by Ann Schlee
First published 1984
The stories in this collection thrust readers into moments where ordinary people face extraordinary peril. Characters find themselves trapped in burning buildings, pursued through dark alleys, and caught in natural disasters that test their will to survive. A young woman must outwit her captors in a foreign city. A mountain climber battles both the elements and his own fear when his partner falls. A family fleeing war discovers that safety lies just beyond their reach. Each tale builds tension through split-second decisions and acts of desperate courage. Schlee crafts scenarios where heroes emerge not from special powers but from the human capacity to act when everything depends on the next choice. The emotional weight comes not from grand gestures but from small moments of connection between people who refuse to abandon each other when danger strikes.
Genres: fiction, adventure, contemporary, action
Vibes: breathtaking, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: desperate-courage, ordinary-people-in-extraordinary-peril, split-second-decisions
Hardcover · Octopus Books