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L.L. Sanders began writing short horror stories as a hobby in elementary school more then twenty years ago. Now she lives her dream of writing post-apocalyptic romances under Leslie Lee Sanders, and continues to write haunting tales of horror with a sci-fi blend under L.L. Sanders. She resides in Queen Creek, Arizona, with her husband, three daughters, and a wild beast she calls her imagination.
Reviewed by Kathi Nidd for Readers' Favorite
Thought provoking tales are told in the short story collection, The After, by L.L. Sanders. The collection tells three very different stories, all relating to the mysteries of the afterlife. In "The After," we meet the mature and thoughtful Wilshire, as he guides his young and eager protégé, Jonah, through training on the control panel of the "After." Recalling his own life experiences, including the "Big Event" that forever changed the world, Wilshire explains to Jonah how the "After" is a reward to those who suffer through life. Jonah learns well, but as he uncovers the truth of how the "After" is created, he questions a deep ethical dilemma, one which must be faced with his first subject, Wilshire himself.
"The Unveiling" tells the story of Gerald, a Nobel Prize-hoping scientist experimenting with time travel, along with his assistant Angela. As Gerald pushes himself through "the veil," he arrives in a room in the 1920s where he recognizes an old man in a wicker chair. But upon returning to the present, he is unaware of who it is. As the story progresses, Gerald pushes himself into longer and more life-threatening experiments in his desire to return to the room. Finally arriving fully in "the veil," he uncovers the truth and leaves the reader deeply engaged in the unpredictable and twisted ending.
The final story in the collection, "Dead End," follows geriatric care worker Teresa in her quest to understand whether people are aware when death is lurking. Researching recent deaths at the Sunrise Senior Living home, Teresa takes notes and does her best to uncover the behavior of those who have passed just prior to their deaths. Teresa's character and longing for an understanding of the predictability of death stems from the loss of her own father who committed suicide without warning. As Theresa continues her work, she takes care of Edna, utilizing her own special formula of medication. As she cares for Edna and continues her research, she remains completely focused on her quest, forgetting to pay attention to what might really be the most important clues around her.
L.L. Sanders tells three extremely stirring stories that are quick to read yet stay with you a long time afterward. The ideas span from science fiction to spirituality and mystery. With three-dimensional and motivated characters, the stories hold the reader's attention and interest until their very unpredictable endings. All three stories are very different yet hold the common thread of the afterlife and all the universal questions it holds.
