Unlocked: A Paper Lantern Writers Anthology
The eight stories in this anthology are linked by a wooden chest with a heart-shaped lock. The most recent story is presented first, and each story takes the reader further back in history. When we first encounter the chest, it is in the possession of an aging hippie tarot reader in Berkeley in the summer of 1972. In the last story, we meet a princess in medieval Ireland, who is about to participate in a Solstice ritual that mixes Christianity with ancient Celtic rites.
The stories vary in style, as well as in place and time. The Ireland story employs both bawdy humor and a touch of mysticism. But, at its heart, it is a family story – albeit a very violent and earthy family. The collection also includes a thriller, a story of lost love, a mystery, and a couple of stories of women’s liberation. The stories are definitely aimed at a female audience. All of the authors are women, and all of the main characters are women. Many of the themes involve the specific problems of women in their eras.
The approach of moving backward in time is effective. I was very interested in following the chest backward to its origin. As with most short story collections, I liked some stories more than others. But I think any woman would find at least a few stories to like in this anthology.
