Short Stories Books

I am not a great fan of most contemporary short stories, which tend to be literary to a fault or edgy and cynical to the point of tedium, but I picked up this collection because I loved the title and it gave me great pleasure from beginning to end. Yes, I often wanted to hit the characters over the head, but I always had to find out what happened next, and it always satisfied. The writing is clean and lively and very funny without ever losing its heart, and Erian has a remarkable talent for ending stories on the perfect note. I look forward to reading more from her.

let me start by saying that this is the only book i have ever felt compelled to review on this site, and probably will be the only one for quite some time. picking up this book was an impulse buy, as i violated two main rules in purchasing it: firstly, i don't buy authors i haven't heard of; and secondly, i shy away from women in contemporary fiction because i have gotten burned way too much in the last few years. that being said, this collection is one of the finest that i have read in my life. the protagonists are all empowered females, so the book has a feminist flair, but what is most interesting about the presentation is the decidedly anti-feminist undercurrent. erian never leaves things clear cut. when her characters makes conscious decisions that empower them, that allow them to flaunt their power and their sexuality, i found myself cringing because while these are powerful decisions, they are not exactly the right ones, and the characters know it. there is a self-destruction in the exercising of their femininity that is at once wholly new, unexpected, admirable, and tragic. erian's prose is economic and careful, and her stories taunt the reader with abrupt endings and open interpretation. she will end a story right as she leads up to a confrontation that has been building for fifteen pages, and it is here that she empowers her reader, by allowing them to take an active role in ending the story. based on what we have read, we know in our hearts how the story will end based on what we drew from the body of the prose; but our endings will all be different. erian's voice is immediate and achingly contemporary...it makes fare like the canon of oprah's book club seem inept and maudlin. this is power in storytelling. i can't wait for her upcoming novel.

I loved this collection of page-turning, dynamic short stories. Every character is engaging and tangible, and each one is faced with (or creates) situations that are by turns poignant, frightening, and hilarious. I found myself cringing at them, rooting for them, and seeing myself in them. The writer is psychologically smart and her storytelling is skillful; you find yourself drawn into each story with the first few sentences and hooked to the end. I strongly recommend this collection to anyone who likes a good read combined with substance and insight.

This book is definitely worth reading. The story about the girl losing her virginity absoulutely killed me. I was almost embarrassed while reading it, it felt so real, I felt as though I were intruding on a real person's privacy. For me that is a sign of really good writing. Looking forward to more by the author.

Left to their own devices the women of Alicia Arian's first collection of short stories often willfully set down the wrong path as a way to feel more alive, even if the consequences are dire. Her heroines are self absorbed, masochists but somehow we, as readers, are compelled to stick with them through the ugliness that is all too familiar. Arian delves into the shameful moments that all of us share without moral proselytizing. She engages us through her acerbic wit and an assured hand. One after the other, each of her stories is a tart treat. Damged goods never were so prized.

Great doggy tales (and tails) for Christmas. Hounds and murder, a great way to spend the holidays. A great gift for the mystery-animal lover...or for yourself!

You'll want to wolf this one right down, but don't! Save it for one of those long waits at the airport, tiring trips over the holidays, or enjoy it with a cup of nog and a turkey sandwich after the big day has come and gone. For humor, suspense, and sometimes even touching stories, these tales should please dog lovers and mystery fans alike. No bones about it!

I'm more of a cat person than a dog person, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the collection of short mystery stories in "Canine Christmas." There are more than a dozen stories in the collection and what's refreshing about them on the overall is their diversity and generally gentle nature. No gore, no guts, no agonizing graphical displays of violence. I selfishly bought the book for myself, but now I think I'll probably tuck it under the tree for someone else. Honestly? It just made me smile. That's worth sharing.

This collection of Christmas themed canine tales was filled with favorite and new authors for me. I loved Leslie O'Kane's contribution, as well as those by Patricia Guiver and other well known authors of dog mysteries. There were several unfamiliar authors and their stories were just as good. Each short story is very well crafted. I have to say my favorite story was by Virginia Lanier, her JoBeth Siddons series of Bloodhound mysteries has always been one of my favorites.

CANINE CHRISTMAS is a Christmas mystery anthology and each mystery includes one or more canines.

I have always said a presenter or editor could not go wrong with an anthology. But when the anthology takes on a special subject such as this one I feel it makes even more entertaining. CANINE CHRISTMAS has a wonderful variety of authors such as, Parnell Hall, whose story "Clicker Training" leads the way; Virginia Lanier who treats us with another story involving her bloodhounds; H. Robert Perry writes a `tongue in cheek' (at least that's how I took it) mystery called the "Toy Pincher," which I found it quite humorous; Mark Graham's serious story "Fencing Crib" brought some emotions out of me; Jeffrey Marks offers us a hard-to-solve whodunit in "Yellow Snow; Deborah Adams writes a very funny story about a Psycho Santa and his elves and there's more! After reading each one I am quite sure anyone who reads CANINE CHRISTMAS will find a favorite among the many tails... I mean tales.

Note: Holiday mysteries are a treat to read, especially during the Christmas season, but mind you if you stick to enjoying them only one month out of the year, you will miss out on the many, many holiday reads that have been offered in the past and will be offered in the future. For myself, I have found reading holiday books can be just as magically all year around.

I am enthusiastic about reading William Trevor. Like Chekhov, he has mastered the art of the short story. The twelve well-crafted stories of his latest collection, Cheating at Canasta: Stories, are filled with revelations about what it means to be human. Trevor is a literary genius, and with Cheating at Canasta, he wins again.

In the poignant title story, following his wife's death, while dining alone at their favorite Venice restaurant, a recent widower (Mallory) learns a lesson about marriage as a couple quarrels at a nearby table. In "The Dressmaker's Child," the life of an auto mechanic (Cahal) is changed forever when a child runs at his car with a stone on a dark rural road. In "Men of Ireland" an aging priest (Father Meade) is blackmailed by a fallen altar boy (Donal Prunty), now 52-year-old tramp. In "Bravado," 80-year-old Trevor brings fresh insights into contemporary life. These stories are nothing short of profound.

G. Merritt

I was convinced long ago that William Trevor is a master of the short story. I so enjoy luxuriating in his collections that I now intentionally pass by the occasional story in "The New Yorker" in favor of the delayed but ever-so-greater gratification of an entire volume of stories every three or four years. The latest collection of a dozen Trevor short stories is CHEATING AT CANASTA. After reading the first three stories, I feared that perhaps Trevor was slipping a tad. While quite accomplished technically, they did not touch my inner being. But the remaining stories put any such fears to rest. Once again, Trevor proves himself a master of the short story in English.

And once again, I marvel over how Trevor seems to be able to write about anything, about anyone -- to weave a story out of the unlikeliest stray rags and scraps of yarn. Here, many of the characters are from the working class or lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. Those who are not nonetheless are not among society's glamorous or smug. None of Trevor's characters (here or as far as I remember from his other works) would ever have expected their lives, public or private, to be worthy of the attention of a great writer or legions of sensitive readers. They are common, yet in Trevor's renderings they become uncommon.

A theme shared by all these stories is deception, even between two seemingly very close people. Yet the tone rarely is one of anger. Instead, it is one of gentle ruefulness, tinged with melancholy, at times approaching a world-weariness. The narrative is sparse, almost minimalistic. Yet Trevor's voice is so assured, so authoritative, but without ever being overbearing.

In truth, I can't imagine anyone who appreciates literate short stories not relishing the stories of William Trevor, including CHEATING AT CANASTA.

Life as it was lived before the ubiquitous use of anti-depressants. No Prozac in the water system here. Read and be enveloped by the emotion, the heart-wrenching reality of life in the raw. You can feel the sorrow, the embrace of an ineluctable reality, the inescapable path of Destiny. Feel the bleak damp in your bones, the drizzle on your skin. Smell the peat. These stories will linger with you for a long time. Another masterpiece by Ireland's favorite son.

The last story in this wonderful collection has a French title, "Folie à Deux," but it is about an Irishman who happens to spend a few days in Paris in pursuit of his hobby, philately, stamp collection. The philatelist is also a bit of a philanderer, but that is no more than part of the backdrop. Our hero has a modest meal in a bistro, and perhaps more than a modest amount of alcohol. More backdrop. And then it happens. His childhood reappears. I would not dream of giving away just how this occurs, but I can say that the hour or so that I spent reading this marvelous story cast a spell over my day.

And so it is with the rest of this new collection. Readers of the "New Yorker" will no doubt rediscover old friends among the other stories, but this will hardly diminish the intense enjoyment of rereading.

This volume confirms it once again: there is no greater writer in our day than William Trevor.

This latest offering by prolific author William Trevor contains a dozen short stories. The Los Angeles Times compares his stories to those of James Joyce and Alice Munro. His writing is economical, compact and full of nuance. He provides some details as to what is occurring, but much is left to the reader's imagination to determine an actual outcome; he uses subtlety quite effectively. Trevor's themes of deception, guilt, loss, regret, forgiveness and other such topics are crafted around entirely believable characters and their sometimes tenuous relationships.

The title story is about promises made and promises kept. Mallory and Julia had always dined at Harry's Bar when they traveled to Venice. Julia, who suffered from memory loss, extracted a promise from him to return there alone after she was gone. Trevor hints at Alzheimer's by the symptoms he provides but leaves her actual diagnosis to the reader's imagination. Mallory visited Julia at her place of confinement, and they attempted to play canasta as they had so many times over their years together. Though Julia could not even hold on to her cards, Mallory always made sure Julia won the game because it made her happy. Mallory is dining by himself at Harry's Bar in Venice and feels rather foolish being there just to fulfill a promise made to Julia four years previously. While eating his meal and feeling quite awkward being alone, Mallory overhears a quarrel between two other diners, and he imagines the discussion he and Julia might have had about that. As the couple prepares to leave the restaurant, Mallory engages these complete strangers in conversation.

In "An Afternoon" 15-year old Jasmin meets a 30-something fellow with whom she recently had become acquainted on a chat line. The stranger takes her to McDonald's for coffee, then to an establishment called The Gold Mine where he supplies her with a little cash to play the slot machines. He wins a prize for her --- a cheap necklace from a machine. They walk around a bit, and Clive (by now he has supplied a name, though not his actual name) offers her some alcohol. The afternoon continues on with Jasmin agreeing to go back to his place. By now it is apparent that Clive is the type of stranger all mothers warn their daughters about. The tone of the story, an undercurrent of possible danger, is quite effective.

In "Men of Ireland" the topic is guilt. The question is who is the guilty party and why. A down-and-out drifter named Donal Prunty returns home to Ireland after an absence of 23 years. While hitchiking he tries unsuccessfully to panhandle a kindly truck driver. At the mere mention of money the driver stops the truck and lets Prunty out. When Donal shows up at the rectory the next day, the old priest, Father Meade, remembers him and is none too happy to see him again. Donal hints at what the reader must assume is the sexual molestation of him when he was an altar boy. The old cleric is astounded by Donal's accusations. Why, then, does he give in and pay Donal? Is it hush money, charitable money, or money to make him leave?

Nine other stories add more twists and turns to the excellent writing. In "At Olivehill" a once-prosperous family struggles to retain their dignity and standing in the community as they are forced to sacrifice much of their land for what they believe to be a financially secure future. In "The Dressmaker's Child" a young mechanic hits and kills a young retarded girl. In exchange for her silence, the mechanic is blackmailed into an unsavory alliance with the child's unscrupulous mother.

William Trevor understands human nature and is able to breathe life into his characters. This collection of short stories would make an excellent subject for a book club discussion.

--- Reviewed by Carole Turner

Bierce writes with the eye of a skeptic and beyond the hurahhs and romantic vision of war. Given his later life the war apparently made an immpression on him which lasted till death.
The carnage, vile bloddy scenes, the death never left him and it was obvious in his writings and life. Good book to see the unvarnished truth!!

Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War soldier who participated in many bloody campaigns. And the stories contained herein this title, are the output of his frustration over the violence and senseless destruction of that time.

His trademark wit abounds throughout, which isn't of the Jay Leno "Ha-ha! Look at me! I'm a big-chinned clown!" sort, but rather of the "Look at how terribly cruel people are!" sort. The stark dialog with its terse exchange between characters, transcends the page to imprint upon the mind of the reader, that the world is a harsh foreboding place in which to attempt survival.

My favorite story is 'The Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge'. The descriptive narrative at Bierce's command, utilized to describe the hanging of a rebel spy, left me breathless and checking my neck for bruises.

Ambrose Bierce was a literary genius who never wrote his great novel. No, because such epic proportions were unnecessary. For Ambrose Bierce in short form, could convey all the depth and meaning of the universe, while resorting to only a modicum of grammar. He is the greatest humorist and wit that this country, and thereby the world, has ever produced. I miss him greatly.

This book stands as a vivid reminder, of that which led Bierce to become so wonderfully cynical. And this work should have the same effect upon all who dare read it. At least that is my hope.

You would never think of these stories as having been written in the 19th century, but they were. Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War veteran who seems almost to have tried to exorcise the horrors of the war he lived by writing about it. The result is gripping and utterly believable; the style is immediate, you-are-there, not-one-word-too-many. Not the flowery elaborate style you might have associated with Victorian prose.

The results convey the horrors of war as well as anything written in your lifetime. The story about the little boy who gets lost near his home when it is surrounded by a battle...I don't think I'll ever forget it. I won't spoil if for you but you've got to read it. If you think that 130+-year-old stories have nothing to say to you, give these a try, you will see otherwise.

Not to mention the Dover version is NOT EVEN TWO DOLLARS at the time of this writing. You spent more than the price of this book on your coffee this morning, I'll bet. What have you got to lose? Add it to a Supersaver order, there won't even be a shipping charge. Best pocket change you will ever have spent on a book.

Ambrose Bierce served during the American Civil War, serving as a cartographer and officer for the Union. In these 16 compelling tales, Bierce conveys the sights and sounds from a soldier's perspective of the war, ranging from being in the heart of battle in "What I Saw of Shiloh" to a young boy lost in the woods in "Chickamauga" to tales of the supernatural and of odd events, including "One of the Missing" -- a chilling tale of a soldier in an abandoned house -- and his famous "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." Bierce's no-nonsense style puts the reader in the heart of the action, making the reader take an active part in the events. A great collection of stories from one of America's best writers.

Ambrose Bierce was not a likeable individual; he was often acerbic, sarcastic, and even mean spirited. Nonetheless, he created remarkably good short stories. This collection shares a common theme, the Civil War, but the individual stories belong to many different genre and will appeal to a wide audience. There is no need to be a Civil War enthusiast to enjoy this collection.

Ambrose Bierce fought in several bloody battles in the west in the Civil War including Shiloh and Chickamauga, is credited with rescuing wounded comrades under fire, and was badly wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The first story - What I Saw of Shiloh - is a 17-page fascinating, occasionally critical, first person account of his participation.

The next story - Four Days in Dixie - is another first person account, but I simply do not know whether Bierce was being truthful or not. Whether the truth, an exaggeration, or perhaps a fabrication, Four Days in Dixie is entertaining reading.

The remaining fourteen stories are clearly fiction and are characterized by unusual perspectives and unexpected endings. The tales of Ambrose Bierce not only make exciting, entertaining reading, but they are often thought provoking. The endings often come as a surprise, and leave the reader pondering the unusual outcome.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a good example. This story spans several genre, is not easily classified, and has an unexpected ending. This remarkable story has been recreated as a screen play and may be familiar to many readers from black and white television reruns of the Twilight Zone series.

This collection is uniformly good and warrants more than one reading. This Dover Thrift Edition is definitely a bargain.

Gabo is something else. He is, to put it simply, an astounding writer, with a verve of language and a capacity for fleshing out great characters and fantastic stories unparalleled by any living writer. I daresay he is the best living writer, at least of those who are famous, and I doubt many who read him would disagree that he is at least among the best.

This collection of stories draws upon several other volumes, and spans a fair portion of his very long career (may he live a thousand more years!). If you have read any Garcia Marquez, you will love these little gems as much as you loved his novels-- I enjoyed "Innocent Erendira", "The Very Old Man" and "The Handsomest Drowned Sailor" best of those I recall; sadly, my copy was lost so I don't have a reference at hand.

If you have not read any Garcia Marquez: first, I recommend you do so IMMEDIATELY... there is a reason he is quite famous and a reason he is so renowned; both are very just. This volume is a nice starting point, a gateway drug into the wonderful world of Gabo. Work backwards: the early tales are good, but do not exemplify Garcia Marquez at his fullest strength, and to really appreciate him in the beginning you should really read him at his fullest capacity.

You will almost assuredly devour this little volume and end up begging for more. I recommend, of course, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (his masterpiece, and worth reading no matter what you think of his other works!!!), LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA, his COLLECTED NOVELLAS, and his more recent STRANGE PILGRIMS, which is another excellent collection of short stories.

But what are you doing reading my review? Get this book and any other Garcia Marquez you can get your hands on, and read, read, read!

You might not like or understand every story, but this is a good read.

Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez(1927 - ), or simply Gabo as he was known, was born in Columbia. He started as a journalist, then he became an editor, and a publisher. He won the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. García Márquez has lived mostly in Mexico and Europe and currently lives in Mexico City. The 80 years old author is credited with introducing or popularizing magical realism in modern literary fiction.

Some of his works have been classified as both fiction and non-fiction: Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Crónica de una muerte anunciada) (1981), tells the tale of a revenge killing, and Love in the Time of Cholera (El amor en los tiempos del cólera) (1985), is loosely based on the story of his parents' courtship. Many of his works, including those two, take place in the "García Márquez universe." The settings and characters are continued from one book to the next. The stories and novels cross genres and include magical realism: flying people, flying objects, the dead who can still think, etc. He has eight novels and numerous shorter works.

His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) (1967), has sold more than 36 million copies worldwide.

Based on his writings, it strikes the general that since he has written many short stories and only 8 novels, then it would be interesting to read some of his short stories. At the present time there are three books on the English market, although more have been printed. Five have been printed in the last 30 years, and three are still popular: the present book, The Collected Novellas, and Leaf Storm: and other Stories. Leaf storm has seven stories. The Collected Novellas has Leaf Storm plus two others: No One Writes to the Colonel and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

The present book has the widest selection since it has 26 stories, long and short, that cover both realism and magical realism. Also, some are aimed at children. I enjoyed the collection and put it in the same class as Joyce's Dubliners, or similar in terms of enjoyment.

My only slight criticism is that his children's stories seem very adult. Some will be surprised with the realism and the lack of magic in many stories.

This collection of twenty six stories by Nobel Laureate Garcia Marquez was first published as a whole in 1984, although the stories were previously published in three separate volumes. As a consequence, two translators are credited here: Gregory Rabassa for the stories from EYES OF A BLUE DOG and THE INCREDIBLE AND SAD TALE OF INNOCENT ERENDIRA AND HER HEARTLESS GRANDMOTHER, and J. S. Bernstein for the stories from BIG MAMA'S FUNERAL. Both scholars and avid followers will appreciate the chronological ordering of these tales as well as the dating of first publication from 1947 to 1972 to see the progression of a much heralded talent.

As befitting the work of a master, every story is wonderfully told, with deft touches that make each memorable. Many, particularly the early stories, deal with death, particularly the separation of consciousness from the physical body, and many explore the messiness of love. Several combine the two. In "Death Constant Before Love," a politician suffering from a terminal disease falls in love with a girl given to him as a political favor. "The Third Resignation" tells the tale of a seven year old boy who falls into a coma and then grows up in a coffin in his mother's house. Three times, he resigns himself to death. "There Are No Thieves In This Town" chronicles the foolishness of a man who steals three billiard balls from a local pool hall and who loses his wife and unborn child for it. Always, Garcia Marquez's exception talent for storytelling carries these tales alone with a romantic and mystical eye for human vulnerability. His style is never rushed, always lingering over the moment, which gives even the shortest stories the feel of a novella. Not all these stories embrace the magic realism for which the author is famous, although the reader will emerge bewitched all the same.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of the most incredible writers I have ever encountered. He is a profound storyteller. In fact, his work is like a beautiful Magritte painting filled with surreal images. I marvel at the translator. I can't imagine translating "Eyes of a Blue Dog." How on earth was he able to translate such a complicated story? It's incredible! The other stories are amazing as well. My favorites are "Big Mama's Funeral" and "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings." Each story has a special dose of magical realism. I look forward to reading other books from this author. I highly recommend this book.

Marquez takes you into a magical tour throughout this wonderful short story book that you can read repeatedly and never tire from it. He is a master at his art and always engulfs you with a subject simply by using his unique surreal style of putting things together in writing.
I have read this book several times in both languages Spanish and English, and grasped more of his "magical realism" in Spanish, simply because it was originally written in that language and there is always something lost during translation, although the English version was pretty decent. Marquez's words are vivid and visual, as you read the stories you imagine them on a movie screen.

The Man With Enormous Wings is a great one, a shabby old man with wings falls from the sky during a heavy rainfall in some tiny South American village, and since the people that live there are superstitious they assume he's an angel from the far away heavens. So they decide to put him in a chicken coop and spread the word that there is an angel in town so people from all over the place come around with bizarre ailments such as a man that could not sleep because the noise from the stars kept him awake at night. Another woman could not stop counting and she had run out of numbers to count. Well, it goes on and on and nothing happens. The freak with wings becomes sick and somehow manages to fly away flapping it's wings like a vulture while Elisenda is cutting onions.

Then there is The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, about some children, playing by the sea and seeing some bulky mass approaching them. At first, they think it is an enemy ship, but discover it is a dead body. The kids drag him into the town and all the women in the village start fussing all over him, especially because he was a big man. They clean him up but couldn't find clothes big enough for him to wear since he was a large man, and they decide to name him Esteban which means Stephen in English, I guess because he looked like a gringo. The men in the village start to get a little jealous about the women fuss too much over this dead Esteban. The women make up stories about what his life would have been like, what he might have done for a living, and felt sorrow over this orphan corpse. Eventually after the women grieve tremendously for Esteban, they gather flowers, hold a funeral, and he's thrown back into the sea (this was supposed to be a children's story).

Well, there are twenty four more wonderful stories in this book that you must read including Erendira and her Heartless Grandmother, and Death Constant Beyond Love.

This work of Sir Conan Doyle clearly shows that detective stories did not limit his interests. An excellent adventure and a well written one. What else do we need in a good book? This is very solid five stars.

This is a series of short stories that combines four rare qualities: masterful plots, superb writing, an unforgettable central character, and some of the funniest lines in literature. The central character is a retired brigadier from the cavalry of Napoleon, who is recounting his memories while drinking in a cafe. The stories he recounts are exciting and gripping adventures- indeed, just on that level they would be a pleasure to read. But what makes them extra special is the humour that stems from his extraordinarily conceitful personality- he is so full of himself, but doesn't realise it. A typical quote is the Brigadier describing a fellow cavalryman: '...he was just above the ideal height for a man, being about half an inch taller than myself.' He is also unstintingly obsessed with sex, without thinking for a moment that there is anything unusual or wrong about it..' I saved two of the pictures. One, The Crucifiction of St Benedict, I gave to my mother; the other, Nymphs Surprised while Bathing, I kept for myself.' I could read these stories again and again. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who enjoys good writing, wickedly clever plots and ironic humour.

Astounding. One of the best books I've ever read. Teaming with charm and intelligence. A.C.D. is a true Master. These stories are every bit as worthy as the impeccable Holmes tales. I even believe that Doyle's writing had matured beyond Holmes by the time he penned these tales. These stories contatin all the rich characterization and masterful plots of Holmes, but are infused with deeper insightfulness, well-conveyed through poetic language. Fully satisfying.

How Sir Arthur Conan Doyle can write a character that is irritatingly arrogant yet, charmingly loyal and naive is beyond me. The depth of Gerard's character rivals even the great Sherlock Holmes. Just as with his more famous counterpart(Holmes), Gerard is not just a hero(although there can be no questioning his bravery),he can also be a clown,(without ever realizing it)a ladies man, the greatest swordsman in the Grande' Armee(or at least so he tells us). With exciting short stories we venture through Gerard's career as a cavalry officer. He quite often bumbles his way into situations an officer of his rank should never allow himself into yet, it is these situations once gotten out of(after much daring and a little bit of luck)that build not only his career but, the readers passion for his character. These stories are an excellent companion to the more famous Sherlock Holmes stories. Where have all the writers with skills like Doyle's gone?

Well now, I know you have been here: You have found a book that is so delightful that you just cannot bear to put it down. I know that we all have experienced this. But folks, I will tell you in all honesty that I became quite ridiculously attached to this book to its final page. I brought it to work to be my next " On my break read.." but found that the first night I drove home after having left it in my locker ( as is my custom ) I felt compelled to return to work and fetch it. Thanks goodness I live about 3 miles from my workplace! Well, certainly many of us carry books with us to stores and such so that we have something to read when we are caught in the "express" lane ( ! ) and this became another one of those.
But I found myself reading it at stop lights and becoming irritated when the light changed before I had a chance to really GET anywhere...Now I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would like this character Gerard as much as I do, given that, in my mind, he stood in Sherlock's shadow, but I have become quite smitten with him! I fancied myself a Doyle fan, but had never read this series, as I was too enraptured by the mysteries and dectective stories. How sad that I waited so long to try these wonderful stories! No doubt that some of you ladies out there might be thinking that a series of stories about a soldier in Napoleon's army might be as interesting as televised fishing, or that they would only appeal to a man, but nay! Not so! If you are a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock, then you will be every bit as entertained by Gerard. Doyle's style is no different, it is just as voluptuous. Only his main character has changed. He is an entirely different sort of fellow from our man Sherlock, but no less exciting in his own way...Very much like... if you were to, perhaps, put Dr. Watson's character in Gerard's place. Oh but I cannot tell you how very enjoyable these stories are, and it has been awhile since I have felt so passionate about a character...I kept longing for more..At times there would be a turn of the phrase that would make me laugh out loud, and then a bit later perhaps I would be curled on my chair with my hand across my chest, eyes wide in amazement! - as if being TOLD these stories by an old war hero! At times the events are so marvelous ( unbelieveable bits of luck and chance..) that I am reminded of Michael Palin's "Ripping Yarns," when an entire escape scene is deleted and Micheal returns to the camera and exclaims, " What an AMAZING escape!" There is that gaffy quality to it...But at the same time, there are "scenes" where this character's humanity is so full and well spent that one feels a sincere warmth for him..
But I have prattled on long enough. If you are looking for a good read, with nearly everything a story depends upon to be a real page-turner, then by all means, DO check this book out! It is, as they say over the pond, " Ripping good stuff. "

I had previously read some of these stories on Eskridge's website, after having become intrigued by her beautiful novel "Solitaire" when it first came out. That being said, even skimming the table of contents and realizing that there would be a bit of repetition in what I read gave me no pause while purchasing this book. So although I was prepared for a few of the stories, and reacted sort of in the same way you would when meeting an old friend that you hadn't seen in a while, what I was not prepared for was the impact of the stories as a collection. It's breathtaking.

The gender ambiguity that threads through the stories, particularly in the character of Mars but also subtly accented in the sexuality and qualities of Eskridge's other characters, was not, for me, the main focus. It evidences the author's skill in her prose, as well as an incredible openness about human potential. To me however, the book is about people, the way they become broken or mended, the way they become open or closed.

But "Dangerous Space" is not just about those places, geographic and symbolic, where we can become vulnerable. It's also about the thresholds that we need to cross, the moments that we need to share with other people to get there. Whether though love, or affection, or friendship, or lust, or just though a single moment of shared understanding, this is a set of stories filled with hope about the human capacity to connect. It is consistently delicately raw, and delightful.

Rarely have I been so amazed, so impressed, so flat-out blown away by a collection of short stories. Even among those few writers who are skilled at the form (John Varley and Connie Willis spring to mind for science-fiction readers), their short stories can't compare to their full-length novels. They may be enjoyable, interesting thought exercises, but short stories never seemed to carry the heft or the excitement that I knew an author was capable of.

Well, scratch all those assumptions when it comes to Kelley Eskridge. As much as I loved "Solitaire," her only novel to date (and let's work on that, can we?), "Dangerous Space" moves Eskridge into another level entirely, as far as I'm concerned. The stories in this collection span the spectrum, from contemporary fiction to classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy to hard sci-fi and speculative fiction. And yet, while in another author you might be frustrated by this flitting from one genre to another, Eskridge is so talented at whatever she sets her hand to that I found myself wondering what else she might be capable of.

Love, and the many maddening, variable, indefinable forms it takes, are major themes of Eskridge's work. That's what makes the character of Mars so wonderful. It might seem a gimmick to have such a gender-neutral recurring character - indeed, from a lesser writer, that's exactly what it would become. But Mars is more than an exercise. S/he challenges our very assumptions about gender, making us first obsess about his/her sex, and then gently showing us, by the end of each story, how silly and unimportant such concerns are. Man, woman - it doesn't matter, Mars is a force of nature, one of the most complex, complete, and fascinating characters I've ever had the pleasure to read. I wish we could get a Mars novel, but I suspect that Eskridge couldn't keep the secret for that long without it becoming awkward. For now, we have "And Salome Danced," "Eye of the Storm," and the title story "Dangerous Space."

Other stories address the irrepressible creativity of the human spirit (the Harrison Bergeron-like "Strings"); the nature of pain and our humanity (the heartbreaking "Alien Jane"); and the rarely-discussed price that must be paid to balance the scales when someone is offered a unique, even magical gift ("City Life"). Few of these stories have typical happy endings, and many of them are downright disturbing, in that delicious, claw-their-way-into-your-subconscious fashion. These are stories that will stick with you long after you put them down.

Ms. Eskridge, please, please don't make us wait another five years for your next offering!

Although I loved Dangerous Space as a whole, the character that appeared in 3 of the stories and who stood out for me the most was the gender ambiguous Mars. I have tried to put into words just how powerfully and interestingly I thought Mars was written below (there may however, be spoilers in this review, so please do not read on if you would rather wait to discover Mars for yourself).
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Mars And `Dangerous Space'.

"And Salome Danced"


This first Mars story did not fail to haul me in and intrigue me about Mars from the very beginning. Here, the character's voice strikes me as strong, vibrant and female, even though no allusion to gender is ever mentioned, apart from where concerned with the morphing of Salome. I am not sure if this is just me imposing my mental voice and liking of strong female voices on Mars or if it is something else about the character that does this.

Within this first Mars incarnation, the raw and magnetic dance of power and sexuality that (s)he has with Salome is almost like a duel for each other's soul. Salome strikes me as the ultimate emotional vampire, eager to manipulate one's concept of perception and self for the rich energy and life source that can be derived from the passion of desire, and yet - Mars, quite uniquely, where others (like Lucky) are confused, at every step of the way - seems to understand this hidden game and draw on the power of essence almost innately, no matter how much (s)he is both pulled towards and repelled by this attraction and the dangerous space it compels Mars to.

By the end of the account, I was almost mentally breathless with both wanting Mars to fight Salome's spell, and an intense curiosity to find out what would really happen if (s)he succumbed to this strong and seductive desire as well.

Throughout the 3 incarnations in this book, I love that Mars is so deeply connected to his/her centred feelings of emotion, desire, and overall, control. Mars is so *there*, so *present* - so assuredly themselves, and in "And Salome Danced", and other carnations within "Eye of the Storm", and "Dangerous Space", (s)he seems so wonderfully and finely tuned to that unique essence that gives Mars that deeper view of the world. (S)he is like a finely attuned musician, who can hear the beauty and patterns of the music of life, where the rest of us can only wonder. Beautiful.

Finally, in "And Salome Danced", even after the tumultuous dance, I got the sense that although Mars had his/her most inner desires and temptations are forcefully manipulated from the inside out, the fact that (s)he had the strength to hold onto her core seems to make Mars stronger.

By the end of this tale, one feels as if that sense of understanding of one's own dangerous space has been enhanced, tinged with a little bit of stark realisation, but also a sense of renewed understanding as well.



"Eye of the Storm"


In this second incarnation of Mars, again, the gender of the character remains unmentioned, leading to that subtle hint of ambiguity that lends to the richness of Mars character throughout. And here, this younger version of Mars is on the cusp of their lives - a difficult childhood, spent fighting for the right to be his/herself due to the unfortunate circumstance of his/her birth as the child of a war rape has left Mars both torn and saddened at the relationship with his/her mother, and also on the fringes of the village life that she has no choice but to exist in. From the start, Mars is both complex and beautiful, a product of her environment, but also a constantly evolving form, adapting and changing as life happens, and all along, forming a unique sense of self.

I love the way that Mars so wonderfully learns how to fight as the "Eye of the Storm", and how, because this is the only way (s)he has been taught how to truly feel desire, it becomes such an intricate, unusual and beautiful part of Mar's emotional make-up, that is the core of how (s)he relates to things/people, is able to teach others, and ultimately governs the way Mars survives.

Again, throughout, Mars is so finely tuned into the rhythms of nature and the patterns of life, that when later on (s)he is confronted by a different kind of magic with the prince's character (who is also refreshingly gender ambiguous until a little later in the story) and secret, magical dance , Mars knows innately how to deal with it, because at a very core level Mars understands where the prince is coming from. Stunningly beautiful in and of itself. With each incarnation I can't help but become a little more in love with Mars, and on a deeper, more personal level both understand and empathize with his/her unique take on things. It is so reassuring to see how complicated can also seem so beautiful too.



"Dangerous Space"


This is my favourite of the Mars incarnations. Reading this, again, felt like one was witnessing an exquisite dance of souls. Though for me, there were three souls involved in the dance this time. (1) Mars, the ultimate musical conductor, who at an innate level can understand, tune into, and harness the raw power of the band's music. (2) The band leader himself (Duncan), who is the tortured and complex channel of the raw talent of the music that drives him to create. And then, (3) music itself, which to me seems like an like an entity all of itself, a wild child - raw, demanding, powerful, inquisitive, driving and beautiful - almost like that perfect storm sailors speak of - all that wild energy that one can never quite tame, but can only hope to harness so one can get to the other side, and hopefully live. A wonderfully described and evolving element throughout, that seems to bend with, play and almost consume the key characters at times.

The connection that this raw power of music has between Mars and Duncan, is at the same time a lure, and a bane. They both know that for all the right reasons they must resist, for the good of the band, its members, and the music that is eventually half-tamed and produced. Yet at the same time, it is also that magical pull of raw musical energy that also manages to turn them both inside out. Mars is the focus for it, both a muse and an anchor that Duncan is tempted and inspired by. And for Mars, Duncan, with his raw channelling of this wild essence of himself through the music is something Mars is both fascinated and in love with. Mars' connection to the energy of this raw music and Mars' talent for mastering and tuning it to the public's ears is a wonderful thing to see.

Again, the writer makes reading/witnessing all of this such an effortlessly intricate and visual experience, that one feels one is a hidden and highly honoured observer in this beautiful dance.

The ending of this tale is thoroughly engaging, raw, passionate and organic, and something that definitely does not disappoint. In a way, this also mirrors the character of Mars, who throughout, remains a strong, evolving, magnetic and thoroughly intriguing entity. Again, I was quite captured with how, in each incarnation, Mars remains true to self, in that unique way that (s)he is tuned into the intricacies of life - forever observant, and wonderfully skilful in a most unusual way - and filled with an innate understanding of honour, the intertwining patterns of life - all painted in such an interesting way by the author, that reading about Mars is almost like experiencing a rather individual and intriguing piece of organic art.



Summary

All I can say is that I really loved the experience of 'Dangerous Space" - it was like having my mind and soul invited to an unusual, complicated, intriguing, fascinating and dangerous dance, that left me both awed and inspired. I don't think I have ever read anything that has been able to reach inside me and play my thoughts, perceptions and emotions in as much as this writing seems to have so effortlessly done, and in such a unique and intelligent way too.

The writing is very, very visual, and even reading on a crowed London train, at the height of morning rush hour and in the midst of commuting hell, I was effortlessly transported to another space - not always comfortable, but definitely always interesting, and always challengingly beautiful.
I was strangely saddened to have to put the book down afterwards (which very, very rarely happens with me). Vainly hoping for some more (very soon), but also feeling as if I had learnt something about the world and my own dangerous spaces too.

Kelley, thank-you.

This collection of stories gives more than reading pleasure, it gives a view into many places most people don't even think to look. Using various settings and characters Kelley Eskridge tells the story of people. Through these characters we are in their skin as Eskridge skillfully reaches into the feelings and motives of the stranger you are sharing a public space with or acquintainces who you can follow from limited knowledge to the most intimate of friends and lovers.

Using art in all it's forms makes it possible for the author to share insights through the eyes and feelings of her characters. In doing this the author shows her observational abilities to the nth degree. For me the most powerful of these arts was the music. I don't know if this author is also a musician but she really gets the scene, it's authentic. It's difficult to say in just a few words how smart this book is.

Greatness in writing is hard to achieve. But it's not as hard to recognize. Great writing reaches right through the page to you, so that you are no longer reading, you are experiencing the world the author has created. Most writers never touch it, or touch it only for a moment. So when you find an author who lives in that space, you are blessed. You see life in a different way, and you are never the same again.

Kelley Eskridge is such an author. Her new collection, Dangerous Space, proves it. Weeks after reading it, I find myself wondering, "What's Mars up to? How is it working out for him and ..." Then I stop. For a moment, I might have sent him an email, or picked up the phone. But the Net doesn't go where he lives, and the country code is nowhere listed. For a moment, reality hangs by a thread, and I might go over to that music bar, Lillie's Place in Seattle, and see him working the board for Noir, a band that just might be the next big thing...

In the title story, Noir does a song with the refrain, "The water is deep here, the ground is uncertain / It's dangerous space this far inside of me". You don't read it, you hear it. And your world expands to hold it...

Buy this book.

Nate Liederbach's "Doing a Bit of Bleeding" is fearlessly direct, beautifully crafted, and an incredible example of storytelling at its finest. His stories take us on journeys seldom explored with such brutal honesty; rare is the talent that artfully and bravely addresses the whispered taboos of the human condition. His characters are flawed, truthful, and free. The settings flood with a history that defines each piece. Liederbach's envelope-testing style is everything but delicate; he wraps each piece together with barbed wire and squeezes. The stories in "Doing a Bit of Bleeding" comprise an uncommon sort of masterpiece, the details of which must not be overlooked in a swift read; rather, each piece should be savored individually, and revisited as part of an outstanding whole.

The power of this collection is in its details. The thought-provoking, shiver-inducing wounds of life are mined for all their humanity. Each character lives pain through the ink of every day language. It's the echo of a voice we all know, that emotional stutter of reflecting on our mistakes, of realizing our own weaknesses. Liederbrach accomplishes the difficult task of creating characters that are both fascinating and brutally real. In the end, you may not love them all, but you'll appreciate their vulnerability. Definitely a writer with great stories to come.

This is definately a collection worth owning, and I can only echo the praise already written about this book with two thumbs up. The characters draw you into their lives and you will run with them. The humor is subtle, dark at times. This book is filled with tender moments, realizations and people worth knowing. As I understand, this is Mr. Liederbach's first collection, but I definately hope to see more work from him in the future.

Reading Liederbach's work and you'll come face to face with fishermen and chicks who say one thing but mean another, Jesus-freaks and men freaked out by all the ways a heart can break. "Not Exactly a Parable" and "Moonbeams" are the collection's highlights.

Ugliness beneath the surface is brought wiggling to light in Nate Liederbach's short-story collection, "Doing a Bit of Bleeding," to be reconciled as something beautiful. Releasing the reel, Liederbach allows his audience freedom to jerk, swim, and rush head first into his subconscious pools, breathing natural dialogues of unsaid truths about life at the risk of being pulled under. In the same instance, he bleeds from the same hook, showing the world how Rainbows and dark German Browns exist in the same waters. After witnessing a child's wisdom, a sister's pain, a lover's anguish, a brother's mission, a husband's grief, and a fisherman's quest for answers, Liederbach releases his readers for the excitement of another catch and leaves his audience wondering whether he is the fish or the fisherman.

No two ways about it--I just loved this book. Every story is a gem, but best of all was the last and longest tale, Sing Fat and the Imperial Duchess of Woo. While the previous several stories all enchanted me, Sing Fat was really a tour de force of writing, with exotic characters and language specific to a time period. The words are evocative of powerful emotions and the characters just come right off the page into your reading room.

Steinbeck has mastered the literary genre of the short story, just as have two of his contemporaries, Annie Proulx and Jhumpa Lahiri. With the right screenwriter, the story of Sing Fat could be as successful a movie as Brokeback Mountain, adapted from Proulx's short story, or The Namesake, the movie adapted from Lahiri's brief novel by the same name. It's remarkable how easy it is to visualize Steinbeck's characters as his words and writing are that good. For anyone who likes short stories, or for anyone else for that matter, this is a great selection.

Ballantine isn't a small publishing house, but few would have bothered with a book of short stories.

Down To A Soundless Sea by Thomas Steinbeck, son of the California literary legend, John. A collection of seven (which must be a magic number) short stories, all of which takes place in Big Sur. A limited geography with unlimited stories to tell. Steinbeck is every bit the writer that his father was, and it was better that the son waited until he was absolutely ready before he tossed his fate upon the fickle tastes of the reading public. This book is a gem and like all good things, was worth the wait.

Being a life-long John Steinbeck fan, I began reading this book with the clear objective of "being gracious" and trying not to expect too much, since it might fall short of his father's talents. I was so pleasantly proven wrong! Thomas Steinbeck has NOT had to fall back on his family name to be successful. His writing can stand alone on its own merit. I love this book, and while I have already recommended it to friends and associates, I will not be getting rid of it by passing it on, as I often do. It's a "keeper" and I will read it again. Thomas Steinbeck can clearly turn a phrase, and it appears that he can do so naturally. He clearly possesses acute observational skills, and knows human personalities. His characters are full of life and are fully three-dimensional. One does not walk away from this book wondering "Why was this guy or that girl in the plot?" They all hold intrinsic and valuable places in the whole. Not only are these stories interesting and often entertaining, they hold social redeeming values. Thomas Steinbeck, with one book, has shown serious readers that a new kid is on the block, and is a force to be reckoned with. This book is a must read.

Just finished Thomas Steinbeck's book and did enjoy it very much. The characters are odd and varied and all seem perfectly real....I expect most are based on real people. Most of these stories, for this is a collection of (not too) short stories, are stories that were repeated around the Steinbeck dinner table when Thomas's dad, John, was still alive.
The writing style of some of these stories is quite formal, stiff almost at times, and yet they still seem to work. Although the writing is formalized it does have a beauty to it often, a lyrical quality, great selection of words.
In many ways this writing of the son of Steinbeck does remind me of the writing of the father, and certainly that's a good thing. I live on the Central Coast of California where most of these stories take place, and the history in these episodes is right on the money.
If I had one complaint, it would be the same one I've always had for John Steinbeck's writing too: both authors are perhaps overly fond of the tragic ending...which I find odd. I myself am a writer (Birthday Boy, Happy Hour, Safe Sex in the Garden, Allergy-Free Gardening, etc.) and I don't prentend to been even in the same league as John Steinbeck, but still: Every writer I ever met was first of all, dying to get published; then they were dying to make some good sales, to get good reviews, to make some money, to savor some fame. Few writers quite pull this off, but John Steinbeck did so and then some. He was a smash success at an early age and sold books like mad for most of his adult life. I would think his view of the world would be strongly positive, but the opposite seems to be the case. The red pony dies, the huge pearl ruins everything, the big guy accidentally kills the girl, the funny guy trips on a board and breaks his neck. Thomas Steinbeck gets into this tragedy groove too, certainly in the last story in the book, which is the best one too, the strongest,,,,but not to give away the ending.
I think, bottom line is this: it is a really good book, very interesting and well worth reading. The son writes darn well. Must be in his blood.

I thoroughly enjoyed Thomas Steinbeck's storytelling. Vivid images, superb words, lots of nice surprises. I plan to read several of these stories to my 12 year old son -- who I know will also enjoy. Should be recommended high school reading.

Bobby Salton knows she can't take her sadistic husband's abuse for another day. So at the beginning of the story, she takes her little daughter Penny when the monster isn't home and runs. Driving away in her half-working car, she finds refuge in a rambling house on the Connecticuit shore.

Hired as a live-in companion to Alma Ogilvie, Bobby helps the retired headmistress regain her independence.But Bobby's battered appearance also has a startling effect, especially on Eva Rule, Alma's niece, a successful author.

Three very different women grapple with dreams of haunted pasts, and yet form a tenuous bond. Just as they begin to look to to the future, the past catches up with them. Bobby's husband, for one thing, is still on the run looking everywhere for Bobby.

A very absorbing book and hard to put it down.

3 women...3 pasts...3 futures...what will happen to Bobby when Joe finds her? Or will Joe find her? Bobby and her daughter are being abused by Joe, Bobby's husband, they ran away to get away from the abuse. Bobby found a job as a "care-taker" and she nurses an old lady named Alma...who loves children. Alma's niece, Eva, is a writer and quite good...until she stopped writing about things she love...so in the end...will Bobby and Penny be able to stay away from Joe? Find out for yourself and read the book!

There's nothing superficial about the female characters in this book. Starting with the little girl, Penny, and moving to the eldest woman in the story, each unique character is described with increasing depth and detail. The same cannot be said for the depth of the male characters, but at least the good guys outnumber the bad. Be prepared for some VERY realistic perspectives on domestic abuse from every possible angle: the victims, the abuser, the children, and the friends.

I read this book in two days. It was well-written with execellent character development. I highly recommend it, but don't start it unless you have plenty of time to read, you won't want to put it down!

I really enjoyed reading this book from the first page to the last. Not only did it capture my attention immediately,but I connected with the characters as though they were my friends. I couldn't put it down!
I'm really tired of reading trivia. I don't feel justified in taking the time to read a book if I don't learn something. Charlotte Vale Allen set the stage in "Dreaming in Color" so we could identify the atrocities of abuse from the perspective of each character (including the child, Penny).
Kudos to the author. Not only did I learn something, but I will be more understanding of abused women in the future.