Review of Tales from the Gray Area
Posted: 01 Jul 2021, 02:32
[Following is a volunteer review of "Tales from the Gray Area" by Curtis Stephen Burdick.]
Tales from the Gray Area is a collection of 7 novellas. Each of these 7 stories explores a world beyond our realm of reality. Every story explores premises that we have all thought about, but never really probed into. It is a wonderful mix of reality and fiction.
The first story of the set digs into the ancient belief in reincarnation. There are children being born in various parts of the world, who bear a distinct birthmark. The story follows a group of experts, who wish to decode these marks in order to decipher an ancient language. The next story is set on the sea. A group of scientists, unknowingly, bring terrifying creatures to the surface, while on an expedition. The third novella of the set brings us to Satan’s lair. This is the story of a fallen angel and how he finds love on earth. The fourth of the set is about an elderly widower, who cares about preserving the historical monuments in his village. In his attempt to prevent the government from destroying a landmark bridge, he discovers something that may prove history wrong. The fifth novella is the story of a young girl, who comes from an ancient race of people who can see the future. She struggles with her gift and tries to safe keep her children. The next story is about an alien emperor, who comes to earth seeking treatment for addiction. The last novella is set in an army backdrop. The sergeant, a colored army official, is rescued by the people inhabiting the mountains. In the mountain valley, he is shown a hidden sanctuary, which may prove to be his destiny.
The characterization of each protagonist is remarkable. It helps us empathize with their situations. In the story of the fallen angel, we begin to feel affection, as the character reveals his kind heartedness. When we meet the elderly widower, we can sense the grief he feels, over the loss of the one person who was his world. In the last novella, there is a significant amount of anxiety, as we wait to see what the next page brings.
Curtis Stephen Burdick is a master storyteller. He gives us a collection of 7 great novellas and also, the opportunity to broaden our horizon of imagination. Each of the 7 tales holds the possibility of continuity. It makes the reader envision what might happen next. We can conjure up our own alternative endings. This aspect of the book makes it one of the most interesting reads that I have come across.
There is nothing that I dislike about this book. It is a wonderful read and every story has succeeded in capturing my attention. The army backdrop in the last novella is slightly disinteresting to me, as it is not my cup of tea. But the premise of the story is captivating and forgives any shortcomings. This book has been extremely well edited. I rate Tales from the Gray Area 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy exploring the fictional world. If you are someone who likes suspense, army action, alien beings, and moderate violence, then this book is for you. Go ahead and delve into the unknown.
******
Tales from the Gray Area
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tales from the Gray Area is a collection of 7 novellas. Each of these 7 stories explores a world beyond our realm of reality. Every story explores premises that we have all thought about, but never really probed into. It is a wonderful mix of reality and fiction.
The first story of the set digs into the ancient belief in reincarnation. There are children being born in various parts of the world, who bear a distinct birthmark. The story follows a group of experts, who wish to decode these marks in order to decipher an ancient language. The next story is set on the sea. A group of scientists, unknowingly, bring terrifying creatures to the surface, while on an expedition. The third novella of the set brings us to Satan’s lair. This is the story of a fallen angel and how he finds love on earth. The fourth of the set is about an elderly widower, who cares about preserving the historical monuments in his village. In his attempt to prevent the government from destroying a landmark bridge, he discovers something that may prove history wrong. The fifth novella is the story of a young girl, who comes from an ancient race of people who can see the future. She struggles with her gift and tries to safe keep her children. The next story is about an alien emperor, who comes to earth seeking treatment for addiction. The last novella is set in an army backdrop. The sergeant, a colored army official, is rescued by the people inhabiting the mountains. In the mountain valley, he is shown a hidden sanctuary, which may prove to be his destiny.
The characterization of each protagonist is remarkable. It helps us empathize with their situations. In the story of the fallen angel, we begin to feel affection, as the character reveals his kind heartedness. When we meet the elderly widower, we can sense the grief he feels, over the loss of the one person who was his world. In the last novella, there is a significant amount of anxiety, as we wait to see what the next page brings.
Curtis Stephen Burdick is a master storyteller. He gives us a collection of 7 great novellas and also, the opportunity to broaden our horizon of imagination. Each of the 7 tales holds the possibility of continuity. It makes the reader envision what might happen next. We can conjure up our own alternative endings. This aspect of the book makes it one of the most interesting reads that I have come across.
There is nothing that I dislike about this book. It is a wonderful read and every story has succeeded in capturing my attention. The army backdrop in the last novella is slightly disinteresting to me, as it is not my cup of tea. But the premise of the story is captivating and forgives any shortcomings. This book has been extremely well edited. I rate Tales from the Gray Area 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy exploring the fictional world. If you are someone who likes suspense, army action, alien beings, and moderate violence, then this book is for you. Go ahead and delve into the unknown.
******
Tales from the Gray Area
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon