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jdintr's review against another edition
4.0
In the title story, Rutherford raises the CSS Hunley and illumines its dark interior almost as vividly as the expedition that raised the real hulk from the floor of Charleston Harbor ten or so years ago.
I laughed six times in the first half of the story, and then I settled into the horror of the craft's doomed, one-way trip to sink the USS Housatonic.
Rutherford is great at shifting from funny to horrified. At one point, characters joke about pirates, then they're running from them. The levity, the tension, they're managed well, and they keep the reader guessing.
I also loved how no details in the stories were wasted. Even the slightest, off-hand remarks are echoed later in the text. The stories are tightly built, efficient, brilliant.
The stories aren't just united by a reference to water. They're all about waiting and dreading and knowing when it's time to turn back. In the final story, "dirwhals!" a futuristic take-off on Moby Dick, Rutherford empties his bag of tricks and constructs many of his most delicious sentences.
I laughed six times in the first half of the story, and then I settled into the horror of the craft's doomed, one-way trip to sink the USS Housatonic.
Rutherford is great at shifting from funny to horrified. At one point, characters joke about pirates, then they're running from them. The levity, the tension, they're managed well, and they keep the reader guessing.
I also loved how no details in the stories were wasted. Even the slightest, off-hand remarks are echoed later in the text. The stories are tightly built, efficient, brilliant.
The stories aren't just united by a reference to water. They're all about waiting and dreading and knowing when it's time to turn back. In the final story, "dirwhals!" a futuristic take-off on Moby Dick, Rutherford empties his bag of tricks and constructs many of his most delicious sentences.
saltytiger's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
danchrist's review against another edition
3.0
Decent stories with some quality characters and turns of phrase. Solid read, but few fireworks. I like fireworks.
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
the short story is a genre that often leaves me just wondering what is going on. This collection is Ok
wemedgeway's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how to explain this book. It's one of the best written collection of short stories I've read. But I didn't really enjoy any of the stories. I enjoyed parts of all of them, and I'm glad I read them... but, I... I don't know.
To be fair, I don't think they were written to be enjoyed per se. They aren't happy stories. They put you in the moment. They show a wide ranging talent. And I'd probably read anything he writes in the future, but, yeah, I really don't know how to explain it. And yet I almost gave it 5 stars...?
To be fair, I don't think they were written to be enjoyed per se. They aren't happy stories. They put you in the moment. They show a wide ranging talent. And I'd probably read anything he writes in the future, but, yeah, I really don't know how to explain it. And yet I almost gave it 5 stars...?
shannonrkline's review against another edition
I just wasn’t the right audience for this book. Really enjoyed a couple of the stories, but the rest weren’t for me. This may sound dumb, but I think this is kind of a guy book.
sparrow843's review against another edition
4.0
About half the stories were 5-star worthy, the other half were 3. I'd definitely recommend this book for the good half.