from The Rumour of the Knife by Jenny Adams

The girls sit side by side on a bench. They’re made of ice for coldness. They’re made of steam for shape-shifting. They’re in a fish eye lens, pumped up big and stage centre. Their hair is ponytailed, stretched and polished to their skulls. Their clothing is crinkled and huge. Their legs stick out into the path like traps. If you were to walk past them you’d have to banana round them. You’d have to get ready to be not listening in case they said something, something rude, something girl-gang…

from The Memory Archivist by Jude Higgins 

…Annie stood in the centre of her dome and thought about the life-choice she’d made at seven years old. If she’d wanted to be an actress or a pianist, she wouldn’t be here now…the remaining original humans lived separately because of the risk of contamination. She should be grateful to be a ‘retained elder’. The government kept saying her services were vital – she was one of only a few people who had such a detailed recollection of life before the Big Freeze….

from Invisible Persuasion by Pam Eaves

Immediately she awoke Hilary could feel the comforting presence of Tildi – a sense of not being alone – someone caring about her. Snuggling under the duvet and savouring a moment of anticipation she knew today was going to be good and the familiar silvery voice confirmed: “Wake up,” it said. “I’ve got plans for you.”…

from From The White City by Filipa Kaori

…From the gully far below, Leila heard the dusty gurgle of the river: a man choking on his blood. Two great birds from the plains flapped across the White City, and though no attacks had happened in many years she slid under the shadow of a pillar, tightening her cloak. The birds were giant black fish against the blue stillness of the sky…

 from The Town by Anne O Dea

.…After a while I glanced at my watch … it was only 2pm . How could my mother be dead – murdered – and me lost and frantic in the middle of nowhere – when only a couple of hours ago she glowed with life and I was on the edge of achieving my life’s ambition?...

from The Long Run by Guy Ware

…The dead rider’s companions had circled back, and it was then that Ray had seen the fluorescent yellow stripes, the black-and-white chequered patterns and the words ‘Worcestershire Police’. This isn’t Worcestershire, thought Ray, as they methodically destroyed his car, dragging him from it just before the petrol tank exploded. Then they had beaten him unconscious and left him on the road…

from The Pin Man by Brenda Ray

The doll lay on the dressing table next to the trinket box, small, smooth and metallic. It had slit, slanting empty eyes, a microscopic mouth, and no nose at all. “Where on earth did that come from?” I asked my mother. “I don’t know,” she said…

From The Island by Claire Follett

Although he saw with the eyes of many, he spoke the words of the few. He wished he could play the tunes others played, dance their dance. He saw them, he tried to walk their paths, but always as an island in the midst of isolated seas…

with islands in mind – an Earlyworks Press fiction anthology 

34 stories, 314 pages ISBN 978-0-9553429-43 

£10.00 now only £4.99 

  free delivery to UK addresses

You can also order Earlyworks Press books from your local bookshop, or order them direct by sending a cheque made out to Kay Green to Earlyworks Press, The Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL