Traffic Life: Passionate Tales and Exit Strategies [Paperback]

Stephan Wehner (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

Edited by Stephan Wehner, this book contains short stories, poems, cartoons and lots of other art, all about the problems of traffic and cars plus alternatives. Around forty contributors from around the world put their talents to the task and engage readers for improvements on our roads.

Highlights: A new Sherlock Holmes episode is uncovered ** Postscript by Harlan Ellison to his classic Along the Scenic Route ** Set in 2053 and written in the 1960's: The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury ** Scores for a Jazz piece by Jeff Younger ** The Declaration of the Right to Walk and Roll ** A masterpiece drawing of a memorial for a killed cyclist by Keith McKellar ** Sixteen full colour pages show pottery work, paintings, photos and cartoons ** Songs for the road ** And it all begins with a conversation with God. And then there is lots, lots, lots more, including Andy Singer, Attila the Stockbroker, Peter Gelman, some Honku's and Ken Avidor!!!

Editorial Reviews

Review

... Atmosphere of pastime reading, yet the messages underlying the basic plots of the stories speaks of a revolution -- The Courier, Centennial College, March, 2004

If you like cycling, read this book. If you love cars, then you may possibly become enraged. -- The University Register, April 2004; Vol. 16(2)

From the Back Cover

The theme of this anthology is the nuisance of cars and the problems of traffic. The facts of the matter and alternatives have been discussed in such books as Carfree Cities by J.H. Crawford, Divorce Your Car! by Katie Alvord, and Asphalt Nation by Jane Holtz Kay. Traffic Life contains short stories, poems, songs, cartoons, drawings, paintings and photos - and so broadcasts the theory through art.

The judgment on people-killing, nature-ravaging, community-destroying, atmosphere-polluting, noisy, uncomfortable and expensive automobiles has been passed (never mind that they gobble up a non-renewable and valuable resource and contribute one-third of the greenhouse gases that warm the globe). Bicycles, busses and trains are much more reasonable to get around in cities and elsewhere. Still, large industries are devoted to producing, insuring, financing, selling and repairing more and more of these superfluous pesky metal boxes. "How am I going to get to work?", "Cycling is too dangerous!", "Busses are so slow!" These are some familiar reactions and not completely without merit. After all, it is generally accepted policy that all destinations be reachable by car, but other means are much less supported. Traffic Life addresses all this by offering engaging works that go straight to the heart.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: wandering soliton publications (a division of) The Buckmaster Institute, Inc; First edition (January 2004)
• ISBN-10: 0973402202
• ISBN-13: 978-0973402209
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,335,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)