fiction
Metal Can Lanters – Joyce Chng
Metal Can Lanterns is one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read. It reminds us that there are some things that we must preserve and save in our memories so they will never die. This is a story to be read in one of those winter nights when you are staring at the fireplace and thinking about past times. It is impossible not to smile. I loved it.
59 Beads – Rochita Loenen-Ruiz
59 Beads is a sad story. When you finish reading it, you will feel upset and angry, but mostly gloomy. You only have your sister; she gets sick and you put all your effort in getting her healthy. The solution is quite simple: You basically sell your soul to the devil and she gets the treatment. However, there are no guarantees! What would you do? Give up on your freedom or let her die? It’s an interesting story, albeit the set-up is quite cliché. Still, the concept of Dollygirls was interesting enough for me to keep on reading.
Hunt Beneath the Moon – Marian Truta
Hunt beneath the Moon bring us a supernatural world. Here we meet a hunter and a supernatural creature, the Hind. Somewhere nearby is a book that prevents the Hinds from being captured by the hunters and, naturally, the Hind wants that book — however, it’s the hunter who possesses it, and he is her mortal enemy. The story starts very well and awakens the curiosity of the reader, but soon it becomes too confusing. It’s easy to get lost in the dialogue and the end of the story isn’t well executed. It may have potential, but the Greek legend should’ve been better explored.
International Speculative Fiction 