What I’m Reading: Postcards from Earth, Collection 2

With this book, I have the pleasure of reviewing someone who might very well be the Rod Serling of our time (the famous host and writer of the old Twilight Zone TV series), Tom Sterling. Even his last name is similar! This is the second collection Tom has released, containing ten of his science fiction, fantasy, horror, and just plain weird short stories, each with its own deliciously ironic or twisted ending. If one theme unites Tom’s stories, I would say it’s that they generally feature regular, everyday people who find themselves in bizarre situations, and whether they can rise to their unexpected challenge. I might add that Tom is a personal author friend of mine, but that in no way biases my opinion that these are some truly great stories.

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My favorite is “The Light on the Island,” about a man whose mother is sick with cancer. While fishing, he and his dad come across an old witch in a marsh who offers them the chance to cure their beloved family matriarch. But is the price she demands worth the cost?

Another highlight is “The Memory Collector,” about an alien who travels the galaxy kidnapping creatures to upload their sweet, sweet memories into his own brain. But when he comes to Earth and kidnaps a married couple, he gets more than he bargains for.

I’ve heard Tom read the individual segments of the “Personal Problems” sequence of four short stories at various “Noir at the Bar” events at writers’ conferences, and they always bring down the house. These short stories follow a vampire named Ani as she preys on a family throughout three generations…only to meet her match in a spouse married the grandson of her first victim. 

As short stories, these don’t need to be read in any particular order (except for the “Personal Problems” sequence), nor do you need to read Collection 1 first. Indeed, although I like many stories in Collection 1 a lot, I think Collection 2 is just a wee bit better. If you’re in the mood for some short stories about regular folks finding themselves meeting aliens, witches, vampires, and time travel, give Postcards from Earth a try.

You can find Postcards from Earth, Collection 2 on Amazon.