servemethesky's review
3.0
Enjoyed this eclectic collection of stories all centering around the theme of being “alien.” There’s a strong sense of voice throughout. I’m not sure if I’ve read such a coherently themed collection before! It felt a bit repetitive at times. Not sure if any of the stories will prove super memorable for me, aside from maybe “Memory Store” and “Debriefing.”
carolineohman's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
alicedroni's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Lots of really great metaphors about xenophobia. The stories all really pulled you in immediately, my only real complaint is that I felt like right when I fully got immersed in the concepts and plot the short was over. I wish it dug a little bit deeper and darker on a few of the concepts but I really enjoyed every page of this book.
claire_blanchard's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
woozles666's review
5.0
I'm incredibly lucky to have stumbled onto Alien Stories. This short story collection is truly a masterpiece with more depth than many I've read in recent years. Moreover, the array of stories is dizzying in its variety, but each one is unique and memorable in its own way.
The author cleverly plays with that various definitions of the word "alien" throughout the collection. The issues and themes they explore range from the morality of the death penalty to the structural racial discrepancy in treatment quality in the American healthcare system. These issues come across clearly due to the masterful storytelling and economy of language that E.C. Osondu uses throughout the book.
However, these stories also shine because they are wildly creative. Every single one stuck in my memory, so it's hard to even choose just a handful to highlight. One story involves an immigrant to America going to a "memory store" to sell his memories after he loses his job at the car wash. Another is about an alien ship that crashes into a town and is abandoned by its pilot, but suddenly the villagers start having a string of good luck in their lives. All of the stories provide a stunning cross-section of incredibly relevant themes, fable-like elements, and sci-fi plot lines.
No story overstays its welcome, either. Most of them are short and sweet, clocking in at just a few pages. However, you would be hard-pressed to not rip through them all at once since they are just so good. I'm going to be highly recommending this collection to anyone interested in short stories for a long time to come.
The author cleverly plays with that various definitions of the word "alien" throughout the collection. The issues and themes they explore range from the morality of the death penalty to the structural racial discrepancy in treatment quality in the American healthcare system. These issues come across clearly due to the masterful storytelling and economy of language that E.C. Osondu uses throughout the book.
However, these stories also shine because they are wildly creative. Every single one stuck in my memory, so it's hard to even choose just a handful to highlight. One story involves an immigrant to America going to a "memory store" to sell his memories after he loses his job at the car wash. Another is about an alien ship that crashes into a town and is abandoned by its pilot, but suddenly the villagers start having a string of good luck in their lives. All of the stories provide a stunning cross-section of incredibly relevant themes, fable-like elements, and sci-fi plot lines.
No story overstays its welcome, either. Most of them are short and sweet, clocking in at just a few pages. However, you would be hard-pressed to not rip through them all at once since they are just so good. I'm going to be highly recommending this collection to anyone interested in short stories for a long time to come.
deedireads's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
I recently discovered the fabulous indie publisher BOA Editions (which also happens to be headquartered in Rochester, NY, which isn’t too far from my hometown). I followed them on Instagram, and one of their posts about this short story collection caught my eye. Speculative, promising weirdness, and George Saunders blurbed it? Sign me up.
The folks at BOA were kind enough to send a copy my way, and friends, it didn’t disappoint. These stories are excellent. The feeling of finding a diamond in the rough reminded me of reading Imaginary Museums by Nicolette Polek, which was published by another fab indie, Soft Skull Press. (Indie presses are SO GREAT and doing important, amazing work, and you should follow and support them, please and thank you.)
Anyway, each of these stories uses the concept of aliens to make a larger statement about racism and xenophobia. There are baby aliens, and spaceships that get mysteriously left behind, and a focus group giving their thoughts and opinions on aliens, and a grandmother who tells stories about a red planet, and so much more. Osondu gives us so many metaphors and layers and smart, imaginative applications of speculative elements.
If you like to read great short stories that play with metaphor and craft and make you think about them long after you’ve finished reading, check this one out!
I recently discovered the fabulous indie publisher BOA Editions (which also happens to be headquartered in Rochester, NY, which isn’t too far from my hometown). I followed them on Instagram, and one of their posts about this short story collection caught my eye. Speculative, promising weirdness, and George Saunders blurbed it? Sign me up.
The folks at BOA were kind enough to send a copy my way, and friends, it didn’t disappoint. These stories are excellent. The feeling of finding a diamond in the rough reminded me of reading Imaginary Museums by Nicolette Polek, which was published by another fab indie, Soft Skull Press. (Indie presses are SO GREAT and doing important, amazing work, and you should follow and support them, please and thank you.)
Anyway, each of these stories uses the concept of aliens to make a larger statement about racism and xenophobia. There are baby aliens, and spaceships that get mysteriously left behind, and a focus group giving their thoughts and opinions on aliens, and a grandmother who tells stories about a red planet, and so much more. Osondu gives us so many metaphors and layers and smart, imaginative applications of speculative elements.
If you like to read great short stories that play with metaphor and craft and make you think about them long after you’ve finished reading, check this one out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
More...