Writer’s Retweet by Piers Anthony and published by Dreaming Big Publications, reviewed by Ally F
ABOUT THE BOOK
Horrifying illusions. Classified government operations. Heavily guarded secrets. Cryptic rumors. Dangerous prisoners. Irresistible passion. Demonic magic.
Piers Anthony weaves this and more into Writer’s Retweet, a collection of five short stories abounding in the adventure, magic, and naughtiness that fans have come to know and love from this author.
In “Experiment,” “Discovery,” and “Mission,” painfully average Bigelow Bilge and Paula Plaintiff are thrust unwillingly into a world fraught with terrifying, victim-specific illusions. Who—or what—is the source of these horrifying encounters? Why have Bigelow and Paula been targeted?
A newspaper reporter in “Dull Street Incident” gets wind of a delicious scandal rumored to have punctuated a stale suburban street. Menacing prisoners, conniving teenage girls, and one well-kept secret leads this reporter to the story of a lifetime. But who will believe it?
In “Forbidden Fruit,” dowdy, middle-aged Edith happens upon a mysterious fruit that completely alters her life—and the life of Kent, an attractive, young neighbor. Seduced by her newfound magical abilities and rediscovered sex appeal, Edith plunges into a world filled with demons, pleasure, and unthinkable risk.
MY REVIEW
4 out of 5 stars
What the summary of Writer’s Retweet leaves out is the most delightful part of the whole book: its origin story. This is not a mere collection of solid and interesting stories by acclaimed writer Piers Anthony. Each of these stories was originally written on Twitter. Every day, Anthony tweeted a 140-character addition to his story until it was complete. It’s an interesting approach to storytelling that is strikingly relevant in today’s world. As media evolves, new storytelling formats arise, and Anthony uses this to his advantage. After tweeting, he compiled the stories into this novel where, while reading, you completely forget their remarkable origins.
They are each funny and intelligent stories with lifelike characters populating them. When, as a reader, we step back and remember that they popped up on a social media page, it makes them that much more fascinating. In other words, it’s a book for people who like strong, quirky stories, and at the same time it’s a book for people interested in the evolution of storytelling in the 21st century.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piers Anthony is one of the world's most popular fantasy authors, and a New York Times bestseller twenty-one times over. In addition to the Xanth series, Anthony is the author of many other best-selling works. Piers Anthony lives with his wife in Inverness, Florida.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Horrifying illusions. Classified government operations. Heavily guarded secrets. Cryptic rumors. Dangerous prisoners. Irresistible passion. Demonic magic.
Piers Anthony weaves this and more into Writer’s Retweet, a collection of five short stories abounding in the adventure, magic, and naughtiness that fans have come to know and love from this author.
In “Experiment,” “Discovery,” and “Mission,” painfully average Bigelow Bilge and Paula Plaintiff are thrust unwillingly into a world fraught with terrifying, victim-specific illusions. Who—or what—is the source of these horrifying encounters? Why have Bigelow and Paula been targeted?
A newspaper reporter in “Dull Street Incident” gets wind of a delicious scandal rumored to have punctuated a stale suburban street. Menacing prisoners, conniving teenage girls, and one well-kept secret leads this reporter to the story of a lifetime. But who will believe it?
In “Forbidden Fruit,” dowdy, middle-aged Edith happens upon a mysterious fruit that completely alters her life—and the life of Kent, an attractive, young neighbor. Seduced by her newfound magical abilities and rediscovered sex appeal, Edith plunges into a world filled with demons, pleasure, and unthinkable risk.
MY REVIEW
4 out of 5 stars
What the summary of Writer’s Retweet leaves out is the most delightful part of the whole book: its origin story. This is not a mere collection of solid and interesting stories by acclaimed writer Piers Anthony. Each of these stories was originally written on Twitter. Every day, Anthony tweeted a 140-character addition to his story until it was complete. It’s an interesting approach to storytelling that is strikingly relevant in today’s world. As media evolves, new storytelling formats arise, and Anthony uses this to his advantage. After tweeting, he compiled the stories into this novel where, while reading, you completely forget their remarkable origins.
They are each funny and intelligent stories with lifelike characters populating them. When, as a reader, we step back and remember that they popped up on a social media page, it makes them that much more fascinating. In other words, it’s a book for people who like strong, quirky stories, and at the same time it’s a book for people interested in the evolution of storytelling in the 21st century.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piers Anthony is one of the world's most popular fantasy authors, and a New York Times bestseller twenty-one times over. In addition to the Xanth series, Anthony is the author of many other best-selling works. Piers Anthony lives with his wife in Inverness, Florida.
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