Debut

Debut: An Anthology of Emerging Canadian Writers and Artists
Edited by Diane Fickeria
Published by Spud Publishing
Review by Toby A. Welch  
$28.00 ISBN 9781738025503

I love trying out new writers. Their enthusiasm often reaches through their words and grabs me in a way I can’t always find with seasoned writers. After all, your next favourite writer could be one you haven’t read yet. So when Debut crossed my path, I eagerly dove in, excited to experience the works of emerging Canadian writers. 

Debut is a collection of five stories by five different writers. Each of the stories is quite different, something I appreciate as it keeps things interesting. Gnomey Birthday is about cryptozoology, the study of things that don’t exist. Think Bigfoot, living garden gnomes, and gremlins. It’s a wacky premise for a short story but it works! Silverbird: A Halfway Home Story involves creatures from folktales, things like wizards, fairies, and daemons (not demons.) Throw in a car chase, a touch of magic, and a detective and you have the makings of an intriguing story. Silver Consequences takes place in the year 4620 when life is different yet also similar. There are still people who drink too much. Archery and swords remain a way to defend yourself. But the world is filled with an assortment of interesting beings that threaten to ruin our lives. L. A. Nights involves a run-in between two men – although ‘creatures’ might be a better word – in a hotel room in Los Angeles. The physical battle they engage in is a curious and entertaining one. Perry Framling’s Desert Dangers details a Combined Special Operations Force that is out on a mission. A rocket propelled grenade hits their combat vehicle and a mass slaughter ensues. But what follows is worse: the true nightmare begins and we have to figure out if it’s real or if it’s a dream. There you have it – five great short stories! 

I hesitate to use the words “magically awesome” to describe the illustrations in Debut but I think that is an accurate label. The artwork is so detailed and engrossing, drawings that I would love to hang on my walls. While I loved them all, my favourite drawing is on the opening page of Silver Consequences. It’s an image of heavy curtains hanging in an entryway and dragging on the floor. 

The story of how this book came to life is inspiring. A handful of creatives took a leap and established Spud Publishing Inc to get their names and their work out in the world. I give them major kudos for undertaking such a project and seeing it through. As they said in their introduction, “Welcome to our Debut.”

For anyone looking for imaginative, mystical short stories, you can’t go wrong snagging a copy of Debut. It’s a fun, fresh read that delivers. 

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM