Customer Reviews

Edging Past Reality - a collection of short stories

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Have you ever watched The Twilight Zone or Night Gallery. If so, you'd be the type who would probably enjoy David Fingerman's Edging Past Reality. This books is a collection of short stories. It's divided into four sections. There is Too Young to know better, Old Enough to know better, Is this a mid life Crisis, and Senior Moments. Each section of stories deals with people in that specific category.

Some of my personal favorites were:

Marty's Toy - A boy's toy seems to have a mind of it's own.
Grandpa's Watch - A pocket watch has a curious connection to a young boy and his grandfather.
The Scream Box - Ever wanted to go in a room and scream, this presents customers at a bar with that opportunity, but will they get the relief they want.
Anybody got a Smoke - A man dies and goes to Heaven where he's given everything he wants.
Edging Past Reality - A Man's Life seems to be changing beyond his control. Sometimes with good, sometimes bad consequences.
The Blue Light - A man checks into a secluded motel late one night.
The Perfect Jury - A tale of jury duty, talk about your nightmares.
The Last Patch of Wilderness - A cautionary tale about damaging the environment.
The Verdict's In - For this story, think American Idol meets Judge Judy.
With each story, there were twists and turns I never expected. Mr. Fingerman sets you up to think the story is going one way, then throws a curve ball at you. While I had my favorites, I have to say I really enjoyed all the stories. Each had a different feel to it, and as a collection, it was very good.

If you like Suspense, Horror, or stories with strange twists, then definitely pick up this book. I think you'd enjoy it. Most of the stories were 3-10 pages long, which made it a good book for reading right before bedtime. Some stories have stronger language or situations, so I'd recommend it only for older teens (17+) or adults.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Brandi at BK Walker Book Services and David for a review copy of this book.

Story after story begins with normal, likeable characters doing normal, every day things in this amazingly creative book of short stories, and ends with shocking - nearly always horrifiying - surprises. For sci-fi lovers, and even those new to the genre, this book will be a treat. Well-written and creative, it's a great holiday gift for those who like to read about the unthinkable.

I bought EPR because of its many (15 out of 18) five-star reviews. And was stunned enough to 'e in to Amazon with my suspicion that alot of the writer's friends and/or classmates were hyping this, to me, at very best a three-star bag of short stories.

Many of Fingerman's concepts were interesting, and a few unique. How they were presented though really disappointed me. Expository to the point of drumming, often naive and eventually tedious writing sucked the life out of his initially not-bad ideas. Similes were often contrived or strained. Descriptions were often bland and bloated, deflating any excitement. And often his tangential, extraneous descriptions ran on and on and ...

I hope the author, a 20-year veteran of the Hennepin County Court system reads short story masters like Colette, Saki,
De Maupassant, Poe, et al to enliven his basically good ideas; as terror is seemingly his genre, to pull his work into far-more concise presentations would enliven, inject drama and tension into his work. (Yes, this is presumptuous, but I think Fingerman can be a much better writer)

Any dedicated reader can also benefit from reading the critical writings of John Gardner, like WRITERS ON WRITING, THE ART OF FICTION On Becoming a Novelist and many more of this pull-no-punches author, critic, scholar The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers . Okay, I might as well add Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them (P.S.) - (Sorry if I went pedantic here; but books are a big part of m'life) Readers can also benefit from his analysis of what makes good and bad writing. I expect Fingerman has read many, if not all of these recco's. Oh, if he wants to keep within the horror genre, then Stephen King's ON WRITINGOn Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft There I go, pendantically, again. Enough!

David Fingerman scared me more than I like in the very first story of edging past reality. Reality? Ha! Fingerman left that behind in a hurry in this collection of stories beginning with a doll with sharp teeth and a nastier disposition. If you dare to read this book, creep ever so gently through it because the edges of reality are gone. You will immediately sink into a world of horror that apparently Fingerman loves and dares you to enter.

Fingerman's Edging Past Reality is a must read for those who enjoy short stories that bring you back to the days of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. I savored the book over time because I didn't want it to end! His stories also have a bit of an "Alfred Hitchkock Presents" feel to them. Now, if those stories could only be turned into TV screenplays, I'd be tuned into the TV for every episode.

David Fingerman's imagination lives somewhere between Stephen King's and the devil's (and believe me, that's a good thing). I took my time with this book, reading one piece at a time, digesting the twists and turns of Fingerman's stories and sometimes wishing I could leave the light on all night. Not a book that will put you to sleep, this collection of stories is peopled with interesting children, teens and adults whose lives are turned upside down--or worse--sometimes simply through their innocent musings.

Fingerman likes to shock, and he's good at it. A bonus: he writes well, too. Highly recommended!

When I started reading these short stories I was amazed at how they just kept getting better and better. There are some real gems in this collection. Some of my personal favorites were "Mosquito Tim", about a teenage boy exacting revenge on twin girls who thrive on demasculating him; "The Witness" involving a window washer who almost plummets to his death; "A Walk in the Woods" about a lost man communing with wild creatures; "Midnight Stroll" where an old man and young homeless man share a dark secret; and "Snow Crabs" a great little horror story. I highly recommend this collection.

The author is very talented and appears to have a knack for writing short stories.
The stories are fast pace, exciting,and highly creative.

If you love short stories try this out!

Holding my breath in anticipation until the next release of anything written by David Fingerman. Finally, someone who just might be in the same league as Mr. King himself!

Edging Past Reality
Author - David Fingerman
Publisher - Two Harbors Press
2008


Synopsis of Edging Past Reality:

Get ready to expect the unexpected when you read this collection of chilling short stories The short stories of Edging Past Reality will take you to the precipice of reason and then push you over the edge.

If you think you can always believe your eyes, and you're sure that what you believe is true, it's time to check your certainties at the door ... and start Edging Past Reality. In this collection of short stories, as you're warned in the introduction, ''the most common and familiar elements of life ... explode into a circus of horror.'' Imagine an inviting, lush meadow that turns shockingly deadly. A mirror that holds more than mere reflections. A trial where your life hangs by a call-in vote.

David Fingerman, a master of the unforeseen and unpredictable, will take you on a number of seemingly ordinary journeys and then smoothly veer off course, surprising you with twists and turns that propel you toward destinations that are not only unexpected, but often terrifying.
My Thoughts -

I loved this book. Edging Past Reality is a magnificent compilation of short stories. Fingerman has a fantastic imagination, bringing an unexpecting twist to reality. Some stories will give you chills, others will make you shutter, all will have you thinking. I do have a few of my favorites out of this compilation and I am going to elaborate a bit on those for your enjoyment and a good taste of what you can expect from David Fingerman.

Fingerman has grouped his stories into categories, so I will take a story out of each category that I absolutely loved.

Too Young To Know Any Better:
A Halloween Story - Trick or treating and lost in the woods, little Tommy comes across a lone house. After knocking on the door, he becomes enchanted with the lady of the house, a beautiful witch stirring her brew. Tommy knows she's a witch and has bespelled him, though she is so nice he cannot be afraid. Will Tommy make it out alive?

Old Enough To Know Better:
Peeping Tom - When the owner of several cabins decides upon check-in which women he would like to fantasize about, he gets more than he bargained for when Amanda checked in. I so was not expecting the ending, FANTASTIC!

Is This A Mid-Life Crisis?
A Walk In The Woods - Steve Blanchard was a prestigious lawyer that never took any time for himself. He lets a co-worker talk him into going to a cabin in the woods. While there he comes across a wolf. Deeming the wolf malnourished he starts to feed it and eventually the wolf takes food from his hands. One day deciding on a walk a snow storm hits and Steve becomes lost. Taking coverage in a cave, who should come to the rescue? The wolf...yes he leads Steven back to the cabin where the door is found ajar. What do you suppose waits inside for the duo?


Senior Moments:
A Midnight Stroll - When a series of unexpected murders have taken place in an apartment building of seniors, it has become unsafe to be out on your own in the town. Seventy two year old Francis cannot stand sitting inside though and he takes a stroll through the park. After tripping and hurting his ankle, he is helped by a young Indian named Bear. Bear helps Francis home telling him he should not be out alone with all the murders. They chat and tell each other of their pasts and how they have come to where they are today, when Francis invites Bear up for tea. You think you know what will happen in the end...but are you certain that will be the outcome?

It certainly is a toss up as to which ones are the best of short stories in Edging Past Reality, but David Fingerman certainly knows how to deliver. I give this title ***** (5) Stars, BK Walker, [...]