Elliott Downing

Surprising and fantastic story

I'm glad I took a chance on this. I genuinely enjoyed this novella.

I don't read a lot of indie books, very few in fact, but the LookInside was promising the premise fascinated me.

First person present tense always gets a thumbs up from me. If you are one of those readers who are dubious about FPPT, give this a try; it might change your mind. The structure of the narrative is perfectly suited to the tense, and they showcase each other very well.

Part of what prompted me to pick up the story was a cautious curiosity. My concern was that a narrative focusing on a man obsessing over video footage (literally watching the same thing over and over) would swiftly descend into repetitive monotony.

I was pleased to be mistaken in this instance; Downing side steps that trap effortlessly, wringing fresh detail from the various viewings--much as the character himself does, while painstakingly examining said footage for hidden truth.

One of the best techniques (my apologies, I think of everything in terms of craft these days) that the story benefitted from was Downing's choice of emphasis. He sticks to the emotional, to the contents of the footage, to the increasingly narrow confines that encircle the narrator's life. That all works very well, imo. Other stuff, eg *how* the editing programme could exist is never addressed, nor is it needed to; attempting to do that would derail the tight focus and take the story in a different direction. These kinds of mysteries in stories are usually best left explained.

For example, I have always maintained that the worst thing Dan Simmons ever did (writing-wise!) was produce a sequel for his astonishing novel Hyperion, because the sequel explained everything and rendered the original mysteries mundane/unsatisfying. A good writer, like a good magician, is wise not to reveal every secret.

Anyways... give it a try!… (mehr)

*Thanks to the author for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*

Actual Rating: 5

Elliott Downing is gradually becoming one of my favorite short story writers! I first read The Keys to the Kingdom, and I thought it sort of had a raw, realistic, eerie tone - Some Distant Sunrise totally has that too.

This novella is about a former DJ, who now has close to nothing - all because of his heroin addiction. When his ex-girlfriend seeks him out again, looking for a chance to rebuild their relationship, he knows it is an opportunity that won't come knocking again. But there's a catch: Lynn died of an overdose four months ago, and she's hoping he'll join her.

This book was gritty and dark - just like the blurb said. And just like Downing's other short story, the writing style has a surreal and mystical feel to it; it was extremely hard to put down, and though the story was short, the ideas felt fully explored as I immersed myself in the storyline.

The main character in this book is terribly flawed, and yet it is these flaws that allow him to embody the turmoil that all humanity contains. Drug addiction is of course a very realistic problem, and even for people who have not have had contact with it, I am sure Some Distant Sunrise will be able to strike some sort of chord.

Overall, Some Distant Sunrise was a haunting story about persistence and pain, and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who is brave enough to delve into a world that seems both unimaginable and close to home.… (mehr)

*Thank you to the author for providing a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*

First, let me just say that I absolutely love the cover for this. It’s artistic, mysterious, and vague – perfect for this short story.

The Keys to the Kingdom takes place after a woman is hit by a stray bullet and killed. When a video of her death mysterious appears online, her boyfriend cannot stop re-watching. Then he notices something not quite right. Clues seem to suggest that he has the power to save Angela, to change the past. But is it true? Or is he just losing his mind?

The first thing that I noticed about this book was the stylistic writing; it gave the book a very mysterious and mystical tone which really helped contributed to the atmosphere provided by the story.

The plot was extremely engaging throughout and I couldn’t put the book down. There was definitely an element of surrealism to the story, and we see how development occurs not only physically, but also mentally in the mind of our main character. The blurb states, “Keys to the Kingdom is haunting story of grief, lost love, and the fine line which separates faith from madness,” and I don’t think I could’ve described it in better words.

I loved the main character; he was multifaceted and how he dealt with grief in the aftermath of his girlfriend’s death was realistic and subtly heartbreaking. There’s usually not much time to get to know a character in a short story, but while reading this, I felt like I could truly relate to the main character’s grief, curiosity, and hope.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this – it’s a quick, thought-provoking read, and I guarantee it will captivate you from start to finish.… (mehr)