This was an okay story for what it was – but for what it was supposed to be. This is/was a full short story. Instead it was more of a teaser.
As may or may not be common in short stories – this is a solo point of view story. From the point of view of one ‘Cat’, who is on a long dreamed of road trip. Driving wherever, stopping at whatever strikes her fancy. She’s whining and annoyed, though, because it is less fun than she expected. Mostly because it was supposed to be a two person road trip and her friend got food poisoning and dropped out of the trip – mid-trip.
She stops at a dinner when her stomach rumbles at her. She promptly gets hit in the face by a hamburger (there are reasons). The waitress flirts with her. Something might happen between the two of them. And . . . . well, that was the story. The end.
Is a teaser. TEASER! WHERE’S MY STORY I PAID A WHOLE $0 FOR! Hehe, I joke with self. Yes, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rating: 3.25
March 28 2018
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
Out Here by Yeaka
If you were ever curious about: 1) an Empire version of Uhura (you know, mirror universe on the various television shows has the Federation be an Empire; 2) a lesbian version of Uhura; 3) a dominant sexual version of Uhura – well, here you go. This story. If you also had a desire, based maybe on seeing Carol Marcus on one of the alternative time line Star Trek movies, based maybe on something else – well, this story also includes Carol. Though she’s pretending to be ‘Carol Wallace’. And the story is entirely from Uhura’s point of view.
Right, so – this story may or not be both a mirror universe story and an alternate time line story. Not sure. There’s a tag that normally gets used on Archive of Our Own if the fanfiction is based on the alternate time line universe, and that tag isn’t used on this story. But then, the tags are oddly wrong in many ways – I mean the tags that did get used. Actually, maybe just the ‘animal play’ one – sure, Uhura had a thought about leashing Carol and having her crawl around on the bridge, but that was a thought, not actual action in the story – and it was a very brief thought.
Distracted myself. There’s several reasons why I believe this might also be an alternate time line story because several of the things seem to line up that way, albeit in a mirror universe way. Like Chekov being described as fragile – weak to see this as a hint, but he did seem more fragile in the alternate time line than original series (though that might be faulty memory) – and Carol got aboard the Enterprise under false pretenses in this story, like in the alt time line . . . etc. etc. Not important, really. Important is that this is a mirror universe story. And humans are assholes and take every advantage to show how sexually aroused they can be. Or something like that. Considering the stuff that went on during the original series run . . . that just means Kirk is: 1) shown to be more emotional; 2) more prone to making cruel jokes that have more bite; - but is at about same sexual level as ‘non-mirror universe’ time line, heck, he might be even a little less sexualized in the mirror universe. Everyone else, though, is more sexualized. Including Uhura.
I keep writing paragraphs as if I forgot what I wrote before and not really getting anywhere. Pfft. Right, so, Uhura is the main and only point of view character. She’s in the same or similar position on this Enterprise as she is on the TOS television series. Unlike Alternate Time Line, she hasn’t had anything to do with Spock sexually (actually, that reminds me that I saw everyone in the story in the form of the TOS actors, except for Carol Marcus, who I saw in the form of the film actress); who is more like his television series and original film time line films – a cold fish sexually. Only mentioned to indicate a difference – important because the story starts with Uhura feeling ‘lonely’, and deciding to go ‘on the prowl’.
After an exchange between Uhura and Kirk, Uhura begins looking for a ‘yeoman’ of her own – someone about on the same status level as an Orion slave girl.
One thing leads to another and Uhura targets Carol Wallace – whose name popped up on the crew register as Uhura was staring at it – there's something fishing going on there.
Blackmail/power games/dominance/submission/graphic depictions of sex fill out the rest of the story.
Entertaining in its way. More of a sex story set on the Enterprise than a Science Fiction story of exploration and stuff. Though it is a Mirror universe story, and they did tend to go that direction, albeit not as graphically as here.
Rating: 3.50
March 28 2018
Right, so – this story may or not be both a mirror universe story and an alternate time line story. Not sure. There’s a tag that normally gets used on Archive of Our Own if the fanfiction is based on the alternate time line universe, and that tag isn’t used on this story. But then, the tags are oddly wrong in many ways – I mean the tags that did get used. Actually, maybe just the ‘animal play’ one – sure, Uhura had a thought about leashing Carol and having her crawl around on the bridge, but that was a thought, not actual action in the story – and it was a very brief thought.
Distracted myself. There’s several reasons why I believe this might also be an alternate time line story because several of the things seem to line up that way, albeit in a mirror universe way. Like Chekov being described as fragile – weak to see this as a hint, but he did seem more fragile in the alternate time line than original series (though that might be faulty memory) – and Carol got aboard the Enterprise under false pretenses in this story, like in the alt time line . . . etc. etc. Not important, really. Important is that this is a mirror universe story. And humans are assholes and take every advantage to show how sexually aroused they can be. Or something like that. Considering the stuff that went on during the original series run . . . that just means Kirk is: 1) shown to be more emotional; 2) more prone to making cruel jokes that have more bite; - but is at about same sexual level as ‘non-mirror universe’ time line, heck, he might be even a little less sexualized in the mirror universe. Everyone else, though, is more sexualized. Including Uhura.
I keep writing paragraphs as if I forgot what I wrote before and not really getting anywhere. Pfft. Right, so, Uhura is the main and only point of view character. She’s in the same or similar position on this Enterprise as she is on the TOS television series. Unlike Alternate Time Line, she hasn’t had anything to do with Spock sexually (actually, that reminds me that I saw everyone in the story in the form of the TOS actors, except for Carol Marcus, who I saw in the form of the film actress); who is more like his television series and original film time line films – a cold fish sexually. Only mentioned to indicate a difference – important because the story starts with Uhura feeling ‘lonely’, and deciding to go ‘on the prowl’.
After an exchange between Uhura and Kirk, Uhura begins looking for a ‘yeoman’ of her own – someone about on the same status level as an Orion slave girl.
One thing leads to another and Uhura targets Carol Wallace – whose name popped up on the crew register as Uhura was staring at it – there's something fishing going on there.
Blackmail/power games/dominance/submission/graphic depictions of sex fill out the rest of the story.
Entertaining in its way. More of a sex story set on the Enterprise than a Science Fiction story of exploration and stuff. Though it is a Mirror universe story, and they did tend to go that direction, albeit not as graphically as here.
Rating: 3.50
March 28 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Elfin Magic by R.G. Emanuelle
After reading one of the free short stories by this author released by Dirt Road Books, I promptly read another. By the same author I mean. Even though I was somewhat disappointed in the first I’d read.
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Season's Meetings by Andi Marquette
My fourth short story read today, and second involving a Christmas theme. Odd. Right, so, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Coming to You Live by Mira Grant
I mentioned in a status update that this story would need a very good ending for me to give a rating higher than 1 or 2 stars. The ending was on par with the story.
On the one hand, I do not really understand the point of having this story, on the other hand – of course, people are curious about the ‘afterwards’ part. It is somewhat unfortunate that the fourth book in the trilogy (heh) that followed a different group of people was set in the same time period as the first book in the series, otherwise it would have been the perfect book for a little cameo ‘this is what they are doing now’ to occur. That’s ‘easier’, in a way, than a full on story. At least for me. Otherwise you get a story like this – one that many liked, but that I didn’t. It was way too wordy, I mentioned in the same or different status update I’ve already referenced, that the used 99.9% more words than it needed to (actually, I worded it differently – that it could have been told with 99.9% fewer words).
Long and short – not a story I needed, and I realize that it is my fault that I read it. I read it because I generally like, no, love the short stories that got released along with the ‘trilogy’. But, not really a story I liked – and I kind of knew hat going in (and no, I am not rating it the way I am because of preconceptions, otherwise the short story I read between finishing this one and writing this review would also have a rating around 2 stars, instead of 5).
ETA: putting this review into the review box caused me to look at my shelves. You know one of the reasons I probably didn't like this story? Spotted it when I spotted what I'd already put on my shelves. 'Zombies'. 'Horror'. There is psychological trauma and a bunch of PTSD going on in this story, but no horror, and the only zombies representation was one wolf (if I recall correctly - Shaun is mentioned going out and 'getting' various types of zombies, animal or human, but the reader doesn't see that, just told. So this really was a navel gazing story with no action. I'm going to have to take a ton of shelves off this book I'd put on preread. No this isn't a horror, no this isn't a zombie book, it's barely post-apocalyptic - only that because . . . it is, but . . . bah).
Rating: 2.0
March 25 2018
On the one hand, I do not really understand the point of having this story, on the other hand – of course, people are curious about the ‘afterwards’ part. It is somewhat unfortunate that the fourth book in the trilogy (heh) that followed a different group of people was set in the same time period as the first book in the series, otherwise it would have been the perfect book for a little cameo ‘this is what they are doing now’ to occur. That’s ‘easier’, in a way, than a full on story. At least for me. Otherwise you get a story like this – one that many liked, but that I didn’t. It was way too wordy, I mentioned in the same or different status update I’ve already referenced, that the used 99.9% more words than it needed to (actually, I worded it differently – that it could have been told with 99.9% fewer words).
Long and short – not a story I needed, and I realize that it is my fault that I read it. I read it because I generally like, no, love the short stories that got released along with the ‘trilogy’. But, not really a story I liked – and I kind of knew hat going in (and no, I am not rating it the way I am because of preconceptions, otherwise the short story I read between finishing this one and writing this review would also have a rating around 2 stars, instead of 5).
ETA: putting this review into the review box caused me to look at my shelves. You know one of the reasons I probably didn't like this story? Spotted it when I spotted what I'd already put on my shelves. 'Zombies'. 'Horror'. There is psychological trauma and a bunch of PTSD going on in this story, but no horror, and the only zombies representation was one wolf (if I recall correctly - Shaun is mentioned going out and 'getting' various types of zombies, animal or human, but the reader doesn't see that, just told. So this really was a navel gazing story with no action. I'm going to have to take a ton of shelves off this book I'd put on preread. No this isn't a horror, no this isn't a zombie book, it's barely post-apocalyptic - only that because . . . it is, but . . . bah).
Rating: 2.0
March 25 2018
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