Short Stories By Foster

First, I just posted a message using the "Comments" section of this collection. I wasn't aware that this feature permanently appended these comments. (I thought it would create a new forum entry here) It seems that this feature could be abused, and that the "Collections" screen of an author is too personal an area to allow people to start appending arbitrary comments.

Anyway, I have nothing except good to say about these stories! Check out Foster's "Short Stories" collection here:

http://www.abctales.com/node/547318

I haven't read much of Foster's poetry, but the short stories are really good. All the tales have a very smooth narrative and a punchy ending. I like every one of them, but here is my personal ranking, starting with my most favorite.

1. Brick Walls. Really cool narrative. "An abundance of starch, both in clothes and character, had arrived." I can picture it! Reminds me of PG Wodehouse, both in style and typical ingenious ending.
2. Decisions. A weird and cool story, reminds me a bit of a Robert Sheckley story I once read. Great idea!
3. Cheap Thrills. Another weird and cool story, and I didn't see that ending coming. I love the perspective of the narrator.Could be a Robert Bloch story, or maybe a story by Harlan Ellison.
4. Lost Time. A bit of a change for Foster, shows a different side. Not a humorous story, but guaranteed to make you think. Would have ranked it higher, but it was personally uncomfortable to read, because I know this viewpoint too well. (The sentiment feels very genuine.) Maybe I should have ranked it higher just because of this?
5. Fish Tales. Another surprise ending. Very cool. "Simon caught a wave of pity, but with his viewpoint having been so completely reversed so quickly, he was unsure if the sorrow he felt was for her or for his own mother."
6. Faces. This is nice, but I saw the ending coming a mile away. This looks like it was a hard story to write, and it was done well.
7. Turned Tables. This might have been my favorite story, but I was hoping that Johathan was Carl. (Sorry, have to levy some criticism to this story set, or no one will take me seriously :-)

Every one of these is worthy, so don't take this personal ranking too seriously. Just get started with any one of these and you will find yourself quickly reading to the end.