Pilgrim Tales An Anthology of Fiction
ISBN 9798993935102
ASIN B0G5WZF1PV
ASIN B0G5VZ7WV8
I love reading anthologies for several reasons. First stories by authors I already know and love. Second to be introduced to new authors I have not encountered yet. And finally short fiction is a very different art form that long form pros found in novellas and novels, and I appreciate the skill and talent needed to craft a great short story. And there is no shortage of great stories in this collection! Usually when I read an anthology there are a few standout stories, a few great stories and often a dud or two. That was not the case this time, there is not a weak story in the collection.
The description of the volume is:
“A pilgrimage is often thought of as a journey towards God. It can take many forms, as this collection of short stories from the Catholic Writer's Guild shows. Here we have pilgrims journeying through frozen mountains, through life, through outer space, through grief, through dinosaur-infested crags, through history, through love, and even through purgatory. Containing fifteen brand new short stories from fifteen Catholic authors, this anthology showcases work from established, award-winning novelists, alongside work from relatively unknown authors, displaying the breadth of talent within the Guild today.
Who says Catholic literature is dead?”
The contributors in alphabetical are:
Nancy Bechel
G. M. Baker
Judy D’Ammasso Tarbox
Karina Fabian
Jane Lebak
Mary McWilliams
Karen Meyer
Rietta Parker
John Ruberto
Laura Ruberto
Andrew Seddon
Mary Jo Thayer
Corinna Turner
A.R.K. Watson
Isabelle Wood
The sections and stories in this volume are:
Introduction
A Pilgrim’s Romance
Surrender
Gold In Them Hills
Pilgrimage To L5
Faithful Journeys, Hidden Sanctuaries
Pilgrim In Name Only
A Very Jurassic Pilgrimage
Not All Who Wander
Old Coffee Pots And New Beginnings
The Promise
The Day The Dome Dropped On My Head
Kyrie
Way Stations
Glorious Pilgrimage Of Margaret Henderson
The King’s Pilgrimage
About The Authors
And the stories listed with authors is:
A Pilgrim’s Romance - Nancy Bechel
A Very Jurassic Pilgrimage – Corinna Turner
Faithful Journeys, Hidden Sanctuaries - John Ruberto
Glorious Pilgrimage Of Margaret Henderson - Mary Jo Thayer
Gold In Them Hills - Karen Meyer
Kyrie - Andrew Seddon
Not All Who Wander - Rietta Parker
Old Coffee Pots And New Beginnings - Judy D’Ammasso Tarbox
Pilgrim In Name Only - Laura Ruberto
Pilgrimage To L5 - Karina Fabian
Surrender - Isabelle Wood
The Day The Dome Dropped On My Head - Mary McWilliams
The King’s Pilgrimage - G. M. Baker
The Promise - A.R.K. Watson
Way Stations - Jane Lebak
I read this volume while travelling. It was excellent to pick up and read a story here and there, while on a journey to visit family. The dedication states:
“Dedicated to all the pilgrims, past, present and future
May God bless you on your journeys with insight, love, and mercy.”
And after the dedication is this quote:
“The whole journey of life is a journey of preparation…to see, to feel, to understand the beauty of what lies ahead, of the homeland towards which we walk.”
―Pope Francis, April 2013
Catholic fiction is nothing new, even Catholic Science Fiction has been around for 100 years now. One of the contributors to this collection even edited two anthologies, the first the year before the Guild formed. Those volumes
Leaps of Faith - 2008
At least one other contributor from those earlier collections appears again in this volume. Classic Catholic Science Fiction includes the likes of A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr., to nearly anything from Gene Wolfe. One of the best -known collections was edited by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley called Sacred Visions. But the difference is this collection as mentioned spans genres. We have contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and even one approaching dystopian. But across all the stories we have the theme of pilgrimage and the centrality of faith.
I will freely admit I am a huge fan of the works of Turner, Fabian, Watson, Lebak and Seddon, having read multiple from each of them, if not all their works. I have also previous read works by Mary Jo Thayer and G. M. Baker and enjoyed both of them. As such, just over half the stories were new authors to me.
That being said I absolutely loved the new Rescue Sisters Story and the new unSPARKed offerings in this collection. I also really appreciated A Pilgrim’s Romance by Nancy Bechel, and seeking God’s will and direction. Another that really stuck with me was Gold In Them Hills by Karen Meyer, it had lessons I needed to be reminded of, for myself and my kids. The story by Judy D’Ammasso Tarbox called Old Coffee Pots And New Beginnings was really moving and I specifically shared the anthology with 2 friends mentioning that story. Way Stations by Lebak left me with an even greater urgency to be praying for souls in purgatory. Barker’s The King’s Pilgrimage is excellent historical fiction. I enjoyed the stories so much I have added others but most of the contributors to my ‘wish list’.
I must state I am surprised it took the guild this long to publish an anthology. I remember when the guild formed nearly 20 years ago, at the time I had a student membership, as a reviewer, it was fascinating to watch the organization grow. And this collection was so great I would not hesitate to pick up the next they release. This is an excellent collection of stories across genres and styles. There is definitely something for everyone. And to be honest the faith in these fictional stories is inspiring across the whole collection. This is a great anthology I can easily recommend.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
For all review of books by Karin Fabian click here.
For all review of books by Corinna Turner click here.
For all review of books by Jane Lebak click here.
For all review of books by A.R.K. Watson click here.
For all review of books by Andrew Seddon click here.
