It took me some time to get to this collection but I've had a lot of fun reading it today. It's called Small Matters and I think the title is very apt, both because the stories are such tiny little pieces of their own worlds and because each of them is its own sort of subtly nuanced tale. I'm going to review each story in turn:
Faces in the Wall: Have you ever found yourself staring at a wall or ceiling and seeing images there in the wood grain? This is exactly what Tommy has been doing to cope with his parents fighting and his imagination has been building an entire world there in the small confines of his room. One night he sees something new and with it comes a new hope for escape. This one's very subtle and touches on the sort of things kids do to cope. I could really identify with Tommy and his view of the world and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I Do What I Can: One day working at the overwhelming and overrun gas station next to an amusement park Wes witnesses a terrible accident and comes away feeling as if he did all he could, but did he? There's more to Wes than at first it appears and he's about to be called to task for his inaction. I like what this has to say about the way people see their part in accidents and the what if of having the power to do more. Would we really save everyone we could and if we did, what would be the cost?
Gary: This one is dark as coal and very bitter. Here we meet Gary one of the slimiest creeps you could ever meet and Mr. Emmitt a man gone cold looking for revenge. It gives us a hard look at life and the truth of revenge. It put me in mind of Stephen King's story 'Dolan's Cadillac' and the harsh dark world of Frank Miller's Sin City comics, very cold and honest.
First in Flight: A reporter shows up at a nursing home in search of Leon Wright a man with a very interesting past he might just be recapturing in the middle of the night. Super powers meets conspiracy and the tragic irony of surprises. Lots of whimsy here and a few surprises as well. One of the best in the collection.
Jake Henry was a Cash Ringin Man: Remember that story about John Henry and the steam drill? Yep, this is a fun take on that old classic told through the eyes of a future father. In this take the man in question is facing down robots who threaten to put his convenience store and gas station clerk days in his past. with this one we get a sense of Kanuckel's humor and wry smirk at everyday life. It's really a great piece and recalls the old Asimov stories as much as it does John Henry. Just wait until you get to the end!
The Rending: This one takes place in the world of Winter's Heart (the author's fantasy novel which I highly recommend) and features a traveling group of warriors looking for an evil goblin king named Gjork who now has the power of rending. What is rending? It's far more complicated than it first appears and as we're about to find out so is the story. This is one of my other favorites because it's such a tricky little piece.
Second Chance: This one is a tragic tale about love lost and unrequited, dreams fullfilled and a life wasted. It goes so many places and is a very personal take on the what if story. It's sad but very honest, taking the truth up, down and straight through to the bitter end. I can't help but respect it's conclusions.
Troll Day: Here we meet Pete a little boy who isn't too keen on books or using his imagination but has a grandpa and a father who love them and are desperate to get him involved in their tradition. This is one of my other favorites precisely because its so imaginative. We get right inside Pete's head and get to meet a very familiar face in his grandfather. It's as much about that sense of wonder as it is about the sense of loss found when the generations and our traditions with them slip apart.
The Girl with the Frostbite Smile: This one is a neat little tale about a man who meets the woman of his dreams while working in a store in the city. It really shows off Kanuckel's ability to catch the little details in human interaction and the immediacy that each moment can have. Who is this girl and what's so unique about her? What will happen when he follows her into the night? It's one of the best stories in the collection and a really great story about being lost in the moment.
Small Matters is a short read and well worth your time, it's got good solid little tales that can eat up an afternoon and leave you with some memorable imagery, maybe even a few thoughts on the points presented by each story. It's also got a nice price at .99 cents. Go pick up a copy!
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Amanda M Lyons
Small Tales with Big Messages
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 7 novembre 2013
Nicua Shamira
Fantastic collection
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 19 dicembre 2013
Chemgeek
I will upgrade my rating but so far this book ...
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 22 agosto 2014
