REVIEW OF DWARF STARS 2006

Dwarf Stars 2006:
The best science fiction, fantasy, and horror poems
of ten lines or less from 2005;
Edited by Deborah P. Kolodji
copyright 2006 Science Fiction Poetry Association
Published by Gromagon Press
P.O. Box 1717
Clearwater, FL 33757

"'tis the Season...," well, actually it's always the Season to indulge one's self in such a fabulous pleasure as this chapbook, Dwarf Stars 2006. But, of course, should you still be shopping for the Season, there is still time to make a gift of this delight-filled collection of very short science fiction, fantasy, and horror poetry to someone on your holiday gift list.

The poems in this collection were all published elsewhere in 2005 and selected for Dwarf Stars 2006 by the editor, Deborah Kolodji. None of these poems by 26 authors are longer than ten lines and some are haiku-length. All are intriguing and well worth savoring, again and again. A few are funny, many are deeply moving, others dazzle with unique imagery, and all entice us to visit other realities, worlds, futures. The cover art, by Marge Simon, says it all visually and in its title: Wonderment.

One nine line poem, "The Stepsister" by Peg Duthie, reminds us that there is always more to a story, to a life than is apparent. Another nine-liner, "Loki" by Amal El-Mohtar, explores the Loki myth through amazing images. And a haiku length one, by Tim Jamieson, is a poignant honoring of a friend: my friend's ashes/drifting away--/distant nebula. A poem by Ruth Berman, "Knowledge of," explores the law of attraction. And John J. Dunphy's haiku length vampire piece offers an ironic laugh.

I will reveal my prejudice first as a writer of very short speculative fiction, but I think something wonderful often happens in the process of producing a very short poem. Maybe as with diamonds, the compression intensifies and clarifies. However it may be, the poems in this collection are some of the best of very short speculative fiction.

My comments and brief sharing cannot do justice to the delicious variety of style and focus of the poems in this chapbook. But I do hope they will tweak your interest enough that you place an order. Where else can you get so many different world and time spanning journeys for just $5.00?

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‘til next time, keep dreaming,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blog: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL.