In this darkly philosophical collection, award-winning writer Stefan Barkow presents eleven of his most entertaining, disturbing, and morally provocative tales.
Within these pages you'll find "Mystral," the story of a young girl who dreams of being sacrificed to the god of her tribe; "I Loved You Once and Forever," a binary tale of love and identity; "The Last Report from the Front Line," an angelic account of the end of the afterlife; "These Woods Are Dark," a bedtime story for those who don't want to fall asleep; "In Sickness and in Hell," a demonic thriller that will keep you guessing; and "Hi, My Name is Grace," a reflective stage play about hope that won both Best Script and Best Production at the 2013 On Your Marks Festival of one-act plays.
Inspired by everything from childhood fears to existential crises and written for anyone willing to risk a look into the darkness, these are stories of evil and innocence, of damnation and forgiveness.
Assessment:
In this well-written but uneven collection of short stories, the reader journeys through the minds of disillusioned spouses, a young boy alone in the woods, ex-lovers reunited after years of separation, and more. While it is the nature of short stories to hook the reader quickly and not delve into elaborate plots, a few of these stories seem rushed and end abruptly or are simply puzzling. Other stories offer a clever twist or intriguing perspective, which almost makes up for the unsatisfying endings of other stories. Overall, this collection was a solid read, but many of the tales were lacking in the areas of plot and characterization.
Date Submitted: June 20, 2016
"Most reviews are subjective, but if there is one thing that cannot be argued with, it is that Barkow's writing is superb."
"A thought-provoking collection of stories about humanity's place in the universe and coming to grips with our natures."
"Scary? Yes. Evil? Yes. Disturbing? Yes...And the final story, 'Hi, My Name is Grace,' is the most clever and thoughtful premise for a one-act play, ever. Period."
