First published 2012
Kathleen Ann Goonan assembles fifteen short stories that move with the precision of a juggler keeping flaming torches aloft. Each tale maintains constant motion, from the subtle shift of grass in wind to explosive revelations that ignite understanding. The collection opens with "Angels and You Dogs" and moves through diverse terrain including "The Bride of Elvis," "Klein Time," and "Memory Dog." Stories like "Solitaire" and "Sunflowers" demonstrate how quiet moments can contain incandescent energy. "The Day the Dam Broke" and "Electric Rains" show catastrophe and aftermath. Throughout, Goonan crafts narratives where meaning emerges in the final moments, compelling readers to retrace luminescent details that were present but not yet visible. The stories embody the fleeting nature of their form, existing with the speed of subatomtic particles while leaving lasting impressions that burn in memory.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fleeting-nature, luminescent-details
338 pages · Hardcover · PS Publishing