Cover by Crystalwizard
According to www.colinpdavies.com, Colin P. Davies is a Building Surveyor from Liverpool, England, and has been writing fiction since the mid ’80s. Most recently his stories have appeared in Bewildering Stories, Spectrum SF, 3SF, Paradox, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine and Asimov’s.
His stories have met with a good response, making the Locus Recommended Reading List and the British Science Fiction Association Award nominations, as well as gaining two Honorable Mentions in The Year’s Best SF. His story “The Defenders” was in The Year’s Best SF #22, edited by Gardner Dozois.
Tall Tales on the Iron Horse –
Reviewed by Vivian Zabel
Title: Tall Tales on the Iron Horse
Author: Colin P. Davies
Publisher: Bewildering Press
Release date: January, 2008
ISBN: 0-9787443-4-9
URL: http://www.colinpdavies.com
Genre: collection of short stories – sci-fi and fantasy
The title of the collection of short stories, Tall Tales on the Iron Horse, by Colin P. Davies, also is the title of the first story. The analogy of riding a train into the darkness not only weaves its way into the title story, but also throughout the book. Each story has a bit of madness, a touch of the unknown, and much madness that takes the reader on a wild ride, creating wonder and fear. The reader is left considering underlying meanings and themes.
From the beginning, my attention is caught by the train that “clatters through darkness” for three days. I wonder if the designation is heaven or hell, and the characters don’t seem to know either, just that they must stay awake as they hope that God will see them.
All the stories contain different versions of terror that suck the reader into horror. Colin P. Davies’ words create darkness of humanity, of mind, and of soul.
“Dolls” takes a journey into the mind of girl who was never allowed to grow up, always forced artificially to remain an eight-year-old girl. Although she may be physically a child, she wants to become an adult. However, that desire becomes childishly side tracked. The dark side of being a child includes a warped cruelty and selfishness.
Slaves during any time of history or from the future sooner or later revolt. Man, whether born of woman or of science, seeks freedom sooner or later. In “Good and Faithful Servant,” the dark side of slavery and of privilege creates its own horror.
Anyone with the courage to board the iron horse of science fiction and fantasy written by Davies will be left with a bitter taste of deep and dark thoughts. Readers will find much to consider and will find much to keep them reading.
