REVIEW: The First by Scott Nicholson

The First by Scott Nicholson
Format: Kindle Edition
Publisher: Haunted Computer Books (February 7, 2010)
ASIN: B0037KM1F2
Reviewer: Tyson

Book Description "A fresh and true voice that will affect you, disturb you, enrage you, or make you laugh."-Kevin J. Anderson, Dune series

A collection of 14 dark fantasy, dystopia, and science fiction stories from award-winning author Scott Nicholson. These stories visit undiscovered countries and shadowy avenues of the heart, lands and times where night never ends and matter doesn't matter. Features the six-story Aeropagan cycle where time is literally money. Includes an afterword and Nicholson's first-ever published story.

Nicholson, a 1999 Writers of the Future award winner, has published 10 novels and the comic books Grave Conditions, Dirt, and Little Shivers. Look for his other collections ASHES, FLOWERS, GATEWAY DRUG, and MURDERMOUTH. If you like science fiction with a pulp feel, FOREVER NEVER ENDS will be released in September. Email him at hauntedcomputer@yahoo.com or visit www.hauntedcomputer.com."

Since Mr. Nicholson will be joining us shortly for a guest posting later today, I thought it would be good form to review one of his short story collections. The First is a collection of short stories that cover a gambit of different genres in speculative fiction, but where Nicholson shines is horror.

The First takes us down a lot of paths and shows us a lot of the darker side of humanity. I think my favorite story in the collection was the first one, The Way of All Flesh. It is a bleak outlook on life as a warrior and a woman named Ibeja, who is used for procreation of the continuation of the war tribe. It was so bleak and disturbing that I found myself enjoying the story and really didn't see the ending coming. One of the issues with reading on the Kindle is that is a pain to go back and look for something so, I apologize for not having a story list for this collection. I did not have the time to compile a list of the names of the stories that were contained in this novel.

Nearly every story that I read in The First has a quirk or twisted ending that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an unexpected and enjoyable read that I found myself undertaking. The First is a great opportunity to get a taste of Nicholson's writing and unfortunately I wish I would have read this before Halloween and reviewed the collection as it would have been a great series to recommend to scare the wits out of you.

Plot(s) 7
Character(s) 7
Style(7)

Overall 7/10