Unusual themes weave through this compelling collection, featuring a child believed to be alive despite being declared dead, a teenage boy pursued for his body parts, and a human mentored by a burned reptile. Additionally, a deceased mother seeks to correct a past wrong with her son. The stories explore the bizarre and poignant intersections of life, death, and the human experience, showcasing the author's masterful storytelling.
In Pieces of Rags and Bones Michael Keith brings to the reader a singular collection of idiosyncratic and laconic narratives designed to amuse and enlighten. In the tradition of Lydia Davis, Kurt Vonnegut, and Joy Williams, this quirky volume mines the full range of human behavior and experience for all its varied and distinct manifestations and consequences. Powerfully imagined, the epigrammatic tales between these covers provide a sometimes numinous, often harrowing, sojourn across landscapes both familiar and exotic.
"Stories set in the West inspired by landscape that has long intrigued and beguiled the author." "The short imaginative bursts in Leaning West capture the feel and mystique of the west. The book filters the western experience through Michael Keith's unique and somewhat twisted view. His stories are humorous, thought provoking, weird, and always entertaining. I grew up in the west. The stories ring true and I can relate to the places he takes us. For anyone interested in the west, or simply a unique perspective on life, this is a great read." --Michael Brown, Emeritus Professor, University of Wyoming
Keith's mini-stories, perhaps more appropriately called prose/poetry because of their lyrical nature, take the reader to places only a truly vivid and original imagination could.
A collection of speculative fiction short stories.
The book features a collection of brief narratives that blend prose poetry and micro fiction, showcasing the author's dark wit and keen observational skills. Each snapshot offers quirky details and humor, appealing to a wide range of readers.
Exploring the spectrum of human emotions, this collection features narratives rich in irony and humor. The author's imaginative prose transports readers through both exotic and familiar landscapes. Each epigrammatic tale offers a unique perspective, engaging and provoking thought on human behavior and societal expectations. With a blend of the numinous and the harrowing, the stories delve into the complexities of our actions and thoughts, showcasing the author's creative prowess.
Teils inspiriert von der gefeierten Arbeit der Amerikanischen Kurzgeschichtenautoren Lydia Davis und Joy Williams, erkundet Perspective Drifts Like a Log On a River das volle Sortiment der menschlichen Emotionen and Verhaltensweisen in einem lakonischem Stil, erfüllt von viel Humor und tiefgründiger Ironie. Oft biographisch, sowie kraftvoll vorgestellt, laden die Aphorismen in dieser Sammlung den Leser zu Aufenthalten in sowohl vertrauten als auch exotischen Landschaften ein. Von den vielen Geschichts-Sammlungen des Autors kommt Perspective Drifts Like a Log on a River der Größe seiner Vorstellungskraft und kreativen Stärke am Nähesten. Illustrationen seiner Frau Susanne Riette erweitern das Buch.