A Bird in the Hand

The Heroka Stories #0.2

by Douglas Smith

Aurora Award Finalist story from a multi-award winning author "Doug Smith is, quite simply, the finest short-story writer Canada has ever produced in the science fiction and fantasy genres, and he's also the most prolific. His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think." —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Hominids and FlashForward "A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice." — Charles de Lint "One of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction." — Library Journal Lilith Hoyl awakes to find herself a prisoner in a top-secret government laboratory. To win her freedom, all she needs to do…is prove that she’s human. If you enjoy shape-shifter and conspiracy stories, you'll enjoy this tale. “It's a very interesting turn-around story, in which our expectations are upended at the last minute. ...a good read, and sadly, far too relevant to our own present world.” —The Billion Light-Year Bookshelf “...great fun to read” —Dreams and Speculations “...has a woman fed chemicals to prove whether she’s human or a shape-shifter, which is also rather harrowing but well worth reading to see where it will end.” —SF Crowsnest Reviews ABOUT THE Doug is an award-winning author of speculative fiction, with over a million words of fiction sold and over a hundred short story sales to professional markets in thirty countries and two dozen languages. He has published three short story Chimerascope (ChiZine Publications, Canada, 2010), Impossibilia, (PS Publishing, UK, 2008), and just recently, La Danse des Esprits (Dreampress, France, 2011). Doug has twice won Canada's Aurora Award for speculative fiction, and have been a finalist for the international John W. Campbell Award, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation's Bookies Award, and the juried Sunburst Award.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2011

About the author

Douglas Smith is a multi-award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction.”

His latest work is the multi-award-winning YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, and The Lost Expedition). Other books include the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World; the collections, Chimerascope, Impossibilia, and La Danse des Esprits (translated); and the writer's guide Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction.

His short fiction has appeared in the top markets in the field, including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, InterZone, Weird Tales, Baen’s Universe, Escape Pod, On Spec, and Cicada.

Published in 27 languages, Doug is a 4-time winner of Canada's Aurora Award, most recently in 2023 for The Hollow Boys, as well as the juried IAP Award for the same book. He's been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC's Bookies Award, Canada's juried Sunburst Award, the juried Alberta Magazine Award for Fiction, and France's juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.


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Reviews

[Marion Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story grabs you with the opening and keeps you riveted to the end. It's the first I have read of Douglas Smith's work and it will NOT be the last. He's an author I'll definitely follow.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Smith has repeatedly amazed me with his ability to build and create living worlds in his short stories and Bird In The Hand gets the same treatment. We’re very quickly transported to the world of the Heroka, Shape-Shifters or people that can become animals, and find ourselves with a kidnapped woman. After just a few pages in you feel like you understand the world even if somethings are a mystery, like why have these two apparent scientists captured this woman and what do they hope to achieve? The authors writing is spot on, as always, and he takes us through a thrilling story crammed full of emotion and back story that you’ll wonder how he does it in such a short book. There’s mystery, twists and love and hope all wrapped up in an entertaining tale. I really can’t recommend this author and his writing highly enough.

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredible short story brought great sorrow and great relief. I love all of Douglas Smith’s works but the Heroka tales are my favorites. And this Heroka short brought tears to my eyes but satisfaction to my heart. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not always a fan of shape shifting themes. However the Heroka tales from Douglas Smith are a different matter. They are simply excellent from start to finish and definitely leave you wanting more, the sign of a truly great story!

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story about how shapeshifters get back at those who wish to eliminate them.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story has a great hook! The opening dialog drew me in, and the narrative raptly held my attention until the bitter end. It's beautifully written, and for a short story, it does a lovely job of slowly revealing its surprises. The only reason I didn't rate this 5 stars is because the story is rather dark, and I personally prefer somewhat lighter fare. I'm partial to happy endings, and there are no happy endings here. This is a story about monsters.

If you enjoy speculative fiction short stories, particularly dark fantasy or horror, I definitely recommend this. Although this is the second book in The Heroka Stories series, it can be enjoyed on its own. However, I also highly recommend the first book, Spirit Dance (The Heroka Stories Book 1).

I received a free copy of this story through the author's mailing list and voluntarily decided to leave an honest review.

[Susan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story. Only fault with it, it’s too short. I no sooner started to get involved with the story, than it finished. The rest of the pages were about Douglas’ other books, many of which I already have and read.

It’s a good introduction to the Heroka stories and is very enticing, if you enjoy shapeshifter stories, humour and action, you’ll be sure to enjoy it too.

[Anne Kinslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Kinslow.
It took me a little while to get into this book but once I did, it was interesting.
Well worth the read.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bird in hand would seem to be a pheonix, the victim of a CSIS experiment which she turns on her tormentors. Douglas Smith delivers his usual offbeat tale.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize when I downloaded this on my kindle that it's a short story--a very short story, actually. Now I'm kinda bummed because my interest was piqued by the shapeshifters. If my natural form was a phoenix, there's no way I'd ever hang out in human form. Just sayin.'

[Delena constant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

I thought I had another book! Short parts were great.I would read a book by Douglas Smith.has unique way of writing.