Down We Go & Other Strange Tales (hereafter abbreviated as “Down We Go”) was a recommendation from my Kindle for reading flash fiction (1200 words or less) and horror anthologies. The Kindle algorithm must have put two and two together and recommended this. Once I read the blurb, I bought it immediately.
Usually when something is branded “weird” in fiction, it indicates other-dimensional landscapes or tentacled monstrosities. But weird, as the introduction reminds us, may also encompass the unexpected or ambiguous. This anthology fits squarely into the broader definition, and I was glad it did.
I rated each story with two rankings: weirdness and payoff. A high weirdness rating means the story successfully adheres to an off-kilter story with a “What?” type ending. Though, the ending must be satisfying. Too many weird tales just end and leave the reader frustrated. The payoff rating signifies the ending may be ambiguous, but it terminates the tale on a strong note the reader will appreciate.
Note: To me, a low weirdness and high payoff is similar to a Twilight Zone episode. Those are still good stories, but a little too pat for what the anthology advertises itself as.
I’m pleased to say many stories rated high in one or the other category. Weirdness standouts include “The Ink Wells,” “Chef’s Special,” and “Watch the Teeth.” Those with a high payoff include “Telano,” “Fair Game,” “Stowaway,” and “Solstice.”
Three rated high in both. Prasuethsut’s title story, “Down We Go,” has the highest weirdness factor and a good payoff. It captivates with the best tool of suspense—the reader’s own imagination. Just what is below that door in the forest anyway? On the flip side, the same author’s “She Watches She Waits” isn’t so weird as masterfully ending right where it should. It leaves an impact. Lastly, “Long Live the Queen” by Ashley Reed has a high factor of weirdness and payoff. It worked fabulously. The formatting itself was inspired and “weird.” A knockout of a tale of this sort.
A collection of stories by a set of authors instead of a different author for each entry often works to the advantage if you have high-caliber ideas and writing. Fortunately, Down We Go has this in spades. I’ll be following these authors for more interesting flash fiction.