Fish Anthology 2005 – The Mountains of Mars and Other Stories
ISBN: 0-9542586-3-0
The winning story, ‘Mountains of Mars’, by Marc Phillips makes a great title to the Anthology, and the story, full of understated tension, kicks the book off wonderfully. Second, Jo Campbell’s story, ‘In the Desert’, is surely a woman’s story, of loss late in life and the possibility of redemption. I’ll be re-reading this one in my middle-age. I’m pleased that the judges selected two of Barry Troy’s stories ‘A Life’, insightfully written, about a teenage girl whose mother has left her to cope with a drunken father and a house-full of kids, and in third place, ‘Booker Night in Baggot Street’ hilarious a most unlikely discussion develops in a Dublin pub while watching the Booker Prize on TV. It would make a great play. It’s refreshing to have so many humorous stories in the Anthology. It’s difficult to write successful comedy but Tomás O’Beirne succeeds in his eccentric story ‘The Missing Taxi Man’. So too does Caroline Koeppel in her story, ‘How to Kill a Latin Teacher’, which left me with the eerie feeling that I may have missed an opportunity with my own Latin teacher! Selma Dabbagh’s story, ‘Beirut-Paris-Beirut’, was simply masterful. And Mary Leland’s ‘Skin Song’, a sensual tale told from the point of view of Geraldine, a young girl observing her mother’s intimate relationship with the music teacher, and her own parallel coming of age, is erotically atmospheric, beautifully paced and unfolds with a timeless quality that had me totally absorbed.
Contents
The Mountains of Mars – Marc Phillips In the Desert – Jo Campbell Booker Night in Baggot Street – Barry Troy Postcard From New York – Tom Murray How to Kill A Latin Teacher – Caroline Koeppel Believe It – Brian Tiernan Beirut-Paris-Beirut -Selma Dabbagh Vanilla – Jessica Wells Tommy the Voice – Paul Basset Davies The Butterfly Slippers – Rebecca Smith Opening the Door – Rebecca Bryant God’s Fingerprint – Rob Pateman A Life – Barry Troy The Plan – Anthony M. O’Sullivan The Guards Come to the House – Hugo Kelly Poor Cow – Tessa Green At the Intersection of Heaven and Hell – Susi Klare A Typical Wednesday – Richard Dunford The Object of Desire – Jennifer A Donnelly Ambition – Clare S Birchall The Missing Taxi Driver – Tomás O’Beirne Imaginary Friend for Hire – Paul Bassett Davies Bus – Kath McKay Skin Song – Mary Leland
Review of the Fish Anthology 2005: “The Mountains of Mars” and Other Stories I was beginning to doubt anyone writing short stories knew what a plot was anymore. Possibly that’s the editors who choose them. These editors certainly found some. Start to finish, it’s an astounding read. The mix of voices, themes, and styles is a delight. Heartbreak, humor, a touch of terror – all done exceedingly well. And … these pieces actually ‘tell stories’. In two words, Worth It. By Frank Johansen (Canada)
