From Publishers Weekly
In this long-overdue story collection, which chills rather than terrifies, master of melancholy Silva displays a talent not unlike that of Ray Bradbury's in his prime. Focusing on haunting rather than scaring the reader, Silva employs a thought-provoking if sometimes sentimental style that relies on leisurely pacing and strong character development rather than action and gore. His lead story, the Stoker Award-winning "The Calling," poignantly examines the pain caregivers endure watching a loved one die. Other standouts in this cohesive collection include "Slipping," a chronicle of an ad executive's mental disintegration as he begins to experience missing time in rapid acceleration; "Dwindling," a tribute to unwanted children who disappear as parents will them away and a probing comment on sexual abuse; "Empty Vessels," an enlightening twist on the traditional vampire story; "Alone of His Kind," about the cost of trying to hold on to that which is irretrievably lost; "Dry Whiskey," which presents a new take on "drying out"; "Metatonia" and "Metasis," two touching love stories about two disparate couples clinging to each in the face of despair. Dean Koontz provides a humorous tribute that is in startling contrast to the contents of this book, which moves beyond its genre classification. Eerily evocative cover art by Harry O. Morris is a plus.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
Winner of a Bram Stoker Award for his short story, "The Calling."
Winner of a World Fantasy Award for The Horror Show.
David B. Silva "is a talented writer of novels and short fiction, who knows where the heart of a story lies, and who deserves a larger audience than he has yet received." - Dean Koontz
"David B. Silva is one of the great unsung heroes of horror." - Bentley Little
DESCRIPTION: It's the only window in the room and it's scarred with spider-webbed cracks. Sometimes on warm summer afternoons, he sits alone here, staring out at the world through the shattered glass. What he sees doesn't always look right, but then there are strange things in the world.
Through Shattered Glass, David B. Silva's first short story collection, takes readers on an imaginative journey through the lives of seventeen ordinary people struggling with extraordinary events in their lives.
The Calling: an adult son cares for his mother, who is dying from cancer, over the final few months of her life. As the cancer grows stronger it permeates their relationship, every event inside the house, and eventually leads to a powerful, unexpected ending that seems almost inevitable.
Dry Whiskey: Something horrible happened last night. There's blood on the bumper of the old pickup, and Will's father thinks he might have hit something on the way home from the bar, but he isn't sure. When they hear that Joey Eagan was killed last night in a hit and run off Buzzard Roost Road, Will's old man vows to finally give up his heavy drinking. But drying out takes a toll of its own.
The Hollow: Michael Carpenter is a lonely twelve-year-old who lives in the quiet little town of Appleton where nothing worthwhile ever seems to happen. That is until today. Because today Michael made friends with something alive in the hollow of the old oak not far from home...
Empty Vessels: Thirty-five years have passed since a stranger by the name of Blaine left Marshall's mother an empty vessel, neither alive nor dead. And after years of searching for the stranger, Marshall thinks he might have found the man. Only he's not really human...
Dwindling: A boy watches helplessly while his world crumbles around him as one after another of his siblings disappears.
A Time For Every Purpose: What if a childhood friend unexpectedly shows up on your doorstep one day with a tale of terror that's still unfolding?
Alone of His Kind: After a tragic loss, a man meets someone who has dealt with a similar loss in a most unusual way.
A Night In Fog: A trouble man reaches out to his brother, trying to explain his past action and gradually drawing his brother into a realm where the line between reality and fantasy has blurred.
Slipping: A desperate advertising man, frustrated with the way commercials are flashed before viewers with ever increasing speed, becomes aware of the fragileness of time.
Plus eight additional stories and an Introduction by Dean Koontz.
Winner of a World Fantasy Award for The Horror Show.
David B. Silva "is a talented writer of novels and short fiction, who knows where the heart of a story lies, and who deserves a larger audience than he has yet received." - Dean Koontz
"David B. Silva is one of the great unsung heroes of horror." - Bentley Little
DESCRIPTION: It's the only window in the room and it's scarred with spider-webbed cracks. Sometimes on warm summer afternoons, he sits alone here, staring out at the world through the shattered glass. What he sees doesn't always look right, but then there are strange things in the world.
Through Shattered Glass, David B. Silva's first short story collection, takes readers on an imaginative journey through the lives of seventeen ordinary people struggling with extraordinary events in their lives.
The Calling: an adult son cares for his mother, who is dying from cancer, over the final few months of her life. As the cancer grows stronger it permeates their relationship, every event inside the house, and eventually leads to a powerful, unexpected ending that seems almost inevitable.
Dry Whiskey: Something horrible happened last night. There's blood on the bumper of the old pickup, and Will's father thinks he might have hit something on the way home from the bar, but he isn't sure. When they hear that Joey Eagan was killed last night in a hit and run off Buzzard Roost Road, Will's old man vows to finally give up his heavy drinking. But drying out takes a toll of its own.
The Hollow: Michael Carpenter is a lonely twelve-year-old who lives in the quiet little town of Appleton where nothing worthwhile ever seems to happen. That is until today. Because today Michael made friends with something alive in the hollow of the old oak not far from home...
Empty Vessels: Thirty-five years have passed since a stranger by the name of Blaine left Marshall's mother an empty vessel, neither alive nor dead. And after years of searching for the stranger, Marshall thinks he might have found the man. Only he's not really human...
Dwindling: A boy watches helplessly while his world crumbles around him as one after another of his siblings disappears.
A Time For Every Purpose: What if a childhood friend unexpectedly shows up on your doorstep one day with a tale of terror that's still unfolding?
Alone of His Kind: After a tragic loss, a man meets someone who has dealt with a similar loss in a most unusual way.
A Night In Fog: A trouble man reaches out to his brother, trying to explain his past action and gradually drawing his brother into a realm where the line between reality and fantasy has blurred.
Slipping: A desperate advertising man, frustrated with the way commercials are flashed before viewers with ever increasing speed, becomes aware of the fragileness of time.
Plus eight additional stories and an Introduction by Dean Koontz.
