Gallus: A Glasgow SF Writer’ Circle Anthology edited by Neil Williamson, Brian M Milton and EM Faulds
I would like to thank the editors for an advance copy of this anthology in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher - Glasgow SF Writers Circle
published - Out Now
Price - £10 paperback £4.99 Kindle eBook
An anthology of tales from the Glasgow SF Writers' Circle celebrating the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow in 2024. These stories span the genre spectrum from fantasy to science fiction, horror to experimental weirdness. Eclectic is most definitely the word. In Gallus you will find Celtic mythology, literary heists, cursed songs, the world's worst language app, wizards gone bad, the loneliness of space travel, and a convocation of witches gathering to save us all from ecological catastrophe.
Many of these tales are set in Scotland, but not all. Most are written in standard British English, but a few are written in modern Scots, which is the language that gives us our title. Gallus means bold, daring, or high-spirited. It’s very Glasgow. It’s very GSFWC.
Featuring: C.J. Henderson, Philip Raines and Harvey Welles, Laura Elise Jenkins, Heather Valentine, Ian Hunter, PS Livingstone, T.H. Dray, Richard Mosses, Alan M Laird, Stewart Horn, Sophie C. Baumert, Elsie WK Donald, Don Redwood, Ewan Lawson, M. Nesce Drake, Peter Morrison
I blog to you today from Glasgow Worldcon and it’s very appropriate to have a look at what this great city has to offer in terms of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Gallus A Glasgow SF Writers’ Circle Anthology edited by Neil Williamson, EM Faulds and Brian M Milton has an event today so it happens too - shout out to the excellent cover by Jenni Coutts too! This impressive collection offers a selection of stories from local authors
Among the many tales I enjoyed were
Out In The Sticks by C J Henderson - a really impressive opening as we have a fish out of water take of a woman trying to find a new life in the very kind village she arrives in. I loved the way the place comes alive and also we are uncertain where the tale is going. There is a delightful pun at the heart of it as well as a warm ending that surprised me.
In the Dry Sea by Philip Raines and Harvey Wells - an unusual tale at the end of the seas using the end of fishing communities in a very unusual SF way
A Gift And A Curse by Annabel Campbell- one of my favourites has a tense magical battle between a magician and her old master who seems insane. Just as much as we have an excellent battle of magics there is a dark circle of fate about to be closed and restarted which gives the whole tale a more sinister edge.
Waking Nightmare by Laura Elise Jenkins - an impressive strange horror where two flatmates realise someone’s waking dreams are heralding something nasty. The lack of any explanation works to make this tale even more unsettling and an impressive ominous atmosphere is created throughout.
Gods of the Deepwood by Cameron Johnston - very impressive epic fantasy in miniature as a young hunter finds her Gods brutally punishing her village and she needs to find a way to fight back. Johnstone delivers a neat spin on the old adage about magic and technology which for me really works.
The Girl Who Cried by Heather Valentine - an impressive tale of facing your past with our enigmatic main character returning to where the nightmare of her life started. It explores the impact of being made an outcast, being disbelieved and knowing you were right. An impressive ending surprised me too.
The Janitor in Black by Ian Hunter - an impressive tale of a modern world where witches and wizards are real and enemies of the state. We follow one man hired to plant bombs on suspected magicians - I loved the reality of the brutal world this showed and also unexpectedly the rebellion about to be unleashed. Gritty and compelling! Another favourite
The Grey by PS Livingstone - a brutal enigmatic tale of a dying world and a mother daughter in it. A world where colour is being taken out of everything in life by sinister powers and escape may yet be possible. Haunting and yet heartwarming reminding us of the power of hope to get us out of a horrible world.
When Greens Grew Legs and Walked Away by TH Dray - a great strange tale told in a great colloquial style about when plants appeared to come alive and just get up and left - a very smart environmental message lies in wait too.
Flourish by Richard Mosses - a fascinating tale of a hidden part of the city named Little Egypt. Its rumours and dark history are told in small flung footage, anecdotes and alternate history books. A great way to make history and a mystery come alive and be sinister too!
The Badger by Ruth EJ Booth - another favourite in the collection. This tale is emails from a multi language app to the user. Initially reminding us as so many of us have that the next class awaits us and not to lose our streaks but the enigmatic mock badger is not taking no for an answer: the escalation in reminders, threats and outrage is hilarious and a highlight in the book.
Pearl And The World by EM Faulds - a great SF tale of a young woman sent on a one way terraforming trip only accompanied by VR avatars. One of which is modelled on her ex boyfriend. This is a great character piece explaining the main characters choices and her realisation that what she wants is not possible it captures the pain of unrequited love and being lost but just has an edge of hope too. Beautiful storytelling
Earworm by Stewart Horn - a great horror tale told by a compelling folk singer to his Doctor. The story makes us careful for this rogue and we see a simple mistake slowly destroy his life. Very well told and links to classic tales of this type with a modern flourish.
In the Ocean Wave by Elise WK Donald - a smart breezy adventure tale where our enigmatic narrator who is a powerful magician goes on a cruise holiday with many surprises in wait. Great storytelling and subverts expectations as to how our narrator fits into things but I loved the way the story came together.
A Visitor by Rainlight by Neil Williamson - a strange house is left to a middle aged man filled with regrets on his life. Lots of unusual surprises await in this tale but I also liked the way it made the main character have to take a hard look at himself and leaves it open ended if he has learned anything.
Wayward Dolls by Jenni Coutts - a lovely tale of two experimental humanoid life stuck in a lab with no freedom until one decides to go for it. There is a selling crossing of universes and a lot of vivid worlds to explore in this tale and combined with a lovely bit of character and action work that made this tale come alive:
A really enjoyable collection bringing a mix of familiar and new names to me with a rich variety of stories and showing exactly what this city is capable of highly recommended to all!
