This is one of the rare listings that is actually an anthology of stories rather than one continued serial.  The layout of the website is quite user-friendly, with a simple introduction and, most importantly, a strip of tabs along the top which allow readers to search for stories by genre.

On the plus side, this means that new readers aren’t overwhelmed by the amount of material they need to read as they can pick and choose.  Each story chapter is rather short, so this is ideal reading for those seeking bite-sized fiction.

I read three of the stories: America Wizards (fantasy), Proceeding Step (science fiction) and OPACity (suspense).

While the author is clearly experimenting in genres, all three plot lines and protagonists were quite similar.  On the plus side, if you like one of them, it’s quite definite you’ll like them all.

The common thread in Freelance Fiction stories is this: the main character is an ordinary man, working an ordinary job, who contemplates on some kind of problem, whether that be magic or computer processing.  The stories themselves have little action in them, and are more stream-of-consciousness type tales.

The narrator is a little distant, making the writing seem flat and emotionless.  I found it difficult to connect with the protagonists and sympathize with their problems, and, because of the lack of action, their thought process from problem to solution was a little dull.

There was also a smattering of typos and mistakes, particularly inconsistencies with regards to tense, although nothing too serious.

I think the stories could be much improved with some revision.  The story ideas are there, but the execution is a little disappointing.

3 of 4 members found this review helpful.
Help us improve!  Register or log in to rate this review.