Revival of the short story anthology

The e-book revolution has its detractors, but few can deny that it has been good for the revival of the short story, novella and the anthology.

For years, the received opinion has been that ‘short stories don’t sell’. The men’s short story market, once vibrant in UK magazines, is definitely moribund. Go back far enough and we had Weekend, Titbits, and Parade – all gone. Short story anthologies included Argosy (UK) and The Saint Magazine. Men’s magazines such as Playboy, Men Only, Escort, and Fiesta ran stories – not necessarily of an erotic nature. The stories were in the main adventure and crime. From time to time a specialist magazine arrived on the newsagent shelves, though briefly; brave attempts, indeed: World of Horror, New Witchcraft, and Science Fiction Monthly. I sold stories to four of the above, but by then the writing was on the wall (instead of in the pages). One periodical that has survived is The London Magazine, but it’s a hard nut to crack. The women’s magazine market is still healthy, though even that too has shrunk.

Perhaps the decision-makers deem imagination passé. The same malaise hit TV some time ago, as well. Reality TV has almost obliterated fiction presentations. (I know, dramatic work is very expensive in comparison.)

So we must welcome the e-book for once again providing an outlet and a marketplace for short fiction writers and readers. Save for the few, the rewards may not be great in monetary terms, but it’s rewarding to see your story out there, hopefully being read and enjoyed, because that’s the main impetus for writing in the first place – to entertain.

Currently available e-book anthologies that feature my stories are:

Story title                                                         Anthology

SILENCE (2011)                                                 THE TRADITIONAL WEST

HAZARD (2013)                                                LIVIN’ ON JACKS AND QUEENS

SLEEP WELL, MY DARLING (2014)             NOIR NATION #4

PROCESSIONARY PENITENTS (2014)         CROOKED CATS’ TALES     

MESCAL MAKERS (2014)                              WESTERN TALES #5

‘Silence’ is a long short story that embraces the concept of ‘silence’ – the omerta of the early Mafia in New York and the Old West. The Traditional West contains stories from 24 writers, some of which have become award winners. This collection is also a large format 384-page paperback.

 

‘Hazard’ concerns Ace Hazard, a gambler on a riverboat. Livin’ on Jacks and Queens is an Old West anthology about gambling, edited by Robert J. Randisi and features 14 brand-new stories.

 

‘Sleep well, my darling’ is a noir crime story about a marriage that goes wrong, leading to murder. Noir Nation #4 has 'over 20 entries from some of the very best literary crime fiction writers in the international scene' - plus photos of exotic tattoos...

‘Processionary Penitents’ is a private eye Leon Cazador story set during Spain’s Easter - Semana Santa. Crooked Cats' Tales show-cases the work of 20 Crooked Cat authors.

‘Mescal Makers’ tells of the meeting between an Apache and a priest in 1790 and how torture led to an understanding. Western Tales #5 is one of a series of western anthologies; this contains 'Six short stories from some of the best western writers working in the genre today!'

 

Book review - Taggart

Louis L’Amour had a number of great successes with one-name title books, such as Brionne, Callaghen, Catlow, Conagher, Fallon, Flint, Hondo, Kilkenny, Radigan, Shalako, Tucker and Sackett, among others. Taggart is one of them.

Taggart was published in April 1959. Like many of his early 1950s novels, it was based on a short story, this one being ‘Trap of Gold’ (Argosy magazine, 1951).

The original story featured Wetherton, searching for gold in the desert. He has to fight the rock where he discovers a rich vein and his own greed to bring home the treasure to his wife and son.

The book Taggart naturally has more depth. Now it’s Adam Stark who finds the gold, in Apache territory, and living with him under the constant threat of discovery are his wife Consuelo and his sister Miriam. Into this mix comes Taggart, on the run for a crime he didn’t commit. Tracking Taggart is a lawman, bounty-hunter. And nearby, some two dozen Apache…

The conflict between the women, the men and the Apache is told well, even if L’Amour often slips from one point of view to another at the drop of a bullet or two. Both Taggart and Stark are your typical strong, honest men. Miriam is the strong woman and love interest. Consuelo is ambivalent about her marriage, trying to grasp dreams with a hand of open fingers instead of clasping what she has to her heart.

If you want a smooth, fast-paced read, this is guaranteed to deliver. The book was filmed as Taggart in 1964, featuring the film debut of David Carradine, with a screenplay that clearly departs from the book.

 

'Hazard' by Nik Morton is featured in Livin' on Jacks and Queens, an e-book anthology edited by Robert J. Randisi, which can be purchased here