Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson
I had seen Around the Dark Dial by J.D. Sanderson mentioned by other readers and reviewers, and I was inspired to grab a copy for myself. Before I read the first word, I was excited about the idea of a collection of sci-fi short stories that would bring the nostalgia of the days when people gathered around their radios for entertainment. I was not disappointed! This is the second edition of the book. It was independently published on December 19, 2020, and it is 232 pages.
The foreword by B.K. Bass mentions radio dramas and early television shows and how they were self-contained stories limited to a specific time frame. The likes of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and even the original Star Trek series were discussed. This only whet my appetite, since I adore those shows and the manner in which their stories are told. I thought back to the past, when every time you tuned your radio or television dial to a program, you prepared yourself for a complete story that would transport you to a different world or dimension fueled by your imagination. Sometimes those stories ended with a satisfying conclusion, and sometimes they had an ending that would leave you thinking about the implications of what you just heard or watched. That is what happened to me with each of these stories. Sanderson gives you an opportunity to mull over a variety of shorts that hit on some rather heavy topics in today’s world complete with an entertaining sci-fi twist.
There are eleven stories by J.D. Sanderson in this collection. My favorite in the anthology is “Caller Four,” a story about a radio show discussing paranormal and otherworldly experiences and encounters. It is the one that gave me the biggest feeling of suspense and thrills in the same ilk as The Twilight Zone. I was on the edge of my seat as I read it, enjoying the plot as well as the changes the main character is experiencing. SUCH a fun read. My second favorite is a trio of stories dispersed throughout the anthology but related. “Hello There,” “Hello Again,” and “Welcome” fit together to give you a fantastic tale about alien encounters. On a nerdy, personal side note about “Caller Four,” I’m wondering if the description of Taye sitting in his chair is an homage to Riker on Star Trek TNG.
I was not expecting the reaction I had to the story “Daughter.” It left me feeling quite emotional. Since my reviews are spoiler free, I won’t give too much info. I do have an autistic son, and there were parts of this story that reminded me of him when he was younger and some of the concerns and fears I had as a parent. This story struck me, and I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t just my personal experience, but the social stigma of some characters in this story also made me love it. A few others that tickle the emotions are “The Circus Peanut Gallery” and “Rearing.” Each story in Around the Dark Dial has such a fun and unique flavor. I believe new and vintage sci-fi readers will enjoy this collection.
J.D. Sanderson can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter.
