Just North of Nowhere

by Lawrence Santoro

Book by Lawrence Santoro

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

I started writing when I was five. I won a playground storytelling contest when I was 8. More recently I got two nominations for the Bram Stoker Award by the Horror Writers Association: In 2001, my novella "God Screamed and Screamed, Then I Ate Him" was the first. In 2002, I adapted, produced and directed an audio version of Gene Wolfe's "The Tree Is My Hat." The show had Neil Gaiman in the cast and the script for "Tree..." was my second Stoker nod. Fun, but not as much as the playground contest. As story supervisor and associate producer of the TV series, "Hyde & Seeke," I wrote, directed and supervised production throughout the half-hour series' first season. That was fun! In 2003 "Catching," was Stoker 'Recommended' - means I didn't get it - but the story was Honorable Mentioned in the 17th Annual Year's Best Fantasy and Horror antho and "So Many Tiny Mouths" was so-Mentioned the next year. My first novel, "Just North of Nowhere," based on the Bluffton stories, will be published in January, 2007. I live in Chicago and am finally married to Tycelia, the love of my life. That’s the ultimate fun!

If you're an author or publisher looking to have your work professionally read and recorded, stop by my website, http://www.SantoroReads.com/

My story, "Then, Just a Dream" won the StarShipSofa's "Sofie" award for best short story of 2009. I also received the Sofie for best Narration of that year.

Currently: I'm working on two novels, GRIFON AND THE SKY WARRIORS, and A MISSISSIPPI TRAVELER, OR SAM CLEMENS TRIES THE WATER.

I've recently become the host of the weekly horror/dark fantasy podcast, "Tales to Terrify." (http://talestoterrify.com)

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larry Santoro has written a collection of stories reminiscent of Ray Bradbury at his pastoral best or of Stephen King's Stand By Me.

Just North of Nowhere is a small Midwestern town populated by persons ordinary and quite extraordinary, their stories spanning the period from wilderness days to the present, their lives interwoven by descent and by place. At once an appreciation of traditional, rural communities and of regional types (Larry does dialog well), JNN has just enough of the, usually understated, fantastical to repeatedly surprise the reader lulled by the familiarity of it all.

Santoro reads publicly and he reads well. Some of his work is available in recorded formats. If you have a chance to hear him, take it.

[Meran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book very much.

However, things I didn't like were the font (I've been a reader for over 50 yrs... Reading this book brought me to the realization that an easy to read font is how I read faster than most people. This one, a rounded, sans serif type just bogged me down), and the 7-15 exclamation points on EACH page!!!!! (These reasons were why I gave the book 4 stars, instead of 5.)

Now, I know the author encourages his works to be read aloud... These may be clues to that process. However, as a free time editor, I know they're "not permitted"... And I see why... They are very distracting!

Other than those two things, this book reminded me, remotely, but enough so that they came to mind, of two other works: The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters and Steinbeck's Cannery Row (and other short stories of the people of that work.) Each chapter visits different citizens of the town, giving us deep insight into their thoughts and lives. They are rewoven in when you read about them in other citizens' chapters, giving even more information on their personalities (maybe that should read "quirks".)

I'm not sure what genre to classify this book in! I believe Santoro considers himself a horror writer; however, I'd put this in the Mythic Fiction genre with Charles de Lint's work, and even Lucius Shepard.

I'm buying other works by this author, and will be looking for this book to own myself, since it was borrowed. Yes, I liked it enough for an eventual re-read!

(All exclamation points are intentional! ;) )

[P.L. Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel "Just North of Nowhere" was truly a first for me. In the beginning, I put the book down several times out of sheer frustration. This was not an easy read for me. However, Lawrence Santoro's novel shatters stereotypes. Once I grew accustomed to his style, language and stucture, I was immediately swept into the world created by this author. Santoro is truly "a writer's writer." His use of language is not only eloquent, it is often rare and brilliant. His characters are authentic. The dialogue is impeccable - often hilarious. Santoro's novel is not for the casual reader. In fact, my one comment to Larry would be that language should primarily be used to convey meaning or, on really good days, to illuminate ... never to impress. I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lawrence Santoro in person. I remember him speaking in hushed tones once our conversation turned to his beloved friend, the esteemed writer, Ray Bradbury. I hate to tell you this, Larry, but I enjoyed "Just North of Nowhere" even more than "Farenheit 451." Well done.

[Andrea Dubnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in Chicago when Larry was writing some of this material, and so when I read either the paper version *or* the Kindle version, I hear every word in his sonorous actor's baritone. Since then I've had the good fortune to move to a small town at the very edge of the Driftless Zone (look it up) which is definitely NOT Bluffton, alas... but sometimes I think I can see it from here.

There's an earlier review that confesses this book may be difficult to get into. Larry suggests that you read at least some of it out loud, or at least the "sub-vocalization" dreaded of grade-school teachers. Larry may or may not tell you he's *really* a theatre director, and I think he often moves his characters around like actors.

You may have caught on by now that I'm not really telling you anything much about Bluffton or, for that matter, about the book. I'm only more or less reading the Kindle version (longer, and with different typos than the paper edition) in order, since each chapter is an episode.

If you like Lake Wobegon, but you like a little more darkness in your fiction, try Bluffton.

[E.B. Loan · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG. So this is one of those books, that if you are a writer, wanna be a writer, or love great use of the English language--you will enjoy. Makes me cringe at my juvenile by comparison writing style.
A fantasy/adventure rich with characters, a true deep read.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I found several of the characters engaging, but the plot was so scattered I didn't find it coherent enough to draw me along. Gave up about half way through.