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Hellbent
Hellbent is a collection of short stories by Paul Blaney, author of Handover.
ebook
First published May 1, 2013
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About the author
Paul Blaney
8 books22 followersI was born in England to parents who'd recently moved from Belfast. They were on their way to Tasmania, but that's another story (life). I'm the second of five children--two brothers, two sisters. Since studying Classics at college I've moved around a bit. I taught English for a year in Lisbon, had a short, dull career in reference publishing, and traveled in India, Australia and New Zealand. Then in early 1996 I ended up in Hong Kong, on a nice little island called Lamma. My experience of living and working in Hong Kong are the substance of my novella, Handover.
From Hong Kong I moved direct to Eugene, Oregon (cue culture shock!) where I studied for an MFA in Creative Writing. Back in London, I taught, wrote, and met my lovely wife Karen who's from Louisville Kentucky. She brought me back to America, first to New Jersey (where we both still work at Rutgers) then to Allentown, PA. That about brings me up to date.
From Hong Kong I moved direct to Eugene, Oregon (cue culture shock!) where I studied for an MFA in Creative Writing. Back in London, I taught, wrote, and met my lovely wife Karen who's from Louisville Kentucky. She brought me back to America, first to New Jersey (where we both still work at Rutgers) then to Allentown, PA. That about brings me up to date.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 11, 2014
This collection is absolutely worth reading this summer. It is a breath of fresh air, not long but intensely touching in simultaneously close and abstract reflections on self and family.
The first story - the title piece, "Hellbent" - features Simon who finds himself reminiscing about his friendless time at St. Aldates, the Catholic school he is sent to after his mother abandons both him and his father. "These next three years we're playing a game, Satan and I," begins the Father in charge of Simon's education. "The prize is your soul and I don't mean to lose."
The themes of self, religion, and choice - with the ever loud undertones of present or missing family - are presented throughout the collection in a variety of voices and settings. One story feels like a fable, and another could be the voice in each of our heads as we go about our day.
The seamless transition between inner thought and grand metaphor binds the total together as a significant moment of connection and questioning - here we find the relatable and the provoking, the essence of what it is to feel out of place or search for meaning in the ups and downs of life.
The first story - the title piece, "Hellbent" - features Simon who finds himself reminiscing about his friendless time at St. Aldates, the Catholic school he is sent to after his mother abandons both him and his father. "These next three years we're playing a game, Satan and I," begins the Father in charge of Simon's education. "The prize is your soul and I don't mean to lose."
The themes of self, religion, and choice - with the ever loud undertones of present or missing family - are presented throughout the collection in a variety of voices and settings. One story feels like a fable, and another could be the voice in each of our heads as we go about our day.
The seamless transition between inner thought and grand metaphor binds the total together as a significant moment of connection and questioning - here we find the relatable and the provoking, the essence of what it is to feel out of place or search for meaning in the ups and downs of life.
Displaying 1 of 1 review