Synergy Magazine Review
FlashSpec is an anthology series, showcasing short, high quality speculative fiction from around the world. The uniqueness of flash fiction is that it emphasizes
quality of over quantity since the story must be told in a limited space. Indeed, in this second volume, the tale must be under 750 words.
It is certainly the case that less is more and most of the tales tend to be on the more unusual, even darker, side of fiction, with conclusions that are not what you would
expect. Some of the best tales are those that emphasise imagery and mood since these can be successfully evoked in a short tale, but this does not mean that there are not
tales that offer impressive plot and character development in such a short space.
Volume 2 surpasses the high quality standard of the first volume and offers tales from a diverse range of flash fiction authors from around the world.
While there has been some criticism of flash fiction being somewhat tired and using clichés and well worn literary twists, the tales in this volume are innovative,
evocative, and stretch the envelope when it comes to what flash fiction can be. It has been argued that flash fiction lacks narrative content, yet if we take as example
Indigo by Debra Findlay, we have an excellent narrative created by what seems to be a lover and her potential suitor. It places us within the context of the characters and
then hits us head on with the twist at the end.
Personally, I think the editor has done an exceptional job of choosing some of the more creative and interesting flash fiction stories from what is essentially a flood of
stories available.
Stories in this volume cannot be easily categorized and range from what could be defined as dark and horror to fantasy and tales with a psychological twist. Of course, tales
vary throughout the volume from short snacks to full length (750 word) flash fiction, but while they vary in quality, all kept my attention and interest, and I highly
recommend FlashSpec Volume 2.
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