BOOKBROODER

“Its doggone pleasure to see you!”

After reading the first novel of the author, I got to this book with high expectations, as I was very much impressed with the storytelling and writing in my first encounter with the author. Short story writing is another sort of art, a bit different from the novel; I think if a novelist can write wonderful short stories, he is truly a writer!

I, as a reader love short stories; I keep reading one or two in between, so I can judge a short story writer a bit. Needless to say, I was eager to see how will it go. When I finished this short story collection of the author, I saw a quote on the last pages, just above the sign of the Author,

“A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it”

I said wow! Is it really so?
The writer only begins and I finish them. I am part of the book, not in the sense that I read it, but I finished it. I finished the story! I am part of the story! What a thought this one was! Giving a reader such an authority that the joy of attainment, at once prevailed.

This particular quote reverberated in my head for a long, as there were stories in this collection, which were so amazing that I felt as if I was a part of them. I must say that I witnessed startling and concise storytelling yet again from the author. I won’t swither to say that I found in some stories the dexterity of Ray Bradbury and in some of the ancient tales I witnessed the sorcery of the Grimm Brothers. It’s not puffery, I mean it.

Here are 23 stories, and they are a mélange of horror, fairy tales, sci-fi, and they are ancient, and modern and, romantic and spiritual and soft, and wild… and what they are not about?

In one tale, the author will take you through ‘Phermonic coordinates’ to two hundred years in the future in the nation of shapeshifters. In another, two silver-haired octogenarians will be trying to find love and are recently married, they will find a wish-fulfilling Jennie in their life. What will happen? What will they wish for? The story of Terry and his dad was an emotional one. In a French hamlet, a medieval village, there is a history of people going missing, and you will get horrified to know the reason behind this. ‘Fait accomplish was an intelligent one! ‘The matter of honor’, took me as if I was reading a French classic. And what to say about ‘the concubine and the Postman’, it was a sensational one, and while reading it I was thrilled with dread and twitchiness together! the fable of the fisherman’s hat was truly a fairy tale. ‘The sacred lake’ and the ‘pot of gold’ were extraordinarily crafted.

I could not find a single fault with any tale; I loved all, they are amazingly crafted and feel great in taste and imagination. The author has established his range and craft to such a remarkable level. I will highly recommend the author to all of those who love vivid imagery, craft, and precision of short tales with an extraordinary fancy of storytelling.

And Finally, there is one story there, where the name of the character is Kevin Ansbro, the famous author, and I am telling you there is no ‘show-off’ there, not at all!

First of all, I thank Havelock & Baker publishing house for providing me with a review copy.

The author has taken up a unique subject and the story is based on personal experience, it’s about the government and guerilla fight in the Amazon forests. It’s a story of Columbia.
The father of Pedro was killed by the Guerilla commandos in front of his eyes. His crime was to supply material to the government. What material did he supply?

The answer was water! His father said it was against humanity if he denied water to someone thirsty.

“It was cold when first light appeared on the Horizon. My watch alarm sounded. it was Thursday 5:45 a.m. that day’s exam was in history. I was still dressed for school in my blood-soaked uniform. I hadn’t slept for 24 hours, but I didn’t feel tired. the adrenaline was still pumping. The Shock was still rattling. And the sadness was still burning, small and blue and quiet like a gas pilot light that could burst into angry flame at the slightest of a dial.”

Llorona was a small but prosperous town perfectly set in a river valley in a Colombian province. Pedro joined the Paramilitary to take revenge on the killers of his father. He and his friend joined the base and face rigorous training. There were one hundred and four recruits- ninety-nine boys and five girls. They came from all over Columbia.

They restricted themselves to shrugs and mumbles.

I found the book quite lengthy and this is a drawback, but the story and message that this lengthy book wants to tell to the world is something that can hegemonize this drawback. It is written in simple and lucid prose, so moving fast won’t be an issue, it’s quite absorbing at places and there are some shocking disclosures. There is some fact and there is some fiction, characters are also interesting. There is some teenage love and friendship and also some very violent bloody scenes, the logic behind many sequences have been maintained.

This is an action-packed revenge thriller. I would recommend this book for witnessing a unique tale, inspired by real life. Author Rusty Young worked secretly for the US govt in Colombia for four years and was shocked to know the stories of the child -soldiers he encountered there, so through this book he has tried to let their voices heard, with his absorbing storytelling!

The Minotaur’s Son & Other Wild Tales: A Treat for short story lovers

A tale of revenge from the forest of Colombia!