"Places to Visit on the Way Back is a collection of 17 short and not so short stories covering a variety of genres, from science fantasy to social commentary."
Thomas Frail, author of Places to Visit on the Way There, published in 2019, was assured that a second book is much easier to write than your first. His experience, however, could not have been further from this generalization but we can at last have the pleasure of reacquainting ourselves with the quirky and insightful style we loved in his first publication. Places to Visit on the Way Back is a collection of 17 short and not so short stories covering a variety of genres, from science fantasy to social commentary. A prologue appears before each offering to set the scene for what is to come and to explain its conception. As before, it would be impossible to review every single tale, so I shall focus on five, which stood out for me from this accomplished collection. 'Devotion' is in fact the opening story and the only one to have an epilogue rather than a prologue. In it the author explores what might go through the mind as the end of life approaches, a tender and heart wrenching read with a twist in its tail. In a similar vein, 'Sans' takes us to the world of an Alzheimer's sufferer and is again sensitively written and poignant. Completely different is 'The Adventure of the Ignoble Lord', a Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson case, written in the style of and as an homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I won't spoil it by giving away whodunit, that much is obvious from the start anyway, it's all in the great man's powers of deduction in establishing how it was done. A very enjoyable addition to the collection. 'Present Tense' is a complex and chilling science fiction tale, which takes us to a dark and unbearably terrifying future. Cryogenics seems to be the answer Lomas is seeking when he receives a terminal illness diagnosis but nothing is ever that simple and we are left wondering just what did he let himself in for and how is he any better off. My final choice is 'Dad' (AKA Places to visit on the Way Back) and it explores the minefield of a suspected cancer diagnosis and the mind mangling effects that has on the whole family, even when the eventual outcome is good. In the introduction to his work, Thomas Frail alludes to a health scare he has experienced, that he was 'incommoded by circumstances that amounted to nothing' but which added many months to its finishing, so I suspect he has very personal insight into the content of this particular story. I hope you will enjoy reading this anthology as much as I did and if so, search out the first volume too...there really is something for everyone to be found.
Drena Irish, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
| Recommendations: |
The author takes us on a journey, sometimes it's enjoyable, sometimes dark and dystopian. Sit back and hold tight!
Once again, the author has produced a book of short stories with eclectic and varied subject matter. Some I enjoyed, others not so much. The story about Hitler was very interesting and plausible. I found some stories a little confusing, (Jigsaw), but I must admit I do like a proper ending. The prologues before each chapter are almost a story in themselves. They explain how the story came about, but don't always help in explaining what happens. There are stories of alien invasion, (through iPhones), dubious space travel and many futuristic things. The stories are of varying length and are very well written and easy to read. The author takes us on a journey, sometimes it's enjoyable, sometimes dark and dystopian.... Read Full Review
This book is an absolute diamond with each short story contributing to the overall sparkle!
This book is an absolute diamond with each short story contributing to the overall sparkle! ‘Places To Visit On The Way Back’ is a clever, clever collection of short stories written by an author who is a master in perceptive and sensitive writing. He touches and explores many topics: relationships, war, religion, science fiction etc. with clarity and honesty. Throughout, the characters are strong and plausible. Each story is given a prologue to help set the scene for the reader. Twists and turns abound and I found myself thinking about many of the stories long after I’d reached their end.... Read Full Review