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apostrophen's review
4.0
I make no secret of my love of short stories. I love the tease of them, how streamlined they are, and how you can get many flavors from the same book when you're reading an anthology.
NEW FICTION FROM THE FESTIVAL is the first collected anthology of short fiction brought forth from the Saints and Sinners 2010 Literary Festival in New Orleans. I've been lucky enough to attend for the last three years, and every year I leave the festival charged and refreshed - and loaded down with new books to add to my already teetering mountain of books.
Born of the first Saints and Sinners short fiction contest, NEW FICTION has a loose theme suggested from the festival itself: "Saints and Sinners." For the most part, the characters fall somewhere in the middle (though a few fall to one end of the spectrum or the other more decidedly) and the mix of authors is solid: contributors include well known authors long associated with the festival, as well as three finalists/runners-up to the contest, and the winner.
"The End of Jesus," by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, opens the anthology and decisively clues you in on both the theme and the high quality of writing you're about to experience. Bledsoe's tale of a woman carrying guilt for decades is beautifully crafted, and drives the reader with an uncompromising rawness to its conclusion.
"Demon Seed," by Jeff Mann continues the theme of raw wrong-doing, with a tale of wanting someone you know you shouldn't, and the helplessness of desire. Mann has an amazing touch with the erotic, and a narrative voice that you can hear growl as you read.
"Latins on the Loose," by James Nolan is one of the finalists in the fiction contest, and a piece that vibrates with the addictive controlled chaos of the Quarter. Nolan's characters pulse with the "it could only happen here" feeling of New Orleans, and I grinned my way through his story.
"Finders Keepers," by Aaron Hamburger is the collision of some wonderful characters in New Orleans; a fading porn star, a go go boy, and "a number one fan" mixing together in a clever story just dusted with a kind of sadness that sharpens the experience.
"Jesus is my BFF," by James Driggers was the contest runner-up story, and has a delicious almost-sarcasm to it that made me chuckle. Fundamentalism grinds with compassion and family and redemption, and the end result left me with a pleased smirk on my face.
"Saint Daniel and his Demons," by Rob Byrnes has the wit I've come to expect from Byrnes. Following one man's journey to try and take the shine off his unwanted but popularly attributed "sainthood", the story of Daniel's attempt to shuck the unwanted moniker is sure to make you laugh. A favorite of the anthology.
"Dancing Pink Roses," by Danny Bracco was another contest runner-up, is fantastic - the character of Ed is so completely engaging that your empathy for him grows throughout the tale, and the plot trigger - some lovely new sheets - is brilliant. I hope to read more from Bracco.
"Storyville 1910" by Jewelle Gomez is a beautifully spun tale with a slice of the supernatural (always a favorite of mine) that revisits the genre in a fresh and interesting way. The historical setting breathes, and the main characters draw you in, with a complexity in their psyche that I found engrossing.
"Ondine," by Wayne Lee Gay was the contest winner, and is a captivating tale of the intersection between characters and music, desire and repression, and faith, all wonderfully tangled - and untangled - in the space of the story.
"The Last Excursion," by Jess Wells was another story that put a grin on my face, the tale of a man looking forward to the freedom that comes with turning 70 and being done with raising children and being the family figurehead. I loved it.
"Blazon" by Peter Dubé almost evokes stream of consciousness in places, and brings a second trace of the supernatural to the anthology. The battle of repression and passion that pops up in many of the stories is here, central and with a devastating twist.
"The Kid," by Steve Scott was a contest finalist, and definitely the most chilling of all the tales. Dark and disturbing, the story will stay with you after you are done, and likely bring a shiver or two to your skin.
"Mr. Lonely," by Greg Herren finishes the anthology with a story that suckered me in and left me moved on behalf of the protagonist. There's a gentle touch to this story that breaks down your defenses before the final turn.
Suffice it to say, I enjoyed the anthology. The theme was loose enough that nothing felt forced, and the sheer variety of the tales was superb. Editors Amie M. Evans and Paul J. Willis should be proud - but then again, how could something that came from Saints and Sinners be anything other than this good?
NEW FICTION FROM THE FESTIVAL is the first collected anthology of short fiction brought forth from the Saints and Sinners 2010 Literary Festival in New Orleans. I've been lucky enough to attend for the last three years, and every year I leave the festival charged and refreshed - and loaded down with new books to add to my already teetering mountain of books.
Born of the first Saints and Sinners short fiction contest, NEW FICTION has a loose theme suggested from the festival itself: "Saints and Sinners." For the most part, the characters fall somewhere in the middle (though a few fall to one end of the spectrum or the other more decidedly) and the mix of authors is solid: contributors include well known authors long associated with the festival, as well as three finalists/runners-up to the contest, and the winner.
"The End of Jesus," by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, opens the anthology and decisively clues you in on both the theme and the high quality of writing you're about to experience. Bledsoe's tale of a woman carrying guilt for decades is beautifully crafted, and drives the reader with an uncompromising rawness to its conclusion.
"Demon Seed," by Jeff Mann continues the theme of raw wrong-doing, with a tale of wanting someone you know you shouldn't, and the helplessness of desire. Mann has an amazing touch with the erotic, and a narrative voice that you can hear growl as you read.
"Latins on the Loose," by James Nolan is one of the finalists in the fiction contest, and a piece that vibrates with the addictive controlled chaos of the Quarter. Nolan's characters pulse with the "it could only happen here" feeling of New Orleans, and I grinned my way through his story.
"Finders Keepers," by Aaron Hamburger is the collision of some wonderful characters in New Orleans; a fading porn star, a go go boy, and "a number one fan" mixing together in a clever story just dusted with a kind of sadness that sharpens the experience.
"Jesus is my BFF," by James Driggers was the contest runner-up story, and has a delicious almost-sarcasm to it that made me chuckle. Fundamentalism grinds with compassion and family and redemption, and the end result left me with a pleased smirk on my face.
"Saint Daniel and his Demons," by Rob Byrnes has the wit I've come to expect from Byrnes. Following one man's journey to try and take the shine off his unwanted but popularly attributed "sainthood", the story of Daniel's attempt to shuck the unwanted moniker is sure to make you laugh. A favorite of the anthology.
"Dancing Pink Roses," by Danny Bracco was another contest runner-up, is fantastic - the character of Ed is so completely engaging that your empathy for him grows throughout the tale, and the plot trigger - some lovely new sheets - is brilliant. I hope to read more from Bracco.
"Storyville 1910" by Jewelle Gomez is a beautifully spun tale with a slice of the supernatural (always a favorite of mine) that revisits the genre in a fresh and interesting way. The historical setting breathes, and the main characters draw you in, with a complexity in their psyche that I found engrossing.
"Ondine," by Wayne Lee Gay was the contest winner, and is a captivating tale of the intersection between characters and music, desire and repression, and faith, all wonderfully tangled - and untangled - in the space of the story.
"The Last Excursion," by Jess Wells was another story that put a grin on my face, the tale of a man looking forward to the freedom that comes with turning 70 and being done with raising children and being the family figurehead. I loved it.
"Blazon" by Peter Dubé almost evokes stream of consciousness in places, and brings a second trace of the supernatural to the anthology. The battle of repression and passion that pops up in many of the stories is here, central and with a devastating twist.
"The Kid," by Steve Scott was a contest finalist, and definitely the most chilling of all the tales. Dark and disturbing, the story will stay with you after you are done, and likely bring a shiver or two to your skin.
"Mr. Lonely," by Greg Herren finishes the anthology with a story that suckered me in and left me moved on behalf of the protagonist. There's a gentle touch to this story that breaks down your defenses before the final turn.
Suffice it to say, I enjoyed the anthology. The theme was loose enough that nothing felt forced, and the sheer variety of the tales was superb. Editors Amie M. Evans and Paul J. Willis should be proud - but then again, how could something that came from Saints and Sinners be anything other than this good?
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