Silently in the Night


Fiction - Anthology
176 Pages
Reviewed on 09/26/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

As a youngster growing up in the cobbled streets of Stockport, UK, Clayton Graham read a lot of science fiction. He loved the ‘old-school’ masters such as HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham. As he left those formative years behind, he penned short stories when he could find a rare quiet moment amidst life’s usual distractions.
He settled in Victoria, Australia, in 1982. A retired aerospace engineer who worked in structural design and research, Clayton has always had an interest in science fiction and where it places humankind within a universe we are only just starting to understand.

Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world, and is a member of Australian Geographic.

Combining future science with the paranormal is his passion. Milijun, his first novel, was published in 2016. Second novel, Saving Paludis, was published in 2018. They are light years from each other, but share the future adventures of mankind in an expansive universe as a common theme.
The sequel to Milijun, entitled Amidst Alien Stars, is at the editing stage, with release scheduled for late 2019.

In between novels Clayton has published Silently in the Night, a collection of short stories where, among many other adventures, you can sympathize with a doomed husband, connect with an altruistic robot, explore an isolated Scottish isle and touch down on a far-flung asteroid.

He hopes you can share the journeys.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

Without intending to disparage our contemporary writing world, I must observe that Silently in the Night by Clayton Graham harkens back well and fondly to the golden years of speculative short-story fiction collected from great masters like Asimov, Bradbury, and Clarke. In addition to clever and intriguing plots, never gratuitously complicated but always with a satisfying twist, these simple but startling tales unfold with zeal and concisely controlled acceleration. Or, to switch analogies, imbibing them is like popping juicy morsels on impulse rather than methodically pacing oneself at a sumptuous feast. Something to be consumed immediately upon the craving. Something to make one smile. And you will. You will also, at times, find yourself quite amazed.

One of the more amazing tales in Clayton Graham’s short story collection of speculative gems, Silently in the Night, is the one titled Vanguard, about a drilling operator on the dark side of the Moon who finds what he’s been seeking – a cavern big enough to economically house his mining colony’s entire population – only to discover something quite extraordinary and dramatically life-changing hidden within its dark and glassy walls. Something once alive. Maybe still. And, most certainly, not human. Graham handles this immediately enticing and engaging plot with the same brisk pace as all his other stories, lending a subtle sense of urgency to whatever revelation ultimately awaits … perhaps even this perfectly karmic ending. Populated by aliens and robots and plenty of frail humans, Silently in the Night exposes the relationships between them, and what it means to live and die. Morsels to enjoy.

K.C. Finn

Silently In The Night is a collection of sixteen different fiction tales in the speculative and thriller genres, and was penned by author Clayton Graham. Designed to intrigue, entertain, thrill and shock, these short and fascinating stories give bite-sized insight into the bizarre lives of other people. The titular tale is one of sudden and unexpected disappearance, whilst others explore such interesting concepts as the predestination of a time of death, being trapped on an alien planet, facing the threat of abduction and what the true meaning of isolation really is. In every tale, an atmospheric build-up leads to a short and sharp conclusion, making them ideal quick reads for work breaks or at home.

Author Clayton Graham has a talent for concept, and he delivers thought-provoking and entertaining tales throughout this concise collection of thrilling and mysterious ideas. Though the stories don’t allow for much emotional investment in their characters, the settings and situations explode into reality with dynamic descriptions and clever introductions that allow readers to step right into a whole new way of thinking. I particularly liked the stories which started in our own contemporary setting and then took a twist, but those readers who enjoy speculative and extra-terrestrial work will find some rare treats and original ideas within these pages. Floating was a real favorite for me, as a horror fan, and overall Silently In The Night is sure to satisfy cross-genre fans who like the weird and wonderful elements of darker worlds yet to be discovered.

Scott Cahan

Silently in the Night by Clayton Graham is a collection of 14 short stories and two book excerpts by the author. Many of the entries have a science fiction bend to them while others are rooted more in today’s world. Every story has an element of the supernatural and most of them have a twist ending. Topics range from a missing spouse to the discovery of aliens on the moon. These are intelligent stories that make you think, much like the classic TV series, The Twilight Zone. Many of these stories would have been right at home on that show.

I had never heard of Clayton Graham before I read Silently in the Night, but now I know that he writes the kind of short stories and novels that I enjoy. Not only are his short stories intelligent, supernatural, and contain a surprise ending, but they also tell a complete story. Granted, they are simple stories, but complete none the less. I’ve read many short stories by other authors who seem content to stay in one moment in time, and I’m sure many readers enjoy that type of story. I, on the other hand, like it when an author takes his characters through a full set of actions while describing their character’s transformation.

Mr. Graham has mastered that storytelling technique with the 14 short works presented here. There are also two excerpts from two of his novels in this collection. Both were very intriguing and enjoyable, even though they were obviously only a small part of the story. Both excerpts have plenty of entertainment value even in their partial form. At the same time, they both left me wanting to read more.