Book Reviews and More: The Enemy Of My Enemy - Richard Paolinelli

Friday, 3 November 2023

The Enemy Of My Enemy - Richard Paolinelli - Dreams Of The Storyteller Book 13

The Enemy Of My Enemy

Dreams Of The Storyteller Book 13

Richard Paolinelli

Tuscany Bay Books

ASIN B0CDRCQSCN

I have now read eight stories in this series. Each story has a very different, and they have all been excellent. My introduction to Richard’s works was a piece in the anthology Cracked. I have picked up several anthologies he has contributed to, that I have not got around to reading yet. I have also read 2 novel, Galen’s Way, and Galen’s Blade and eagerly await the two forthcoming offerings in that series. I have also picked up several of his other novels after reading the first few stories in this series.

After the few stories by Paolinelli I have read I am now trying to read one a week until I have read his whole back catalogue. Several of his stories and novels are towards the top of my ‘to be read pile’.

Richard is not only an author but the driving force behind Tuscany Bay Books, I have read many volumes from the Bay by a number of authors and all have been well worth the read. This was one of several new short stories that dropped in the collection Dreams Of The Storyteller. There are now 20 volumes in that collection, the first 2 date from 2014, 1 from 2022, and the rest have dropped in 2023.

After reading the first story I went back and grabbed the whole collection. Much like I did with Declan Finn last year with reading a story a week until I have read all he has published.

At the time of reading this I have read 373 books so far this year. This is an excellent story from Paolinelli’s masterful pen. I said in a previous review that I have been aware of Richard and his works for a few years now. It is my loss that I did not dig into his works earlier. Don’t make my mistake, pick some up and give them a read! The description of this story is:

“The end of human civilization began mid-afternoon Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, October 18, 2027.

Those lucky enough to survive the sudden worldwide calamity had many names for what happened. The outbreak, the wave, the rise. Over the years that followed, the term that won out was a much simpler one.

Z-Day.

Zombies were so prevalent in popular culture before the collapse that they were a well-worn staple of late-night comedy routines. The reality of cannibalistic undead wasn’t quite so funny. Many died or succumbed to the infection after freezing in confusion, thinking the entire thing an elaborate prank.

Others survived.

These are their stories:

When the Zombie Apocalypse struck, Connor Osborne and his family took shelter in a remote island off the Alaskan coast. They have shelter and enough livestock and seed to survive as long as it takes,

The one thing they lack is fuel. Twice a year Connor must make the journey to the mainland to gather enough wood to get the family through.

But on this trip Connor will find himself hunted by a pack of zombies. His flight to safety brings him face-to-face with several grizzly bears.

Literally caught between a rock and a hard place, Connor will discover the meaning of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

This story was originally published in the anthology, Places Beyond The Wild.”

I have the anthology that this story originally came from. And there are works from a few authors I really enjoy. I have just not got back to it yet. I look forward to rereading this story when I get to it. This story is set in a post zombie apocalypse world. It is the story of a husband and a father trying to do his best to look after and protect his family in this new world. But while out on a trip on his own for supplies thighs go very badly. Zombies and bears oh my!

This is a great short story. It draws you in, it keeps your attention, and leaves you wanting more. I would love to see other stories set in this world. Both before and after these events.

This is an excellent story in a wonderful collection. I can easily recommend it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of all books from Tuscany Bay click here.

Books by Richard Paolinelli:

Maelstrom

When the Gods Fell

The Calling

The Last Lonely Trail

A Zombie Christmas Carol

The Woman Returns

…

Infinity Series: