Flash Fiction Online #99, December 2021

“The Tree Hunt” by Marissa James

“The Space Between Us” by Emmie Christie

“Distant Fire of Winter Stars” by Jonathan Louis Duckworth

“The Birthday” by Mike McCormick (reprint, not reviewed)

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

This issue is the last to feature Wendy Nikel as editor-in-chief. Starting with the magazine’s landmark one hundredth issue, Emma Munro will take over that position. This reviewer wishes them both the best of luck in their future endeavors.

In “The Tree Hunt” by Marissa James, Christmas trees are stalked as if they were wild animals. Although unable to uproot themselves and escape the hunters, they are able strike back, making the endeavor somewhat dangerous for the humans. The plot follows a boy’s first active participation in such a hunt.

Rather than saying anything profound about hunting, the story aims for holiday whimsey. Among the humorous details are fruitcake used as bait, and Christmas carols sung to distract the wary trees. Readers expecting a very lighthearted bit of seasonal fantasy will enjoy it, while others might hope for something a little more substantial.

The protagonist of “The Space Between Us” by Emmie Christie is a truck driver with the strange ability to tell exactly how far he is from anything, whether it be his destination or the closest slice of peach pie. This power also extends to his emotional relationship with his family. This is a heartwarming tale, which may be a bit too sentimental for some readers.

The narrator of “Distant Fire of Winter Stars” by Jonathan Louis Duckworth is injured while hunting in the woods in the dead of winter. He receives help from an unexpected source from his past.

Although labeled as science fiction, this story is better thought of as fantasy. The author creates a vivid sense of isolation, but part of the writing is difficult to follow, making it necessary to reread some sections for full understanding.

Victoria Silverwolf has never gone hunting.