THE ANGEL ESMERALDA. (1979-2011). Don DeLillo. ****.
This is the first exposure I’ve had to any of the author’s shorter works. All of these stories had been previously published, but were arranged chronologically for this edition. The earlier stories are gems, and worked much better than those from the later period. The transition point seems to be the title story. Before that, the author’s mood and style were right on target for the prose form. The stories that followed later, although still very good, tended to be fleeting examples of one moment in time taken from some larger work known only to the writer. I’d recommend that the first three stories, “Creation,” “Human Moments in World War III,” and “The Runner,” be required reading for anyone in a book club. Normally, short stories don’t make it as book club topics, but there is enough to talk about in these first three stories to make for an exciting meeting. DeLillo, of course, is one of our best writers working today. Throughout his long career, he has written fifteen novels, two of them winning the National Book Award, among many other awards for his excellence. He has also written three (?) plays and this collection of short stories. I’d lke to know the reason for the fundamental shift in his mood and voice that occurred around 1988. Was it the effect of his other writings trickling down into this short form? Recommended.