You Might Sleep…
You Might Sleep…
Written by: Nick Mamatas
Published by: Prime Books (January 5, 2009)
Page Count: 256
ISBN-10: 0809573121
ISBN-13: 978-0809573127
Where to buy:
Amazon
Powells
Publisher Comments:
A busboy with the power to kill with a glance, and a vendetta against the President. The guy in the next cubicle has launched The Revolution, and his first target – the marketing department! Joan of Arc is back, and she’s blogging! Edgar Allan Poe, another poor sap dead thanks to Election Day. A girl with the power to destroy the universe…once she gets out of rehab. Three weeks after the Singularity, it’s up to the planet’s last psychotherapist to solve the mystery of the first posthuman murder. And, of course, Joey Ramone saves the world. You might sleep, but after reading these stories you’ll never dream in quite the same way again.
Hello Ghouls and Boils,
I “met” author Nick Mamatas on the interwebs and pestered him for a copy of his latest collection of short stories for our consideration. My fiends, I won’t let you hang in suspense… my thoughts on You Might Sleep… Enjoy Wicked Ones!
You Might Sleep… is a collection of 22 short stories by author (and editor) Nick Mamatas. In the introduction to this book, titled: “IN THE LONG RUN WE’RE ALL DEAD - OR, WHY SHORT STORIES?” Nick pleads the short story’s case. If I am the jury, it certainly is a triumph for Mr. Mamatas. Of course, I am a champion of the short story. There is a shortage of great short story collections in these modern times. I love reading a new (at least to me) author in this setting best. You see the breadth of their abilities. You get to explore the furthest reaches of their imaginations. H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain – all masters at the art of the short story. I hunger for a new generation of that ilk. Perhaps Nick is part of this revolution…. perhaps the time has finally come ’round again.
Reading this book is a little like viewing someone’s art portfolio… though there are similar elements and styles, each piece is quite different from the next. Science-Fiction, Strange Tales, Horror – Politics, War, Violence, Sex…. it’s all here in various forms. (Reviewers note: If you are in the least bit prone to blushing at “adult” scenes, it is a bad idea to read this book on the bus.)
Even the best short story writers had a few that didn’t work; Nick is no exception to the rule. There was a story or two in here that didn’t really grab me. But this is one of the best things about short story collections. You can dislike something about the book, but love other things – with equal passion. This cannot be accomplished with a novel. There were moments where I felt some of the language was vulgar for vulgarity’s sake. The words didn’t feel natural. But that is a minor gripe and easily cast aside by the stories that captivated me and were gracefully written. Those were far greater in number. Nick is at his best when he is weaving a tale that is strange or otherworldly.
I have two favorites in this collection. A “big-bomb” scenario piece titled, “ALL THAT’S LEFT AFTER THE BIG ONE DROPS” and a cautionary tale called, “SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON”. In “ALL THAT’S LEFT…” we follow a young man and his family as they flee from a catastrophic war to an underground base. In “SEVENTH SON…” we meet the seventh son of a seventh son who possesses a wicked ability. Both stories are very different, but they have a common tie. They are both very much about man against his own nature. And what could be more frightening?
Final thoughts:
After reading this book I have definitely decided to check out more of Nick’s work. I would recommend You Might Sleep… to people who enjoy strange tales, sci-fi, horror, noir and perhaps “the beats” – it is a good mix of raw honesty and oddities. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5.PS
If you are a fellow Smiths/Morrisey fan keep an eye out for the references.
There are 1 Comments to "You Might Sleep…"
Love your blog, Sarah and thanks for the great review for what looks like a bone-chilling book. I’m rather skeptical of the horror genre but your comments have forced me to re-think that. Anthologies are touch-and-go and an underappreciated format, but I love them because they provide the feeling of getting a new “story” every night, without committing to 500-pages of a novel that can be a let-down as a whole. The best short stories require more concentrated bits of exposition that should instantly grab you — none of that “slow-ramp-up” stuff you get when you read a novel. Your colorful comments about Mamatas’s anthology have put it on my “list of books to read” queue. Thanks!