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bookishactor's review
4.0
Dead Reckoning and Other Stories by Dino Parenti is a fascinating short story collection of “dark literary tales” (from the back cover). The book is divided into five sections, each containing stories taking place in a different time period (70s, 80s, 90, 000s, and what comes after). The stories range in content, but many are tangentially interconnected as a character from one story is revealed to be a relative of another. Throughout the book themes of generational trauma and the impact of violence, crime, and disease are witnessed through both life and the passage of time. Parenti structures many of his stories with past and present weaving back and forth creating a feeling of memory in both an individual life, a family, and ultimately the entire human species. Recurring elements appear across decades (and more) as humans grapple with the experience of living on this place in the context of what has come before, charging toward what may eventually come. In many of Parenti’s stories the events almost seem to possess a certain inevitably, with a few tales seeming to radiate with the energy of an ancient Greek tragedy. Some of my favorite stories in this collection included the title story, as well as Puffer Fish, Tooth, Surge, and The Mother-of-pearl Way. Ultimately there were a few stories I didn’t like as well as some of the others, in some cases I thought elements of the plot weren’t totally clear or just didn’t add up. Additionally Parenti writes in a beautiful and “literary” prose far more sophisticated than what I am accustomed to reading. While often poetic, sometimes this style of writing challenged my suspension of disbelief as I found myself thinking “no one talks that way” or otherwise noting that the language seemed overwritten, which pulled me out of the story. Despite these criticisms I enjoyed this collection and found I couldn’t get parts of it out if my head (hypochondriacs, consider this your content warning). Probably more so than with any other collection I’ve read, these stories seem to belong together and form something greater than the sum of their parts. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
vondav's review
3.0
Regardless of whether I recognise the author, I always purchase any book published by Crystal Lake Publishing. Dead Reckonings and other stories featuring 16 short stories that some could be in the news today.
Like all anthologies there were some stories that stood out for me. From the seventies Two Boys in a Diner- Vic and his younger brother Jimmy are in a diner reminiscing about family, death and old times. As there is only 2 characters, you really get to know them and whilst brothers and brought up together, they are like chalk and cheese. It is not till the end that the true reason of their visit to the diner is revealed.
From the eighties Dead Reckoning- The story opens with a policeman being dragged by a priest on a horse. The story swaps between past and present with ease and as you read this story you find out exactly what the policeman had done to deserve this treatment and why the priest felt the need to dish out the punishment. This story does make you think, was either in the wrong, was their actions justified.
From the nineties Savior- Following a vet disfigured from war, trying to make a living and his fascination with a performer from the visiting fair. There was a feel of sorrow to this story. The main character was hidden away due to his serious injuries. When he performed with his disguise it reminded me of the elephant man and the prejudice that people had for him. Did he do the right thing, I am still undecided.
Jumping to the post-apocalyptic story On the Fickle Nature of Germination. A discovery of 2 ancient bodies trapped between the ice and the outbreak of a devastating flu. Is there a link. This story was one that could be more fact than fiction, as remains get excavated what diseases could be unearthed. This was a quick pace story just like the outbreak.
There was the odd story that I could not get in to, but this did not stop me liking the book. A nice touch was that some of the stories had a low-key link, either by an odd line or action which if like me you read the whole book from cover to cover you will spot straight away.
These stories had a mixture of genres, that would please the readers of dark fiction. Whilst I was writing this review I was checking on amazon to see his other published work and I am surprised that this was his first.
Like all anthologies there were some stories that stood out for me. From the seventies Two Boys in a Diner- Vic and his younger brother Jimmy are in a diner reminiscing about family, death and old times. As there is only 2 characters, you really get to know them and whilst brothers and brought up together, they are like chalk and cheese. It is not till the end that the true reason of their visit to the diner is revealed.
From the eighties Dead Reckoning- The story opens with a policeman being dragged by a priest on a horse. The story swaps between past and present with ease and as you read this story you find out exactly what the policeman had done to deserve this treatment and why the priest felt the need to dish out the punishment. This story does make you think, was either in the wrong, was their actions justified.
From the nineties Savior- Following a vet disfigured from war, trying to make a living and his fascination with a performer from the visiting fair. There was a feel of sorrow to this story. The main character was hidden away due to his serious injuries. When he performed with his disguise it reminded me of the elephant man and the prejudice that people had for him. Did he do the right thing, I am still undecided.
Jumping to the post-apocalyptic story On the Fickle Nature of Germination. A discovery of 2 ancient bodies trapped between the ice and the outbreak of a devastating flu. Is there a link. This story was one that could be more fact than fiction, as remains get excavated what diseases could be unearthed. This was a quick pace story just like the outbreak.
There was the odd story that I could not get in to, but this did not stop me liking the book. A nice touch was that some of the stories had a low-key link, either by an odd line or action which if like me you read the whole book from cover to cover you will spot straight away.
These stories had a mixture of genres, that would please the readers of dark fiction. Whilst I was writing this review I was checking on amazon to see his other published work and I am surprised that this was his first.
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