Pain. Pleasure. The sensation of touch.we feel everything through our skin, that delicate membrane separating ""I"" from ""other,"" protecting the very essence of self. Until it breaks. Or changes. Or burns. What would you do if you were the one called on to save humanity, and the price you had to pay was becoming something other than human? Or if healing your body meant losing the only person you've ever loved? Wander through worlds where a woman craves even a poisonous touch.a man's deformities become a society's fashion.genetic regeneration keeps the fires of Hell away.and painted lovers risk everything to break the boundaries of their caste system down. Separate your mind from your flesh and come in. Welcome.
Unwelcome Bodies
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Nelly
Format:Paperback
I was intrigued by the themes and whole concept of the work. The cover is very stark and fitting. I thought the whole package-the art, the stories and ideas behind them, as well as the author's comments-really gave a first rate experience.
"For the Plague Thereof Was Exceeding Great" was one of my two favorites. It was disturbingly close to misconceptions of today and while it was sci fi, it also required little thought to make the leap. Replace AIDs with any unknown future virus, the rantings of the priests and doomsayers with those of today and it makes for a truly frightening picture. But it was so well done and so moving...a wonderful piece.
"Brushstrokes" was my other favorite. I loved the starcrossed lover approach but with a unique and modern twist. It too was so close to sentiments of today that it made me angry at the citizens of that world, as well as happy that someone has the courage to write about it. The tale was beautifully written and very poignant.
"Last Bus" was another I enjoyed, simply because it felt like a mid 20th century play. Sorrow and starkness combined (storytelling and plot-wise), but over all, hopeful.
"Immortal Sin" was fascinating. Maybe it's because I could understand how the man came to those assumptions being Catholic myself (seeing how people are able to twist words in the name of religion or how `guilt' feeds into a person's everyday thought process). Or maybe because I saw it, not so much as a sci-fi story, but as a thriller. Sane people find it hard to understand how anyone could make such a jump as the main character did with the waitress; reading as the character, though, it was obvious he was obsessive, off-kilter, and able to twist words and intentions in his own mind.
"Captive Girl" was enjoyable in its own twistedness. Definitely not the typical love story. It's not something most of us could relate to...but it certainly gave me pause for thought and I always enjoy stories that do that.
"Firebird" amused me, simply because as a fan, I was able to relate to it...and was yet utterly turned off by that fan fanaticism as much as I was by the religious and bigoted fanaticism of the other stories.
Overall, this collection is stunning. I can't recommend it enough. I think any reader of sci-fi or horror will completely enjoy it. For those not inclined towards short stories, this very well may change your mind. Additionally, the author is not only a wonderful writer, but genuinely interested in the process and her fans. She's given several great Q&A's.
"For the Plague Thereof Was Exceeding Great" was one of my two favorites. It was disturbingly close to misconceptions of today and while it was sci fi, it also required little thought to make the leap. Replace AIDs with any unknown future virus, the rantings of the priests and doomsayers with those of today and it makes for a truly frightening picture. But it was so well done and so moving...a wonderful piece.
"Brushstrokes" was my other favorite. I loved the starcrossed lover approach but with a unique and modern twist. It too was so close to sentiments of today that it made me angry at the citizens of that world, as well as happy that someone has the courage to write about it. The tale was beautifully written and very poignant.
"Last Bus" was another I enjoyed, simply because it felt like a mid 20th century play. Sorrow and starkness combined (storytelling and plot-wise), but over all, hopeful.
"Immortal Sin" was fascinating. Maybe it's because I could understand how the man came to those assumptions being Catholic myself (seeing how people are able to twist words in the name of religion or how `guilt' feeds into a person's everyday thought process). Or maybe because I saw it, not so much as a sci-fi story, but as a thriller. Sane people find it hard to understand how anyone could make such a jump as the main character did with the waitress; reading as the character, though, it was obvious he was obsessive, off-kilter, and able to twist words and intentions in his own mind.
"Captive Girl" was enjoyable in its own twistedness. Definitely not the typical love story. It's not something most of us could relate to...but it certainly gave me pause for thought and I always enjoy stories that do that.
"Firebird" amused me, simply because as a fan, I was able to relate to it...and was yet utterly turned off by that fan fanaticism as much as I was by the religious and bigoted fanaticism of the other stories.
Overall, this collection is stunning. I can't recommend it enough. I think any reader of sci-fi or horror will completely enjoy it. For those not inclined towards short stories, this very well may change your mind. Additionally, the author is not only a wonderful writer, but genuinely interested in the process and her fans. She's given several great Q&A's.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Pelland is one of the most powerful writers crafting short fiction today. "Unwelcome Bodies" is a welcome addition to anyone's collection.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. S. White
Format:Paperback
UNWELCOME BODIES is a short-story collection that focuses on a variety of issues: the environment, religion, and terrorism, and the one thing that unites these stories is the character's body image and how they fit into the world/society around them. Each of the stories are different and unique, and most all of the stories balance a wonderful blend of science fiction and horror. This collection is an easy one to recommend. Pelland has a smooth, clean writing style, and the ideas that fuel each story really make you sit up and take notice.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Jennifer Pelland has a gift. The pages are filled with haunting imagery and true originality. The stories in this collection stay with you long after you finish reading. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Dougherty
4.0 out of 5 stars
freakiest thing i've read in a long time
have an open mind when you pick this up...it's full of philosophically challenging perspective. Not that I was on board with every single insinuation, but I felt as though my... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Cryss
5.0 out of 5 stars
best short story collection ever
This is the best short story collection I've ever read. The stories explore various facets of human nature, and how we treat each other. Read more
Published 16 months ago by FranW
4.0 out of 5 stars
stories as sharp as a knife
I discovered that after reading each story I needed recovery time, the same way I did when I first read Harlan Ellison (his stories from the 60s, before he disappeared up his own... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Barbara Gordon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scenarios that range from slightly eerie to full blown frightening
Unwelcome Bodies is a collection of, well, frankly, utterly unnerving tales. It's rare for me to review SFF and rare for me to review short stories, so a combination of both is... Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Collection for Serious Readers and Writers Alike
This is not a book for light reading; it's a book to make readers think about big questions. With a range of styles on display, the collection allows readers to taste... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Janet Harriett
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating collection of stories
The stories in this book are dark. They also run the range of disturbing, creepy, sweet, stark, touching, and horribly beautiful. Read more
Published on August 24, 2008 by Christin Haws
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be a Must Read
This is an amazing book! It's social relevant and very interesting, exploring both science fiction and humanity. Read more
Published on August 20, 2008 by Michele Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating and thought provoking science fiction
Wow. I was blown away by this collection. It kept me turning pages long into the night. Each story got better and more intriguing than the last. Read more
Published on August 19, 2008 by Susan Lamm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, clear and compelling writing.
UNWELCOME BODIES is the perfect blend of science fiction and horror, a walk through futures alternately beautiful and hideous, with characters we can see, hear and yes, touch. Read more
Published on August 19, 2008 by Elizabeth Donald
