Reviews of The Fountain (excerpts) They’re dribbling in, check back for more reviews!
“A great read!” Says D.G. Kaye, author of several nonfiction books. “If you enjoy short stories in fantasy/sci-fi genres, and stories that make you think then look no further than Maberry’s tales which will engross you with stories about karma, greed, time travel, aliens and muses”
“Clever set of short stories,” says Wesley Higaki. “The Fountain is a collection of six science fiction and fantasy short stories by John Maberry. I like the simple, whimsical style of these stories. Each is a clever story that ends with abrupt, but clever, plot twists. The characters are realistic and interesting; their interactions are believable.”
“The Twilight Zone Meets Philip K. Dick” says Nicholas Rossis, author of books in multiple genres. “Maberry writes in a clear way that immerses the reader into the story. He has a gift for creating easily identifiable characters who feel familiar after just a few lines. . . A fine collection for those who enjoy their stories with a twist.”
June Randolph says, “If you love stories with a surprise at the end, you will love these. Some are ironic, some cautionary, and some funny. A delight for the gray matter. Perhaps my favorite was Alfred’s Strange Blood Disorder. I laughed the hardest at that one.”
Some short snippets from three of the stories
The Fountain “1190 CE The shaman looked down on the towering mountain through the eyes of a raven, whose mind he had entered. He saw the oracle in the sacred spot, her hair aflame in the bright sun burning through an opening in the crag. He circled lower and lower over the dusky dun rocks. Finally, he traversed the hole that gave those with the gift, the vision of things to come.”
Alfred’s Rare Blood Disorder. “Alfred had lived a normal life (or death, one might say) for three decades, after his turn in 1985. That came in Tribeca, when an attractive young woman he met at a bar pulled him into an alley as he walked her home. He thought her impatient to get to the business of romance. But she had something else in mind—planting fangs in his neck.”
Lily, an Amazing Dog. “The first incident came on a morning walk past the retirement home, along a tree-lined boulevard. A flash of sun off a sliding glass door across the street caught Roger’s eye. A lady in a green dress stepped through the door onto her fifth floor balcony. She smiled and waved, seeing Lily with her plushy frog. It’s a retriever thing—Goldens can go nowhere without carrying something in their mouth.”