2009 Aurora Award Finalist

Maroch, an expert in remote viewing and an ex-agent of the ‘Company,' reluctantly agrees to coach a beautiful young woman “viewer,” who bears an uncanny resemblance to his dead wife, in a scheme to locate lost paintings by Vincent van Gogh, setting off a chain of events that may alter the past and destroy both their lives.

Note: includes an afterword by the author and excerpts from many of his other stories

“'Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase, by Van Gogh' is an important story, a story that matters, and I hope that many, many people will read it. … While all three stories [in Impossibilia] showcase admirably Doug's impressive mastery of the short story form, 'Bouquet' stands out as the jewel in the crown … a beautifully written, brilliantly crafted story in which Smith raises the bar even higher than his previous works. Doug's characteristic vivid settings and compelling characters are present, driven, as always, by love, and by a mystery which keeps the pages turning as the reader is drawn ever deeper. 'Bouquet' is a story that begins in tragedy but, ultimately, ends in hope. Don't miss this one!”
— Rainbow Dragon Recommends, May 2009

“Maroch, an ex-agent of 'The Company' assists a new protégée, Laure, in the process of remote viewing...to locate lost paintings by Vincent Van Gogh...but setting off a chain of events that will affect the future. The revolution of themes and words is very fluid throughout this story, making the pace almost rhythmic, drawing you along... The ending is a perfect resolution of the paradox of backward time travel.”
—SF Crowsnest Book Reviews, January 2009

“[Smith delivers] a convincingly rendered portrait of a man struggling to maintain his psychic equilibrium in the face of powerful and destructive emotional forces. ... Right up to the story’s surprising conclusion, Smith keeps his readers guessing ... It’s an ending that shouldn’t work but somehow does, and it’s a testament to the writer’s skill that their fate seems entirely fitting. “
— The Fix, December 2008

“[A story that] follows two paths...a love affair that hits the rocks of the characters' messed-up pasts, and a scary new wrinkle on [remote viewing].”
— Locus, Jan 2009

This story was originally published in Doug's collection, Impossibilia (PS Publishing, UK); Nov 2008

Doug is an award-winning Canadian author of speculative fiction, whose stories have appeared in over a hundred professional magazines and anthologies and twenty-four languages around the world, including InterZone, Amazing Stories, Cicada, Baen's Universe, Weird Tales, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Postscripts, On Spec, and The Third Alternative, as well as anthologies from Penguin/Roc, DAW, and others.

His newest collection, Chimerascope, including an Aurora winner, a Best New Horror selection, and nine Aurora finalists, is now available from ChiZine Publications. His first collection of short fiction, Impossibilia, is available from the award-winning UK press, PS Publishing.

Doug was a finalist for the international John W. Campbell Award for best new writer, and has twice won the Canadian Aurora Award. He's been an Aurora finalist seventeen times and has several honourable mentions in The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror. A complete list of Doug's published fiction is available on his web site at www.smithwriter.com along with reviews of his stories.

An independent film producer has just finished shooting a short film based on his story "By Her Hand, She Draws You Down." He recently completed his first novel, based on his award-winning short story, "Spirit Dance."