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Our goal is to bring compelling, meaningful, insightful fiction and poetry to you on a regular basis. Something you can ponder and gnaw on. Something to bring light, or at least, growth and understanding to our readers on a regular basis. No frivolous pieces here. Your time is too valuable. We're serious about our words, and are selective in what we present to you, sifting through the mountains of words to pull out the diamonds.
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We hope you enjoy the great new Blue Lake Review!
--Mitchell & Diana
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Fiction Editor Mitchell Waldman's novel The Visitor is a unique blend of science fiction, social commentary, and human drama, with dystopian and literary elements. It explores identity, alienation, social and political conditions, and government overreach in our current society from the viewpoint of an outsider--an alien spirit which has replaced that of a human after an automobile accident--or is he really just a human soul affected by a traumatic brain injury?
What reviewers have been saying about The Visitor:
Original, clever, imaginative, compelling, and a fun, fascinating read from cover to cover, The Visitor by Mitchell Waldman is an extraordinary and recommended pick for all dedicated science fiction fans. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition of The Visitor from All Things That Matter Press is also available in a digital book format.
-- Midwest Book Review (Small Press Bookwatch)
Mitchell Waldman's book, The Visitor, presents an interesting premise: someone wakes up in some else's body on what might be a completely different world. From the start you wonder, is it for real, what happened to Ash, or is he just feeling the effects of the accident?. . . . I liked the concept and the nuance of today's America as this passive observer begins to 'learn to be human.' The story's strongest point is its offbeat observations, as the protagonist sees the world in an entirely different context to most people, making it quite insightful at points. Here is where author Waldman did an excellent job in making this fantasy a 'thinking fantasy' for this reader. If you want to laugh and think, this is the book for you today. — World Book Reviews
The Visitor by Mitchell Waldman melds sci-fi with human drama. It also throws in biting commentary of a dystopian nature. That nature is pretty much what is currently unfolding in the U.S. The strong-arm type of arresting and detaining of illegal immigrants in the novel is exactly what is happening in the U.S. right now. The messages in the media that are being constrained by the government in the novel appears to be happening in real life in the U.S. And the unhinged President in the novel, Wolff, parallels a lot of Donald Trump's words and actions. If you like a good story that blends science fiction with human drama with dystopian elements thrown in The Visitor is something you should read. Even if you're a die-hard conservative who aligns with the current U.S. President, this is a good read. It just might get you to think about your choices.
— BVS Reviews
A reflective dystopian sci-fi novel, "The Visitor" by Mitchell Waldman, explores themes of identity and social control through the story of Ash, who perceives himself as an off-world spirit in the body of Edward Fleishman after a life-altering accident. He encounters uncertainty regarding his identity as he wakes up to an unfamiliar spouse and a society enveloped in surveillance. The narrative's tension hinges on whether his experience is an alien possession or a result of neurological trauma, maintaining ambiguity throughout. The novel effectively critiques contemporary life by focusing on the pressures of bureaucracies and "helpful" authorities, transforming mundane interactions into tests of identity and consent. Influences from authors like Orwell and Philip K. Dick resonate through the reflective voice that prioritises characters' inner struggles over dramatic spectacles. . . .Waldman's writing style is steady and introspective, offering a minimalistic worldbuilding approach that invites readers to perceive dystopia through implications rather than overt descriptions. This book appeals to literary-oriented sci-fi enthusiasts drawn to themes of embodiment and memory, seeking a narrative filled with introspection and social critique rather than high-concept action. . . Overall, "The Visitor" is recommended for those who appreciate psychological complexity. — Book Reviews Cafe
A unique blend of sci-fi and culture-fiction, this is a story unlike you've ever read before. The Visitor by Mitchell Waldman is an emotional thrill ride through otherworldly storytelling. Check out The Visitor if you've been in a place where you want introspection and a change of sci-fi pace.— Justin Alcala, author of A Dead-End Job
You can check it out on Amazon here.
Poetry Editor Diana May-Waldman's book A Woman's Song has received strong praise for its raw emotional power and unflinching honesty. The poetry collection explores the complexities of womanhood—touching on themes like violence, inequality, love, lust, and resilience—with a voice that is both fierce and tender.
Readers have described it as “kick to the gut” poetry—unfiltered, passionate, and deeply moving. The Book Commentary calls it “a gorgeous collection” that captures the ache of longing, the beauty of friendship, and the contradictions of desire and tenderness. One reviewer highlighted the poem “Penis” as emblematic of the book’s bold, confrontational tone, while others noted the vivid imagery and lyrical intensity throughout.
If you’re drawn to poetry that doesn’t flinch from the hard truths but still finds space for beauty and strength, this one might resonate deeply.
Some of the reviews:
In A Woman's Song, author Diana May-Waldman's poetry portrays many challenges of being a woman--a surprising amount for such a slim volume--sad, loving, remembering, and suffering. Her evocative voice speaks clearly to many women as she shares her full life. Perhaps she offers the best description of her collection of poems in the dedication to her daughters, "who understand that we are born female and become women through life's experience." May-Waldman does not hold back. I, a somewhat reticent person, admire her ability not only to acknowledge the truths in her life, but also to have the courage to share them not only with her family (the book is also dedicated to her mother and her husband) but with the world-at-large, and to me, sitting on a sofa in Houston, Texas. From life before birth, through parents, courtship, love, marriage, and unhappiness, May-Waldman manages to catch the unevenness of life while singing its songs. Her ability as a poet and writer come through clearly. A Woman's Song would be a fine resource in a women's writing group. I relished this book for May-Waldman's clear ability as a poet, and as a writer. Almost every selection could be used as a writing prompt allowing the participants to explore their own experiences, emotions, and memories of what it is to be a woman. -- Story Circle Reviews
A Woman's Song by Diana May-Waldman is a gorgeous collection of poetry that is as exciting as it can be, a collection that uncannily captures the essence of womanhood. In these poems, readers will hear echoes of longing, feel drawn into the currents of passionate encounters, understand the ache of wanting a man or seeking revenge, savor the beauty of friendship, and be pulled into a place — in the deep recesses of the heart — where a woman finds her strength and her weakness. The poem "Penis" sets the tone for the raw emotions that are noticeable in Diana May-Waldman's poetry, and she says it as she feels it: "I want a penis / I want to give birth to it / So I can teach it to be nice. / Teach it to be gentle..." She examines family connections and memories. For instance, in "Granny," the speaker reflects on the life and passing of a grandmother and what happens after she passes away. Friendship is celebrated in "A Phone Call to My Best Friend," in which the speaker narrates her experience speaking to a friend from a phone booth, drawing parallels between this experience and a sexual encounter: "And if chicks had dicks / and the crisp little shells of nuts / I would love her more than you." This collection handles mature themes, including rape, insecurity, violence, inequality, and more. The lyrical writing captured my heart, and the imagery, the oh-so-wonderful imagery, will fill the imagination of readers — from the tangled legs after sex in bed to the pain of loneliness, May-Waldman invites readers into the psyche of the personae and compels them to relive their moments of longing and intimacy. In one moment, one feels carried away with a destructive tide of hatred; then there is the exquisite lure of lust and then the tenderness of a loving heart. A Woman's Song is poetry that will appeal to mature women; it is raw and tender, infused with sensual imagery and rhythms that mimic the climates of the heart. -- The Book Commentary
Diana May-Waldman’ poetry expresses the raw feelings of loss, death, love, war, lust, hate, and fear. As a journalist, Diana has seen the dark side of life and puts into words the tangles of her mind to make sense of it. She’s also experienced her own degree of suffering as a woman and captured her feelings in poetry. Her writing is raw, harsh at times, and crude. At other times beautiful and expressive. Some of it is too dark and gritty for my taste, but I admire Diane’s ability to give voice to those who are voiceless and to capture moments in time with vivid images and intimate detail.— Heidi Skarie, author of Red Willow's Quest
You can check Diana's book out here.
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