Killing the Old Dog Stories edition by Stephen Barnett Literature Fiction eBooks
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This collection of eight stories from the author of the novel “The Road to Makokota” features “Killing the Old Dog,” the story of an aging Vietnam veteran and fifth-generation African American farmer living on the family land who lies awake listening to his dying dog. “In the end it was the sound he made that decided me. That long low sound he made trying to breathe,” he begins, then tells us, in his powerfully resonant voice, of carrying the old dog across the farm to the massive, ancient black oak tree, the heart of the farm and the embodiment of his family history.
The stories range from contemporary drama (“Blind People Can Hurt You When They Cry,” “Scarlatti in Aranjuez”) to literary (“Aminata’s Fire,” “The Stalker”) to Gothic (“Labyrinth,” “Tale of Orchard and Utopia”) to speculative (“The Mission”), taking you from the woods of Appalachia to a town in the Sahel, from a Silicon Valley motel room to a fog-shrouded mansion, from resolve and fearlessness to awe and surprise, and more.
Killing the Old Dog Stories edition by Stephen Barnett Literature Fiction eBooks
A strong collection from a writer to watch. The stories range from hyper-realism, to surrealism to science fiction and the author manages to make the writing in each genre seem effortless as well as compelling. Many of the stories carry a surprise twist at the end; I found myself thinking about them for quite some time after.The strongest stories to this reader's mind are the title story, "The Mission", "Labyrinth", and "Aminata's Fire". The American black experience, the sense of family and rootedness, and country life described in "Killing the Old Dog" speak with a truth that must come from personal experience. Although distinct stories, the writing in "Killing..." renders the sense of dislocation experienced by the protagonist in "Aminatas's Fire" even more powerful. The dream landscape in "Labyrinth" is probably the most accomplished I've ever read. And the premise of "The Mission" was inspired - it's a scenario that is uncomfortably close to present-day reality. I may be reading more into some of these stories than is warranted but a thread of Buddhist thought regarding reality seems to run through more than one of them. What is "reality" really? Can we ever know it? The answer is probably not; and whatever you do, don't believe everything you think. These stories make you think - a worthy achievement in itself.
Not every story in this collection is as strong as these four. But what a bargain! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction of many genres and appreciates a writer who has the versatility and imagination to carry them all off. The author has a formidable toolbox at his disposal. I look forward with great anticipation to his next offering.
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Killing the Old Dog Stories edition by Stephen Barnett Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
I much enjoyed the author's unique novel, "The Road to Makokota," when it came out a few years ago. What a delight to read this new collection of stories with the familiar vivid imagery, well-written sentences and insight into the human condition. My favorites in this collection The cover story about the old dog going down and "The Stalker," almost like a great Twilight Zone episode for its plot involving the everyday Joe, the page-turning departure from reality and the sudden, unexpected ending. I agree with what one of the other reviewers here said about the Buddhist-like quality of some of these stories. Hoping to see more from this writer.
I would have given this book of short stories a five because the writing is so good (the author does over use the word 'scythe' too much however the stories are meaty, juicy, straight no chaser. He packs A LOT into a few pages definitely leaving this reader wanting more. The weird part for me is that he goes a bit sci-fi in a couple of the stories and that is not my thing. Still well written though so, of course, I read them!
I will follow this author.
A strong collection from a writer to watch. The stories range from hyper-realism, to surrealism to science fiction and the author manages to make the writing in each genre seem effortless as well as compelling. Many of the stories carry a surprise twist at the end; I found myself thinking about them for quite some time after.
The strongest stories to this reader's mind are the title story, "The Mission", "Labyrinth", and "Aminata's Fire". The American black experience, the sense of family and rootedness, and country life described in "Killing the Old Dog" speak with a truth that must come from personal experience. Although distinct stories, the writing in "Killing..." renders the sense of dislocation experienced by the protagonist in "Aminatas's Fire" even more powerful. The dream landscape in "Labyrinth" is probably the most accomplished I've ever read. And the premise of "The Mission" was inspired - it's a scenario that is uncomfortably close to present-day reality. I may be reading more into some of these stories than is warranted but a thread of Buddhist thought regarding reality seems to run through more than one of them. What is "reality" really? Can we ever know it? The answer is probably not; and whatever you do, don't believe everything you think. These stories make you think - a worthy achievement in itself.
Not every story in this collection is as strong as these four. But what a bargain! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction of many genres and appreciates a writer who has the versatility and imagination to carry them all off. The author has a formidable toolbox at his disposal. I look forward with great anticipation to his next offering.
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