by Maria Hummel
First published 2013
A team of researchers ventures into the mysterious Kahllian Dome-Plains, where they discover both wonder and enigma in the landscape. Meanwhile, a couple finds themselves stranded beyond city boundaries with nowhere to go. Another man wrestles with his unusual appetite for rare meats while confronting ghosts from his former existence. These interconnected tales draw inspiration from Dionysus, the ancient deity of wine and divine frenzy. Each story explores how characters grapple with old grievances, current chaos, and the possibility of release. The collection examines the tension between civilization and wildness, between past trauma and future freedom. Characters must choose whether to remain trapped by their histories or embrace transformation through surrender.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, fantasy, speculative-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: grappling-with-the-past, surrender-and-release
Setting: Kahllian Dome-Plains
Period: 2014
126 pages · Paperback · Pantheon Magazine