Steven Saus reviewed An OCEAN IN IOWA by Peter Hedges
Review of 'An OCEAN IN IOWA' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Disclaimer: I know Jim. He's a friend. I'm not giving this review as a friend.
This is a solid collection of some of Jim's more "serious" work. Serious in comparison to his "Goblin" series, that is. Dark themes can - and do - pop up, but Jim has the skill to keep those themes from overwhelming the entire story.
They are short stories - get in, tell the tale, and get out. And they succeed remarkably at that. They also imply something larger, something beyond the boundaries of each story.
And that's what really makes these tales shine. You get the sense that they're part of something larger (even if they're really not... at least, not yet). They all have fantastical elements, though the degree and type varies, so if you're only happy with traditional sword-and-sorcery, this might not be for you. For all the rest of us, Sister of …
Disclaimer: I know Jim. He's a friend. I'm not giving this review as a friend.
This is a solid collection of some of Jim's more "serious" work. Serious in comparison to his "Goblin" series, that is. Dark themes can - and do - pop up, but Jim has the skill to keep those themes from overwhelming the entire story.
They are short stories - get in, tell the tale, and get out. And they succeed remarkably at that. They also imply something larger, something beyond the boundaries of each story.
And that's what really makes these tales shine. You get the sense that they're part of something larger (even if they're really not... at least, not yet). They all have fantastical elements, though the degree and type varies, so if you're only happy with traditional sword-and-sorcery, this might not be for you. For all the rest of us, Sister of the Hedge & Other Stories is a delight.