Small Press Spotlight
I've become a little jaded after eight years of fielding bubbly review requests from small-press and self-published authors. My instinct is to encourage their enthusiasm for the craft—and yet I'm forced to turn down 99% of what's offered because the writing hasn't yet progressed beyond the untempered flailing of the amateur.
I have nothing against amateurs. I'm an amateur writer myself and have even been (rightly) rejected for publication on more than one occasion. But I also don't want to compromise my standards by endorsing poorly written material, by telling readers that a book is worth their time and money when it clearly isn't. That's not doing anyone any favors—either readers or writers.
But I have discovered a few gems in the rough; small-press books that are worth tracking down at a library, bookstore, or directly through the publisher. These may not be paragons of great literature, but they're just what the fantasy genre needs: stories that transport readers right out of their chairs and into another world.
The Sorcerer's Web by T.P. Macer, published by Wayward Books in the UK.
Calling the writing 'pedestrian' in my review is somewhat more lenient than it perhaps deserves. The narrative makes references to Shakespeare and other anachronisms, and centers around a clichéd plot—and yet the characters are so well drawn and so realistic in their interactions that the clumsy writing is easily ignored. My adoration for the book is, in fact, a telling example of my reading tastes in action: if the characters are strong enough to shine through a mediocre narrative, I'm far more likely to be found happily reading instead of crying over my copy of Strunk & White.
Icehole by Kiera Dellacroix, published by the now-defunct Fortitude Press.
Probably the #2 title leading people to the website (#1 is Anne Rice's Beauty trilogy) and one of the few that prompts them to email and ask if I know where to get a copy (sorry, I don't). The writing isn't stellar and the story asks readers to suspend disbelief over more than just the Hollywood-style monsters—but it was hilariously funny. If a book can't grab me with either a quality narrative or a well-drawn character, I'm still vulnerable to humor—especially the sort that's likely to peel paint off the walls.
Journey to Zelindar by Diana Rivers, published by Hadra Books.
An intense story about a young woman's spiritual rebirth as she flees the cloistered confines of a patriarchal world and is forced to fight for survival among the fiercely independent separatist women of the Hadra. This was the first Hadra book Rivers wrote, a much simpler tale than others in the series—and by far the strongest. The narrative moves at a slower pace than anything from a mainstream publisher, but Rivers has a sharp eye for character development and knows how to tell a story without compromising. This one brought me to tears more than once.
Nightshade and Love Spell, by Karen Williams, published by the now-defunct Rising Tide Press.
One of the few times I've felt the word 'whimsical' to be truly appropriate was while reading Nightshade years ago—a tremendously entertaining urban-fantasy adventure. Love Spell wasn't as strong, but the romance was so well done I couldn't help but arrive at another often misused word: heartwarming.
From the Ashes by Meghan Brunner, published by AuthorHouse.
The only self-published title that survived the purge after I decided I could no longer deal with them. As a devoted patron of various Renaissance Festivals, I had an absolute blast reading this book. The "Vilification Tennis" scene was enough to convince me that some books ought to be stamped with a "choking hazard" label, with a little icon of a person spewing a hot drink over themselves. An uproariously funny novel—especially if you're as fond of sheep jokes as I am.
Worthwhile small-press stories are still the exception rather than the rule. Just yesterday I had to send yet another "no thanks" response to an editor convinced that the book she was promoting was fun, fascinating, edgy, and seductive—when all I got from the excerpt was awkward, repetitive, trite, and unprofessional.
I'm not an editor, and I don't get paid to review books. I'm just a reader hungry for good stories—and a gatekeeper for a website whose goal is to help other readers make the best choices. Small-press books are usually a poor bet—but they can also be a credit to the genre when they do manage to get it right.
© Finder | GLBT Fantasy Fiction Resources | 2010
