Voices from the Deep: A Collection of Fantasy and Science Fiction Short Stories by Brian Reindel

A Fiction Review by Bryn Robinson

The thing about conversations that we overhear is that we often pay attention to them before we turn our minds to other matters. Sometimes, though, a voice is loud enough or says something so extraordinary, so moving, you can’t help but lean in closer for more detail.

Across all the stories in his second collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories, Voices from the Deep, Brian Reindel makes it easy for his reader to eavesdrop on the voices he hears, crafting pocket worlds with a breadth of imagination and in an inviting and accessible manner, regardless if you’re a seasoned speculative fiction reader or (like me) are a relative novice to the genre.

Indeed, there is something for everyone: From fantastical lands with shady wizards (“Cowards of Comfort”) and nefarious ring-wielding royal advisors (“The Unwritten Rule”) and monstrous spiders guarding magical caves (“A Fool and his Folly”), to very familiar environments twisted ever so slightly into the twilight:

As I sat in one of the leather chairs in the hospital lobby, a heavy weight pushed me down and I wanted to let it push me all the way to the floor and rub me out into the speckled carpet. Touching a stranger in their most vulnerable time of need would be uncomfortable enough, but it made me realize by choosing one, I would in turn condemn hundreds, thousands, millions of others to death. (“The Gift”)

In a particularly wrenching example (“The Smell of Ozone and Honeysuckle”), an astronaut transmits his final message to his wife, his voice floating over the radio waves back to Earth:

You need to know that there’s only one experience that could ever eclipse being strapped to an explosive rocket hurtling through space. There’s only one smell that could overwhelm my senses far and beyond the smell of ozone….

Do you remember the honeysuckle bushes planted beside the porch? When you answered the door, their smell, it took over, and a memory, so vivid and permanent was formed. All of those neurons joined together in unison, capturing the perfect picture of you.

After reading this story, I realized the true strength of his storytelling. While we try to maintain objectivity in science, Brian’s science fiction blooms when it opens itself up to the raw emotions that underlie our shared humanity. (What would you say in a final missive to a loved one? What could I say?)

The fantasy stories are enjoyable - the idea of a tree stealing your teeth in exchange for favours (“Deep Roots”) had me wondering if I would be a toothless middle-aged crone by now - but he somehow taps into another level when the voices are challenged by the crucible of science gone terribly awry. It’s because of these voices from the depths of his imagination that I’d argue make Brian’s latest collection worth tuning into.

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About the Author

Brian Reindel graduated with a journalism degree from Oakland University in 1999, but he changed career paths after a brief stint as a copywriter with a local ad agency. The dot-com boom allowed him to explore his newfound love of programming and software development. After more than twenty years, his passion for writing resurfaced in the form of a fantasy and science fiction newsletter. He belongs to a like-minded community of fiction writers, publishes fantasy and science fiction short stories online and submits for publication to speculative fiction outlets.

About the Reviewer

Bryn Robinson (she/her) lives in New Brunswick, Canada, where she uses her PhD in experimental psychology to help her support mental health research in the province. She prefers contemporary fiction, narrative non-fiction, graphic novels and poetry that is emotional, reflective, and if it can do it with humour, all the better. Bryn also writes on Campfire Notebook, where she regularly features original poetry. When not reading, she's searching for birds in the New Brunswick forests and seascapes, camera in hand.

Book Details

● Publisher: Red Giant Press (August 21, 2024)

● Language: English

● Paperback: 234 pages

● ISBN-13: 979-8991238717