CROWS AND SILENCES by Lucius Shepard

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Look what came in the mail! Crows and Silences isa collection of four novellas by Lucius Shepard with an introduction by yourstruly. As the dust jacket says: 

A combination of misfortunes prevented Lucius Shepard frombreaking out into the literary world beyond SF and his elevation to the Pantheonof writers remains always just a breath and a wish away In the meantime, hereare four tales of people hoping to survive the daily trauma of their lives. Allcaught in a world of crows and silences and trying to make the best of it.

 

The book comes from Subterranean Press and it’s both beautifullyand solidly made. The cover and an interior illustration are by Aurélien Police, and the title is taken fromthe text of one of the novellas within. The four novellas are Kalimantan," "Skull City," "Louisiana Breakdown," and "Colonel Rutherford's Colt." If you’re a fan of Lucius’ work, youwant this book.

 

Issued in an edition of 500 numbered hardcover copy. You can buy  one here. Or go to Subterranean Press and wander about, wistfully browsing, here.

 

And if youwant a frustrating taste of the introduction I wrote...

 

Here’s howit begins?

 

          Let’s start witha story. Lucius Shepard was headed home, drunk, at three in the morning. Thiswas when he was living in a bad neighborhood in Staten Island. A derelict camestumbling out of the darkness toward him and Lucius reached for his wallet todredge out a couple of bucks. But then the man stuck a gun in his face andpulled the trigger.

          Click.

          No bullet.

          Pulling the gunback, the man stared down at it in astonishment and giggled.

 

And the story goes on from there. SPOILER ALERT: LuciusShepard lived. Though not, alas, to the present day.

 

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