A world of stories. A lifetime of imagination.
Blackjack is a rich and varied collection of short fiction from Mark Ellott, spanning genres, settings, and ideas gathered over decades of storytelling. From the dust and danger of the Old West to the intrigue of political corruption, from science fiction and fantasy to romance, ghost stories, and dark twists of fate, each tale offers a glimpse into a different corner of the imagination.
Within these pages, you will encounter gunslingers and lawmen, lovers and liars, ghosts and kings, spies and dreamers-characters who live, struggle, and endure in worlds both familiar and strange. Some stories stand alone; others echo and intertwine, revealing deeper connections beneath the surface.
At the heart of the collection lies a fascination with consequence-how choices shape lives, how the past lingers, and how fate can turn on the smallest of moments. Whether set on the frontier, in the corridors of power, or beyond the limits of time and space, these stories are united by a sharp eye for character and a willingness to explore wherever the imagination leads.
By turns gripping, thoughtful, and unexpected, Blackjack is a journey through storytelling itself-unpredictable, wide-ranging, and always compelling.
Review :
I devoured these stories in one blissful afternoon, transported back to the time when I first discovered the escapism of golden age science fiction, chilling ghost stories or a good Western. There's plenty of original food for thought here as well as a revisiting of some classic tropes and themes developed with a great deal of ingenuity and a wonderfully dry wit. - Rufus (Amazon reviewer)
