My Sunday book review is for John Maberry’s new release – Jumped by a Deadly Cholla. This is just one of eleven stories with twisted endings in this collection of speculative and science fiction. As many of you will know, I am not a sci-fi reader, but my friend John has recently released this collection of short stories and asked if I’d read and review. He is a wonderful storyteller.

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Blurb:

CACTUS ROOTS DRAW MICROBES FROM A METEORITE—LOIS NEARLY DIES. ONE OF ELEVEN STORIES IN A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF SPECULATIVE FICTION. A POTPOURRI OF FANTASY AND SF. HUMOR AND HORROR. SUPERNATURAL AND TIME-TRAVEL. QUICK READS FROM FLASH FICTION THROUGH SHORT WORKS, BUT A NOVELETTE TOO. LIKE TWISTS? FIND THEM HERE.

JACK HEARS THE DOG STAR’S BARK; AN INVITE FROM THE SUN GODDESS OF SIRIUS—A FUNNY STORY. THE WISHING BELL—EVILREMINISCENT OF THE MONKEY’S PAW. A SENTIENT (ALIEN) SHRUB OFFERS GENE MODIFICATION TOOLS IN CLIMATE CRISIS CHANGES HUMANS. WEREWOLVES—GOOD ONES AND BAD, IN DOG IS MY COPILOT.

My 5 Star Review:

Maberry is known for his speculative and science fiction short stories. In this new collection of stories, he takes us in to some strange environments with his stories, a mixed bag of funny to scary to things that leave you thinking. You will find stories about a deadly Cholla plant, werewolves, vampires, time travel, and a trip into the future after climate change has reached its capacity, if you enjoy futuristic and sci-fi stories, you will enjoy this book.

A few notable stories: A Climate Crisis Changes Humans – In the 22nd century devastation left from the previous century, Grelm says, “The humanoids will listen now.” Melanie and Josh discover a scentient plant. Fencing in The Sky – Big Sky county Montana, nobody needed fences. But a cyber scammer finds a way to sell his “BS Fencing” to the builder to include in the sale of land parcels complete with a digital fence.The Wishing Bell – Smitty is given a wishing bell and told he can make three wishes and must ring the bell after each one and must then pass the bell on to someone else and if not, there will be consequences. But after what happens after the first wish, Smitty decides he doesn’t want anymore wishes and doesn’t want to pass it on to anyone else.

Continue reading the review by DG Kaye here.