Bret Allen

Strange Matters: Collected Tales of Fantasy, Myth and Magic Bret Allen

Publisher Marketing: Strange Matters is a collection of tales of fantasy, myth and magic. Some are funny, some are dark, some are both. Some are set in our world, with the skin peeled back to reveal the magical mechanisms beneath. Some are set in fantasy worlds, where instead it's the reflections of reality which are hidden. All contain matters best described as 'strange', because to me, strange matters. This book includes twenty pieces of poetry and fiction (some with mature themes), including: Wordsmith Kate's night is interrupted by meeting a mute, half-naked Ethiopian boy, which would be fine if he wasn't being hunted through the streets of London by hyenas. Torc When a group of bikers get lost in a forest, they find that they are not alone. The Firebird Ekaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all... the legendary Firebird. Arcturus A nameless criminal explores his capacity for magic- and empathy- when he's forced to make unusual acquaintances to escape justice. It Wants To Eat Me The diary entries of a teenage girl who finds an unusual and unwelcome intruder in her dreams. British Gods Two strange figures watch the violence of the London riots unfold and do what they can to help, as only forgotten gods can. Nine Having just died, Andy's not pleased to find himself in the ancient Egyptian afterlife, where the goddess Bastet wants a word with him. Strange Matters is a journey through many facets of fantasy, all united by a fresh, modern eye for incisive storytelling and magical realism.