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D H Schleicher
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When We Come Back: More Stories Kindle Edition

by D. H. Schleicher (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
When We Come Back is the startling new collection where D. H. Schleicher explores both recent history and visions of the future through literary and speculative fiction. Some stories traverse how everyday people are impacted by events like the global pandemic, the Great Recession or the dot com bubble. Other tales paint a dystopian world post climate catastrophe or a far-flung future where an evolution in AI produces surprising results. Across these stories, characters struggle to connect, find meaning, and move forward in the face of sometimes tragic and always shifting headwinds.

Find your way back in the following stories:

Our Recent History:
    • Lost Cat, Very Skittish
    • Molly on the Ferry
    • Coldspace
    • Puddle Jumpers
    • In the Year 2000
    Visions of Our Future:
      • Mischief, Muskrats and Mudslides
      • Commuter's Sentence
      • When the Door Opens
      Bonus Story from And Then We Vanish
        • When Night Falls on Niagara
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        Previous slide of product details
        1. Print length
          81 pages
        2. Language
          English
        3. Accessibility
          Learn more
        4. Publication date
          January 24, 2023
        5. File size
          1.1 MB
        6. Page Flip
          Enabled
        7. Word Wise
          Enabled
        8. Enhanced typesetting
          Enabled
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        Editorial Reviews

        Review

        When We Come Back is an insightful look into the past, present, and potential future for humanity and modern technology, capturing the different ways that technology impacts, and may continue to impact, our lives. - Write Now Philly

        From the Author

        When We Come Back features a story (Lost Cat, Very Skittish) that takes place in the fictional town of West Falls, which became the setting for my subsequent novel West Falls Revisited.

        Of the other stories, I am especially proud of the "stretch" stories, including my first foray into science fiction with the story When the Door Opens...

        Thank you for your interest, and I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did writing them.

        Product details

        • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BM5594TY
        • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mabus Publishing
        • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
        • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 24, 2023
        • Language ‏ : ‎ English
        • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
        • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
        • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
        • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • Print length ‏ : ‎ 81 pages
        • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • Customer Reviews:
          4.2 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

        About the author

        Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
        D H Schleicher

        D H Schleicher

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        Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

        D.H. Schleicher’s latest novel, West Falls Revisited, launched in the summer of 2024. He is also the author of two thematically linked short story collections, When We Come Back (released in 2023), and its predecessor, And Then We Vanish (released in 2020). His earlier novel, the historical thriller Then Came Darkness, plumbs the depths of greed, revenge, and family dysfunction during the Great Depression. He currently resides in the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and son.

        Customer reviews

        4.2 out of 5 stars
        24 global ratings

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        Top reviews from the United States

        • CamReads
          5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative Short Fiction
          Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023
          Verified Purchase
          "When We Come Back" is a collection of short stories by author D. H. Schleicher that bring a new take and twist to both recent history and speculation on the future. It's a wonderful short read experience with a nice variety of writing styles and presentation. I particularly enjoyed both "Lost Cat, Very Skittish" and "Puddle Jumpers". Highly recommended for readers who enjoy well-written, imaginative short fiction.
          One person found this helpful
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        • A.J.
          4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting collection of stories relating to the present and future
          Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
          Based on the synopsis of this book, I was anticipating a bit more science fiction in the stories. The first half of the book focuses on stories predominantly from recent history (the year 2000 up to now). The last half delves into future possibilities, but there was only one story that really struck me as true science fiction (see more about that below.)

          The stories featured an array of interesting characters, but weren’t related to one another. The collection follows a distinct theme (see synopsis), but otherwise, each can be read alone without relying on the others. Some left me thinking about events from the past, while others made me wonder what we’re in store for in the future.

          Many of the future-based stories were dystopian in nature and painted a grim future for humanity. But the last one, “When the Door Opens,” was a story of hope. I loved the concept of that story (and it was also the only one I’d really classify as science fiction, as it dealt with sentient AI and space travel.)

          When We Come Back is a quick read, and one that I believe would hold a broad appeal, as it’s fiction relevant to present times.
          One person found this helpful
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        • Kindle Customer
          3.0 out of 5 stars Vague
          Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024
          Verified Purchase
          Stories with no endings do not appeal to me. Instead of short stories, it should be called short meanderings. I was not amused.
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        • Michael
          5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful collection of stories!
          Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023
          Verified Purchase
          When We Come Back is a wonderful collection of stories. It especially excels in the second half when the theme shifts to speculation about the future. The final story, When the Door Opens, is the highlight of the collection with a surprising twist that gives a great conclusion. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Schleicher's collection!
          One person found this helpful
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        • Margaret Adelle Laupp
          5.0 out of 5 stars Great for thinking of the passage of time
          Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2023
          I've been a fan of this author's work, so when they offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!

          Short story collections are always hard to review without getting into the nitty gritty of each specific story, but I did like the overall tone of past and future. A lot of people consider the 1990s to the 2000s too recent to write about, but it's nice to get a chance to look back at them. Although one story had a whiff of "friend-zoned" that wasn't great.

          The future stuff is all pretty dire and very cli-fi focused, save for the last future story, "When the Door Opens." Not sure I understood the science or mechanics of what it was showing, but I liked the idea of things stretching across history. I also loved "Commuter's Sentence" if for no other reason than the image of a bunch of monkeys scampering across icy buildings.

          I also liked that it included one of the more notable stories from When We Vanish. I honestly think that story probably fits better in this collection than that one.

          All in all, a great short story collection for anyone that likes thinking really hard about the passage of time.
          One person found this helpful
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        • John W StClair
          5.0 out of 5 stars 9 stories that will make you think!
          Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
          D.H. Schleicher's previous work, the terrific novel “Then Came Darkness,” was just about the best book I read in 2022. So I honestly was champing at the bit to dive into his latest collection of short stories, “When We Come Back.” These eight tales, with a bonus one, will transport you directly into the middle of some harrowing, thought-provoking, and purely atmospheric worlds. The author's gift of imagery and prose are a delight to the reader, and I admit I was fully immersed within this expansive universe. Each story is unique and well crafted.

          Three stories in particular from the collection will have me thinking about them for some time to come—which I consider to be the biggest compliment one can give to an author. “In The Year 2000,” “Commuter's Sentence,” and my personal favorite, “When the Door Opens” will completely enthrall your imagination. The author has full command and a gift for language, which makes the writing seem effortless. As an author myself, I am jealous!

          I urge you to go and pick up this delightful compendium!
          One person found this helpful
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        • Harriett Helfand
          5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stories!
          Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2023
          When We Come Back is D.H. Schleicher’s second volume of short stories. Each is provocative, often fantastical, and graced with a dark snap of humor.
          The neighbors of “Lost Cat, Very Skittish,” each with their eyes on the other, are bound together by Mr. Periwinkle and his owner’s angst. The star of the story is the esteemed lost cat, and the author’s rendering of his personality is priceless.
          The characters’ longings and foibles permeate the stories. The lonely woman in “Molly on the Ferry,” the suburban couple of “Puddle Jumpers,” and other denizens of the present, past, and future populate these poignant, probing stories. Schleicher’s evocative words implant scenes in our imagination of the landscape, the unspoken words between women and men, and the hopes and fears of children.
          D.H. Schleicher is a rare talent. His ability to combine darkness and light and create vignettes that leap from the page to our imagination is a gift to readers everywhere. We can only look forward to more of his clever and superbly written work
          2 people found this helpful
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        Top reviews from other countries

        • David Arrowsmith
          5.0 out of 5 stars He’s done it again
          Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2023
          Verified Purchase
          I loved Schleicher’s first collection, and this is more of the same - in this best possible way. I devoured it. So much so, I’m certain I’ll have to go back to it soon to re-read in a more measured manner to truly appreciate it. If you like smart, atmospheric and emotional short stories then give this a go. It’s great.
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        • Momus Najmi
          5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant collection
          Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2023
          Verified Purchase
          Well written brilliant collection of bite size easily digestible short stories.
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        • Rachel Dray
          5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing bite size reads
          Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2023
          Verified Purchase
          Fun and intriguing, perfect to fit in between jobs around the house.
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