The Fiction Shelf

A brave narrative poem that deals honestly with issues of fundamentalism, placing them – vitally – in a human context. The poetic voice, like the protagonist – and like his brother who we never hear – is nervous but determined. An important, modern piece of writing.

A short lyric poem that reads like a warning, grown of bitter experiences. The meter and rhyme combine to enhance the sharpness of the tight wording and punctuate the meaning.

A short image with an inconsequential end that reflects the futility of the situation. The honest talk reads like an open‐ended discussion on violence and sex. The untempered language tells effectively of an unremarkable happening in an average setting. Effective and brutal.

A short, deeply pensive exploration of the self and how an individual perceives it. The prose, complex by their brevity, are steeped with meaning so that the piece feels almost poetic.

Frustration is drawn throughout this poem. There’s no attempt at an answer, nor does the work preach, but disappointment with the world is conveyed by stark and direct words.

A meandering, pensive poem whose structure matches perfectly with the direction of the voice’s thoughts. In few words, it deals with youth and old age and challenges us to think on what is between.

This story dismisses what we all know and reminds us what loss is. Human, concise and powerful without ever exploiting its inspiration, a tremendous pleasure to read.

This short fiction is poetic and tactile; the characters and backdrop are very real. These things combine so that the story about a Moldovan family, struggling in Stalin’s Siberian work camp, remains tough, emotional and always engaging.

A darkly brooding, disturbing story that turns the tables on domestic violence. Strong, simple characters clash in unexpected ways as the author crafts a piece of work that challenges and discomforts.

In this short, unconventional family drama, the writer accurately captures the stress of managing an ensemble cast in a crowded relationship. When it gets too much, the hapless Eric must leave. But running away means leaving everything.