It’s notoriously difficult to rate and review an anthology because on the one hand, you do want to mention every story and contributor and on the other, you want to have others discover new authors without any premises or expectations in mind. So let me keep this super vague but hopefully entice you to pick up Game On in the next few paragraphs.
Game On is filled with fifteen stories by star-studded contributors: Gloria Chao, Sona Charaipotra, Kika Hatzopoulou, Katie Cotugno, Isaac Fitzsimons, Kathleen Glasgow, Shaun David Hutchinson, Kim Jones & Gilly Segal, Amanda Joy, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna Meriano, Nina Moreno, Laura Silverman, Kayla Whaley and Francesca Zappia. And it’s of course the magic of anthologies that they bring you stories from your favourite authors while also introducing you to new voices you might not have heard about before. Need an example? I’d been itching to get my hands on this book because of well-known names like Francesca Zappia (and that story did not disappoint), yet after finishing all fifteen stories, I had an entire cart full of books to order at my local indie bookshop because I discovered authors like Sona Charaipotra and Anna Meriano I hadn’t heard much from before but now couldn’t wait to read more from.
What I absolutely adored about this collection is how diverse and inclusive it was. It might not seem like much to others, but for me to pick up an anthology (and believe me, I’ve read quite a lot this year) that’s not marketed directly as a queer anthology and yet for more than half of the stories to star LGBTQIAP+ characters? Chef’s kiss right there. On top of that, the characters came from a variety of different backgrounds, races and religions and I loved how, even if that wasn’t always the focus, it coloured the stories with so much authenticity and diversity.
Now, my reading experience turned out to be quite a nostalgic journey. Obviously, this book is about games and competition, about winning and losing and everything that comes with being on the right team—or the wrong one. I loved how, beyond the actual games in these stories—whether it’s Spin the Bottle, Settlers of Catan, or a fun scavenger hunt—there was always the sense of community that comes with playing games. Whether you’ve ever been part of a sports team or ever lost epically during an online gaming session, there’s usually that sense of camaraderie, which is the beauty of playing games. Games and competitions can bring people together in so many ways. And in the end, it’s not so much about winning or losing, it’s about who you’re winning or losing with. There’s also this theme of competition bringing out the best and worst in people and some stories in here discussed this so beautifully. While I obviously won’t talk about any of the stories in detail, I do want to mention one in particular.
One of the short stories follows a group playing a game called Werewolf. That story was such a throwback for me because it made me miss those summer days where my friends and I would get together after school and sit in the garden, eyes closed, waiting to be assigned “our roles” as a werewolf hunted us down, one by one. Truth be told, I hadn’t thought of that game in nearly a decade and that story just threw me back in time completely. That’s short stories at their best, in my opinion. When authors manage to momentarily transport you to this other place and remind you of the things you love(d). I hope that if you pick this up, there will be such a moment for you as well. Whether it’s in the short story that has two people falling for each other during a puzzle-filled scavenger hunt on campus, the one that finds a group of friends playing card games up on the roof during those lovely summer nights or even the one where two teams battle it out for Team Retro or Team Modern at an amusement park.
Game On is a love letter to games and competition. Whether you’re a fan of sports, board or video games, chances are there is at least one story in Game On will bring out your inner champion. With inclusive narratives and diverse characters, this anthology is a fun addition to any bookshelf!
Game On is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 18th 2022.
Will you be picking up Game On? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
From the slightly fantastical to the utterly real, light and sweet romance to tales tinged with horror and thrills, Game On is an anthology that spans genre and style. But beneath each story is a loving ode to competition and games perfect for anyone who has ever played a sport or a board game, picked up a video game controller, or rolled a twenty-sided die.
A manhunt game is interrupted by a town disappearing beneath the players’ eyes. A puzzle-filled scavenger hunt emboldens one college freshman to be brave with the boy she’s crushing on. A series of summer nights full of card games leads a boy to fall for a boy who he knows is taken. And a spin the bottle game that could end a life-long friendship.
Fifteen stories, and fifteen unforgettable experiences that may inspire readers to start up that Settlers of Catan game again.
