Thanks to Diane Donovan from Midwest Book Review for this review of “The Enigma Grid.”

“The introductory promise of The Enigma Grid delivers both a warning and an attraction that sets up a Twilight Zone-style atmosphere from the start. This supports a short story collection that lives up to its subtitle (“The Abyss Between Logic and Lunacy”) by contrasting realistic characters and situations with underlying puzzles and perceptions to challenge readers in novel, exciting new ways.

Take “Cosmic Karma: Justice,” for example. Here, an astrophysicist on the International Space Station finds himself part of a mission to the Moon to set up a base camp. It’s an endeavor riddled not just with physical and technological challenges, but a group chemistry that forms the “microcosm of humanity” by introducing conflicts nobody saw coming.

From accusations of creating space junk and notes that “everything happens for a reason” to discourses about combat situations, patriotism, Chinese spies, and an ironic demise, Craig S. Wilson excels in the kinds of concluding twists readers won’t see coming. That’s a rare talent, indeed.

Contrast this story with “A New Pair of Genes: The God Solution,” in which the People’s Republic of China, long involved in a genetic arms race with America, leads geneticist Ling Wei to participate in a dangerous concept of artificial population manipulation and reduction despite her own history, which has allowed her to survive when she should have been dead.

Over her protests (“Sir, we can’t account for how God will counter our strategy. Life has a way of evolving beyond our control.”), an experiment to halt reproductive ability turns into a nightmare affecting the future of humanity.

Shén Jiĕ’s opening salvo introduces unexpected issues of God and nature’s manipulation which delivers a hearty bang of unexpected results as Ling Wei considers a very different impact from her work.

Each story embraces hard-hitting insights, the unexpected, and a juxtaposition of logic and odd results that is thought-provoking, whether it covers social impact, psychological choice, or technological oddities.

The Enigma Grid‘s wry irony will delight readers looking for exceptional short fiction that embraces literary and social prowess while maintaining accessibility for those who like to think and be surprised by unexpected outcomes.

Libraries that choose The Enigma Grid for their collections will find it simply outstanding. Its tantalizing discoveries and revelations are delivered in a succinct format that makes the tales all the more powerful with few wasted words and maximum impact.

Diverse, engrossing, and hard-hitting, The Enigma Grid is a top recommendation for a wide audience interested in eerie short stories that make them think.”