Cipher Sisters

by Amanda Gowin (editor), Michael Paul Gonzalez (editor), Richard Thomas

Twin sisters, discovered dead in a house. No known relatives.
No foul play.
Who are they?
Who were they?

Inspired by a true story, Cipher Sisters focuses on the lives of twin sisters Lucy and Darcy, piecing together their lives from family stories, legends, and pure conjecture. We can only learn about them from stories of people who met them in passing, knew them well, crossed them, loved them.

This is a collection of tales about two lives in abstract, filled with love, dedication, anger, hatred, fighting, success, failure, and perseverance.

106 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

I love stories. As well as scribbling them out, I help pick them at Menacing Hedge. Submit to us here:
http://menacinghedge.com/

Reviews

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good-looking book from Thunderdome Press. They always have such cool print designs. Interesting speculations from the contributors as to these mysterious twins’ lives. Many of them chose the vaudevillian, carnivalesque path, which I’d expected (would be tough to resist). Most also crafted opposing personalities for the sisters, for contrast/conflict, though others used their identicality to more ambiguous effect. On any given cluster of pages, they could be promiscuous, demure, or conniving. There were a few mediocre entries, and a couple whose overwrought prose prevented me from investing in their stories, but most were creative interpretations I enjoyed. The highlight for me was a three-story stretch of “The Cipher Sisters and Kid Nosferatu Dance the Bally-Kootch” by Edward Morris, Amanda Gowin’s “Asymmetry,” and “Darcy and Lucy Among the Flowers” by Andrew Davis.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd just like to publicly thank Michael Paul Gonzalez and Amanda Gowin for deeming my trifle of a tale worthy of inclusion alongside choice pieces like Sek Han Foo's "The Chance Meeting at the Backstage of the Apollo Theatre, Harlem NYC" and Ms. Gowin's own "Asymmetry."

Oh, and Mr. Gonzalez's glorious design work must be seen to be believed. This the best-looking book I've read since...well, IN SEARCH OF A CITY: LOS ANGELES IN 1000 WORDS. (Imagine that.)

[Suzy Blazak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had a hard time rating this book. The book consists of tales from the only people that knew these twins and a glimpse of their lives. I found the stories extremely hard to follow, and not making sense most of the time.
I can understand how close they were to each other, but other than that, I had to keep going back and re- reading hoping to make sense of the book. Although I loved the cover and might pick it up in a store because of it's appeal, other than that it was not something I could recommend to any of the readers I know.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this short story anthology is interesting: each author would write a story about twin sisters Lucy and Darcy. There are diverse backgrounds and plots here. Not all of them are of the horror genre, but it has been an enjoyable read.

My favourites are “Dance, Darling,” “A Witch in West Kansas,” and “There’s No Business Like ___.”

[Caleb Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a great way to pass a few hours. These stories are varied in quality, but the ones that hit, hit hard. grab a coffee, a blanket, and read by dim lamplight.