What Are You Afraid Of? (Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction) [Paperback]

Michael Hyde (Author)

Book Description

Series: Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction | Publication Date: November 17, 2005

Powerful and haunting, the ten stories of this debut collection imagine a world where dreams and reality merge, often with dangerous consequences. Michael Hyde explores the relationships between illusion and reality, delusion and clarity, as his characters come to realize that the revelations they wholeheartedly pursue are often not the ones that await them and will move them. A teenage girl obsessed with the death of a classmate hopes to become the killer's next victim, a wayward graveyard attendant punishes the dead for his punishments in life, and a ghostly vision in a garden shed offers a catalyst for one woman's change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brilliant debut, a delightfully harrowing read, and a herald of great things to come. Hyde’s stories take no prisoners." -- Pinckney A. Benedict, author of Town Smokes

"Michael Hyde's work is marked by the precision of language Porter so prized. This collection is strong, original, and precious." -- Mary Gordon, author of Pearl

"Michael Hyde’s stories combine the gothic sensibility of Flannery O’Connor and the restrained prose of Raymond Carver." -- Sharon Ord Warner, Judge, author of Learning to Dance

"The ten stories that make up this debut collection are every bit as gripping as the book’s provocative title suggests." -- Aimee Sabo, Foreword Magazine, Jan/Feb 2006

The ten stories that make up this debut are every bit as gripping as the book's provocative title suggests. -- ForeWord magazine, Jan/Feb, 2006

From the Back Cover

"Michael Hyde's stories are strangely satisfying and satisfyingly strange. They combine the gothic sensibility of Flannery O'Connor and the restrained prose of Raymond Carver. These are tales of love-in-extremis. They should be taken as a tonic before bedtime, to stir up our dreams and awaken our compassion."—Sharon Oard Warner, judge, author of Learning to Dance and Deep in the Heart

"Katherine Anne Porter would be thrilled that Michael Hyde is winning an award in her name. His work is marked by the precision of language she so prized, and his forebears are writers she nurtured and cherished. This collection is strong, original, and precious."—Mary Gordon, author of Pearl and Final Payments

"A brilliant debut, a delightfully harrowing read, and a herald of great things to come. Hyde's stories take no prisoners."—Pinckney A. Benedict, author of Town Smokes and The Wrecking Yard

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press (November 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574412019
• ISBN-13: 978-1574412017
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars afraid of nothing, March 31, 2006

By 

Harding Penney "firestarter" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Are You Afraid Of? (Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction) (Paperback)

Michael Hyde has the ability to turn otherwise mundane parts of the world into mysterious and evocative miasmas of human discontent. Hyde's writing broadcasts from a psychological frequency unlike any of his contemporaries. The characters are not always likeable, but they are altogether just too human, and can be pretty darn funny too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! Fantastic Collection of short stories!, January 4, 2006

By 

Lenfer "Lenfer" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Are You Afraid Of? (Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories in this collection! They are imaginative, sometimes creepy, and very well written. The characters are quirky and memorable. The story "Her Hollywood" is genius and my favorite; a teenager wants to be a murderer's victim in an attempt to draw attention to herself! All of these stories are perfect for fans of literature and short stories alike.