"Hint fiction" is defined as "a story of 25 or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story. The various short tales in
Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer do just that: stories aren't longer than one sentence in many cases, but they explain a lot. Some of the stories of love, loss, and family require blunt statements and storylines to be comprehended. The hint fictions prove that hundreds or thousands of unnecessary filler words aren't required to tell a story that has a purpose, and makes the reader think.
One of the stories, called "Cure," goes like this:
Quote:
Triumphant, Dr. Masuyo held the frail child. After years, he finally had a cure. Outside, the sun warmed Hiroshima. And then he saw the flash.
Admittedly, the stories will be understood and appreciated for readers with enriched trivial knowledge, including history, psychology, science, and sociology. There is a whole segment dedicated on love, and a reader doesn't have to have ever felt the pains and joy of being in love, or having been loved to understand the hint fictions. Some of the themes of the stories are universally understood, such as heartache, death, trust, envy, and a life of lies. The hint fictions don't beat around the bush; the themes are right there in your face, and with many of them, the titles give half the story away.
Those whose titles tell most of the stories are those which are incredibly vague and generalised. One hint fiction called "Houston, We Have a Problem," goes like this:
Quote:
I'm sorry, but there's not enough air in here for everyone. I'll tell them you were a hero.
Without the title, the hint fiction could be applied to anything, but the title gives it context. The titles gives it a place in history (referring to the Apollo space flight mission gone initially awry), and substance.
The hint fictions allow the reader to think beyond the title and stories, though. Yes, some are defined by history, such as the one mentioned above, but those aimed specifically towards love and trust can be thought out into far more complex tales than the word-limit allows. If anything, the hint fictions allow the reader for a chance to expand on their imagination, and to really think if a story doesn't make sense. You don't always need thousands of words to get the story across; the hint fictions prove that quality sometimes does prevail over quantity.
Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer goes on sale November 1, 2010, and can be purchased on
Amazon.com and
Amazon.co.uk.