"Hope and Erosion" by Micheal J. DeLuca
"The Smoking Man" by S.T. Forstner
"The Tiniest Dragonslayer" by Robert J. Santa
"Marian’s Test" by Scott M. Sandridge
"The Man who Kept a Dragon in the Basement" by Linda Gilmore
"The Teeth of the Matter" by TW Williams
"Twisted" by Lynda K. Arndt
Michael J. DeLuca uses broad, sweeping prose to lay out his story “Hope and Erosion” for us. His gift of description is evident, and his mastery of the English language proves itself immediately. I love stories about the sea and its power over everything it touches, both physically and emotionally.
Hermit, a knight and a holy man, lives out his life as a protector and monster-killer for the great king, Whelk. The monsters he fights find great delight in tormenting his doomed kingdom that is being slowly devoured by the sea. At first, I thought Hermit to be mere mortal, but when he dives under the sea without so much as a spell to turn his lungs to gills or a primitive breathing device, it was hard to fathom. However, once under the waves, what he sees and experiences makes up for this overlooked detail of breathing under water. Toward the middle of the story, it begins to meander, and the true plot gets a little fuzzy. Hermit also does some wandering around, and we get a good deal of back story. Enter Plover, a classic character borrowed from some historic mythology. She glows with strength, power, and an essence that a sagely mistress like her alone can hold. A great battle ensues, one that drew in this reader, keeping me on my toes until the end.
Like a surge of waves on the beach, Mr. DeLuca’s story ebbs and flows at will, taking the reader on a rocky ride. One minute we are adrift like flotsam on the foam, and the next we are dragged back by a hooked lip to the plot line. This story has original storytelling, colorful descriptions, and a polished, professional style that this reader enjoyed very much. If you want a story about the sea, a battle, a mysterious stranger, and monsters, this is the one for you. While the ending is an age-old lesson, the way Mr. DeLuca tells it, puts it in a completely new light.
S. T. Forstner uses bright prose and simple, but direct language in “The Smoking Man.” The main character, eponymously named, has a bit of a self-esteem problem; he is a kid thrown out of a club one moment and a Lord of Smoke the next. The poor Lord of Smoke! He can’t win for losing. All hope is dashed to bits, but it glimmers again in the wrappings of a gift from the angels. This part will make you laugh or the Lord of Smoke does not wear red.
The author uses a smart plot that runs alongside key biblical teaching. Old characters from the Bible get complete makeovers, some by force. The dialogue reads like conversations between Crowley and Aziraphale in Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. While there was talk of the temptation of an angel, which I’m not sure many Bible scholars will appreciate, the story is well thought out and is presented in a professional style. This was fun with a familiar theme turned over and shaken hard. I enjoyed it, and I think readers will too.
Robert J. Santa’s “The Tiniest Dragonslayer” starts with characterizations that put the reader in the story. The dialogue is so natural that it made me want to join in, a superb use of old style phrases and word usage that really puts the reader in the moment.
A young challenger, Bryon, comes to stake his claim on a quest few men bigger and stronger have ever returned from, much less won. Though the men laugh and poke fun at him, and all but throw him out by the hair on his head, Bryon stands firm and does not see why he cannot be counted among those who go into the hills to fight the dragon.
The battle scene in the middle of the story is breathtaking. The action flows seamlessly and was thrilling to read. As a caveat, I happen to be a dragon fan and love to see them in heightened battle: their terrifying scream in the night, wings of unnatural ability, and a gory feeding frenzy. It was great! In the end, it comes down to a boy, a dragon, and a disheartened town. One of the three will not fade away, and I dare you not to be in tears when the true hero is chosen.
Scott M. Sandridge shows his dark side in “Marian’s Test,” a tale that reminds me of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in places. Mr. Sandridge digs deep and gives the reader prose and plot worth chewing on for a while. And he spells it vampyr, a nice touch.
Marian Silverblade is a descendant from a long line of throat-biters. But she is not your run-of-the-mill vampire. Marian reveals some of her talents, though reluctantly, by flying into the sky after a dragon. There was no real reason given regarding why the dragon appeared, but who cares? It’s a dragon! A great battle ensues that Mr. Sandridge shows vividly with his mastery of the language. During the battle, Marian is knocked out and is sent spiraling back to the earth. We see several points of view during her descent. Some consider it a good sign, others, a bad omen. Was it meant to be? Does she meet her end after only seventeen short years on this Earth? Will she survive to become her people’s demigod? Marian herself isn’t sure.
“The Man Who Kept a Dragon in the Basement” by Linda Gilmore was a delight to read. Flawless presentation and a tastefully comedic style make this story my favorite in this issue. While halfway through, I attached a philosophical theme to it that I am not sure was the author’s intent, but it worked for me. I assumed the dragon represented some higher influence, and that the invisibility referred to his reluctance to share this higher influence. In either case, it was a beautiful story that touched my heart with the kind of ending I wish I could write.
TW Williams shows us an interesting rendition of how a certain sport was formed in “The Teeth of the Matter.” It gave a rousing attempt at humor. While weak in the beginning, the funny stuff got better towards the middle until I found myself giggling. While, yes, it is another dragon tale, Williams puts his own coat of paint on it to make it his own. He seems to be obsessed by teeth, and though not all the references tie in together, they are funny. One instance brought to mind the seasonal Christmas special about a certain big, hairy, white guy who had teeth problems too. I liked this.
Lynda K. Arndt chose a not-so-fitting title for her story: “Twisted.” While there was a change and a complete turnaround by characters, I didn’t consider it a twist. That aside, the story is one of adventure and new-found friendships written with a slapstick style that kept my attention piqued throughout. Ms. Arndt uses her gift of description and insight to instill a thread of reality into a complete fantasy. The characters are funny and crafty, and although the theme of reluctant hero is not a new one, the author turns it on its heel and makes it fresh.