Six Short stories by Stephanie Vlahos.
Beyond the Twilight Zone with Six Short Stories
Recently Stephanie Vlahos started creating Six Short Stories as an anthology.
The Skeleton in Enid’s Attic
“The world is full of vibrational energy. We might feel it on the rare occasion, either by choice or otherwise. It’s hard to shield against a touch from the other side.”
Inver Joe
“They say obsession is a form of madness. From what I now know, this is true. What unseen privilege led me to this moment where I might witness my demise?”
Six Short Stories. Please contact if you want an early read!
And onwards with the others.
6 Short Stories give many powerful areas to explore characters. Create these for the reader using my imagination. With that comes the value of short stories for storytelling to create and engage with the visionary aspect of how life can be lived and experienced. Realized through the written word. Recounting in words the lives of others through Speculative Fiction.
Speculative Fictionis an umbrella genre of fiction. Often used for literature, film, television, drama and radio. Even video games. It can cover science fiction, fairy tales, alternate history, dystopian, utopian and weird fiction.
I started by looking towards the work of others.
Onwards for Six Short Stories
Can you recall the power held within ‘An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’? Written by Ambrose Bierce. Your memory may not be its original written format as a short story. Maybe it comes from watching it as a film?
Kurt Vonnegut once famously commented
“I consider anybody a twerp who hasn’t read the greatest American short story, which is ‘Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ by Ambrose Bierce. It isn’t remotely political. It is a flawless example of American genius, like “Sophisticated Lady” by Duke Ellington or the Franklin stove.”
Ambrose Bierce was a very versatile writer. A pioneer of realistic fiction. Known as a great satirist and social critic. As a journalist he worked in San Francisco, as well as London.
Well known for his journalism, he also wrote fiction. Pioneering psychological horror. His work includes ghost stories, war stories and poetry.
Unknown Destinations: Ambrose Bierce for Six Short Stories
Aged over 70 Ambrose Bierce toured the sites of battles from the Civil War. then crossed into Mexico. There he accompanied the army of Pancho Villa as the Mexican Civil War raged. In one of his final letters he wrote, he commented.
“Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico – ah, that is euthanasia!”
A mystery? After writing to a friend he disappeared.
“As to me, I leave here tomorrow for an unknown destination.”
Widely recognised and celebrated by many writers in theirwork. Portrayed by the likes of Ray Bradbury, Jack Finney, Carlos Fuentes, Winston Groom and Robert Heilein.
Short stories – onwards to The Twilight Zone
Robert Enrico was best known for his making the film “La Rivière du Hibou”
In English, titled “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”. The film won an Oscar as a short. Aired as an episode in Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone (Series 5, Episode 22, aired 28th February 1964).
“A Confederate soldier is about to be hanged when the rope breaks, allowing him to escape and return home – or does it?”
Rod Serling’s introduction more than usual breaks the Fourth Wall.
“Tonight, a presentation so special and unique that for the first time in the five years we’ve been presenting The Twilight Zone, we’re offering a film shot in France by others. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival of 1962, as well as other international awards, here is a haunting study of the incredible from the past master of the incredible, Ambrose Bierce. Here is the French production of ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’.”
And in closing.
“‘An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’, in two forms: as it was dreamed … and as it was lived and died. This is the stuff of fantasy, the thread of imagination … the ingredients of the Twilight Zone.”