The Pulse between Dimensions and the Desert

by Rios de la Luz

“Rios de la Luz’s writing blows minds and breaks hearts. A sort of new and bizarre Tomás Rivera, Rios is able to blend the familiar of the domestic with the all the wilderness of the universe. Her stories will grab you in places you didn’t know you had, take you by those places to where you’ve always wanted to go—though you never knew how to get there. Buy this book and enjoy that journey.” —Brian Allen Carr “In The Pulse between Dimensions and the Desert, Rios de la Luz’s writing is electric and alive. It grabs you and pulls you into her universe, one that is both familiar and foreign, a place where Martians find love, bad guys get their ears cut off, and time travel agents save lost children. In this innovative, heartfelt debut, de la Luz takes her place as a young author that demands to be read and watched.” —Juliet Escoria

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Short Story Collection, Latinx, Weird Fiction

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2015

Reviews

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are connected to the earth, yet are also harnessed to the sky and beyond. The characters experience childhood trauma, alienation, disappointment and objectification, but their spirits remain fierce. Family ties provide a foundation for a whirlwind of emotions and the yearning for justice. The author's writing is powerful, combining the forces of nature with beliefs and imagination that transcend the symbols of words. Whether describing the loss of a sibling or love shared in dreams, Rios de la Luz strikes like lightning from an alternative time zone. Roots are shaken, and myths are born.

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excursion into reading something outside of my normal go-to books. Nicely written stories. I liked the time-travel surrealism theme woven through some of the pieces. I would read more by Rios de la Luz in the future.

[Xian Xian · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Goodreads, it says that this book came out from Broken River Books, the dark and maybe surreal, judging by the book covers, noir small press publisher. But the Kindle version is from Lady Box Books which is an imprint of Broken River. I’ve been stalking Ladybox Books ever since its making. It’s a press dedicated to publishing female identifying writers. If that isn’t awesome, then I don’t know what else is, especially since a Woman of Color, a Latina, is involved in this and has her book published in this budding small press.

Just look at the cover and fondle it with your eyes for a few seconds. I haven’t been reading much Sci-Fi so I will admit the genre fiction aspect scared me off, despite that my reader senses were like “Buy it, god dang it! or put it on a wish list and buy it soon.” And then it was on sale and I finally got it. So why do I keep rambling, because I don’t have much to say with short stories, I hate that I’m always short on words when it comes to short story collections.

The Pulse Between Dimensions and the Desert is a collection of stories I have been waiting for. It’s rare for me to read a collection and enjoy 90% of the stories. But this is one of them. It contains a strong personal, cut-throat reality with a quirky bizarre Sci-Fi that is pretty darn close to bizarro and I’m thinking of C.V. Hunt right now, but honestly I suck at comparisons. Some of the stories are Young adult or take place from a young child, it’s so odd how de la Luz is able to write a children’s story that is so innocent yet so highly aware of how a child is so sensitive to other people’s lurking evilness, they are wide awake.

There’s time machines, aliens, laser guns, and girls beating up dudes, it’s not sweet at all despite the pretty book cover. The stories are surreal and eccentric and are not guilty for going further than that. The prose is in Spanglish and written more like narrative poetry than traditional prose, especially with the use of “you,” which I was surprised to see since most writers and readers, from what I’ve heard of consider the second person perspective to be ‘pretentious’ or overdone. This is the second time I’ve come across this, the first time, from what I remember was Arafat Mountain by Mike Kleine, which was published by Atatl Press. But I never finished that book, I only read the first few pages, I will in the future though. You are very tricky, you can be something that can get a little perplexing, but you are awesome, because it’s like de la Luz is talking to you, leading you by the hand through the story. She is whispering about every moment about her fictional life. You listen and you nod, she is bleeding, crying, her wet eyeliner creating a sort of black blush for her cheeks that she totally messed up somehow. And you keep listening because it’s hard to turn away.

Rating: 5/5

Originally posted on Notes on the Shore

[Kyle Muntz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharp collection that falls somewhere between fiction and nonfiction; reality and a terrible dream. The stories deal with issues of violence, race, femininity, personhood, family, and memory in very visceral, intense ways, with heavy changing POVs but mostly seeming to center around different versions of the same character. At times, it felt closer to prose-poetry; and while there were supernatural elements, they felt very metaphorical to me, like a kind of thematic intensity bursting into the narrative. What I appreciate most isn't necessarily the strangeness of it, but moments of intense insight, especially the focus on how (mostly very unpleasant) formative experiences can change and stay with you for a very long time. It felt very real in a way that seems important, I think, which is why those parts of the stories will stay with me.

[Michael Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful prose structured into striking vignettes and short stories with threads of magic-realism and dream-logic running through them.

[Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An​ ​impressive​ ​debut​ ​collection.​ ​The​ ​Pulse​ ​Between​ ​Dimensions​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Desert​ ​had​ ​quite​ ​the effect​ ​on​ ​me.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​revisit​ ​those​ ​cherished​ ​relatives​ ​that​ ​have​ ​passed.​ ​The​ ​many​ ​versions​ ​of yourself​ ​you​ ​have​ ​gone​ ​through.​ ​The​ ​important​ ​memories​ ​that​ ​only​ ​you​ ​will​ ​take​ ​to​ ​your​ ​grave. You​ ​will​ contemplate​ ​the​ ​significance​ ​of​ ​your​ ​life​ ​in​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​those​ ​who​ ​were​ ​close​ ​to​ ​you​ ​in every​ ​phase.​ ​Identity​ ​and​ ​your​ ​roots.​ ​Finding​ ​love​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​the​ ​awkward​ ​power​ ​of​ ​it​ ​all.​ ​All of​ ​it​ ​told​ ​with​ ​purity​ ​and​ ​vivid​ ​description​ ​through​ ​a​ ​window​ ​streaked​ ​by​ ​time​ ​travel​ ​and​ ​alternate dimensions. Recommended highly.

[Edward Rathke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love this collection, and it's shockingly great for a first collection. Short stories kind of fascinate me right now. Partly because I can't write them but mostly because some people can do it so well that it feels easy, like everyone should be able to cobble together a handful of pages that really shine.

It's never worked for me.

But this collection--I can't name a story I didn't like. They're really powerful, and de la Luz uses second person maybe better than anyone I've ever come across. It's a varied collection. Some stories are brutal, some painful, some terse and violent, some whimsical, but all of them carrying a strong sense of self. They're stories about identity, both personal, sexual, and cultural. They're about people who don't usually get perspectives in fiction. The women brutalised by men, the poor, the women who work endlessly just to keep from drowning, the shamed, the enraged, the colonised.

Colonise your colonisers.

That's one of my favorite quotes from Giannina Braschi, and I feel that's what this collection is doing. It's giving a voice to the voiceless. It's forcing your eyes on the ramifications of the white supremacist patriarchal world we've built and inhabit.

But, yeah, really impressive stuff.

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are specks in this mess. We are so miniscule, but we express ourselves with the magnitude of an entire galaxy."

This is my second Rios de la Luz book, and her storytelling is so damn good. This collection is entertaining, gorgeous, strange, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. There's a little something for everyone here. If you're a speculative fiction fan, I can't recommend Rios' books enough.

My top 5 stories in this collection are Enojada, Church Bush, Lady Mescaline, Esmai, and Rosario. There's so much fantastic content packed into this little book, and you need to read it!

[Emma Alice Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Truth In The Weird

The stories in this book move between diary-like realism and dreamlike weirdness with such grace. It's about growing up. It's about time travel. It's about so much. So much in such a short book, in such short stories. The emotions can get overwhelming at times, and the second person perspective that so many of the pieces in this book favor really puts all the feelings right into your heart so you can't help but let them overtake you. This is crucial reading.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really unique, hallucinatory collection packed with feeling and emotion. The stories center largely around issues like race, family, sexism, sexual discovery and childhood trauma. Some stories have supernatural elements in them, but they never really seem to take center stage; they're just complimentary elements playing in the background and seem more metaphorical than anything. My favorite stories were 'Ear to the Ground', 'Church Bush', 'Sweet Gum' and the title story.

[Ben Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and heart-wrenching. Each story was so rich and easy to fall headfirst into. I can't wait for more! Great job, Rios!

[Joe Zanetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are specks in this mess. We are so miniscule, but we express ourselves with the magnitude of an entire galaxy."

More often than not, I will purchase a book based on what I hear from others, mainly authors and avid readers such as myself. It's uncommon for me to make an impulse buy. Rios de la Luz's collection of stories, The Pulse Between Dimensions and the Desert, was one such impulse buy. With the exception of a couple blurbs on the back cover, there wasn't much else to go by, but it was the beautiful and enticing cover that ultimately made the decision for me, and I'm quite happy with my decision. Matthew Revert's cover gave off a vibe akin to something along the lines of the universe reaching out to me, wanting to show me something, and through Rios de la Luz, it totally did.

Published by Ladybox Books, an imprint of Broken River Press, TPBDATD is a powerful work of literature, resonating on a variety of levels. At only 102 pages, the stories within pack hard-hitting truths, evoking a wide range of feelings, from sadness, anger, laughter, to joy. De la Luz is not afraid to explore the brutal aspects of human nature; she's not afraid to explore the harsh realities people regularly face; and she's certainly not afraid to explore the ridiculous stereotypes and ignorance that many experience on a daily basis. She brilliantly utilizes speculative elements, such as time travel, in order to place a greater emphasis on her various explorations of the layered landscapes of life. De la Luz writes of femininity, xenophobia, alienation, prejudice, abuse, racial stereotypes, broken families, adolescence, sexuality, and the simple things we find solace in, such as Xena, X-Files, Power Rangers, and Killer Instinct. Basically, she leaves no stone unturned.

Some of de la Luz's stories, such as Hammer, and Lady Mescaline, are told in the second person. Considering the nature of her stories, the second person had a rather personal effect on me. It felt like I was experiencing memories that were tucked away in the darkness situated in the back of my mind. Or, the universe was showing me the memories of others; it felt like I experienced all the good and bad through their eyes, making the stories all the more impactful and resonating; my emotions went through the roof, shedding tears and feeling intense anger at the injustices suffered by those who were doing nothing more than trying to live a life free of harassment and prejudice.

In some stories, time travel plays a rather integral role. In Esmai (also the name of the protagonist), a version of her, named Maribel, from another world, travels to Esmai's world to save her. Maribel tells Esmai that she's a time travel agent from portal Q2786, and saves lost children from other portals and dimensions that began on Esmai's version of earth. If the children are found alive, they would undergo rehabilitation and be sent to a foster family from another earth. Maribel is now a fugitive, though. She tells Esmai there is a political campaign against multidimensional travel. "They are marketing through xenophobia, claiming the kids my department has rescued should be left for dead. They claim the kids should not be allowed on an earth from which they were not born." Sounds crazy and absurd, right? Why would anyone campaign for such a thing? Yet it echos many problems we face today. I think de la Luz's use of time travel in this story is convey the message that, if we don't address and fight racism and xenophobia here and now, in the present, then the future is doomed; the problem will only amplify and multiply. In the case of Lupe, an abuela (grandmother) from the story, Lupe and Her Time Machine, time travel is means to show us how are children can often suffer the same pitfalls we did when we were their age. Lupe sees her daughter, Alma, suffering many of the same fates she did at such a young age. All she can do is protect her daughter and her grandchildren from any outside threats, mainly Alma's current boyfriend. Lupe builds a time machine and goes back to certain points in her past, viewing repeats of her younger life. Time travel truly illuminates these themes, bound to make anyone acknowledge the issues that threaten our lives, within and without.

De la Luz also highlights adolescence, womanhood, and sexuality. In Church Busch, a girl is made to feel like an object through the church she attends. Virginity oaths are signed, and pamphlets on sexual defiance refer to young women as "tape," or a "piece of candy." At church, you are told that two virgins waiting to have sex on your wedding night is a magical experience, but all "odors and fart noises" are never discussed. Neither are the malfunctions and messiness. What the girls are told does not accurately reflect the reality of it. Throughout the story, the protagonist is also experiencing puberty, creating a wide range of emotions and problems for her. At church, she feels like an alien; however, it's because of the church, she meets Laura, her first love. I found it to be a fantastic turn of events. The one place that always made her feel like an object, that made her feel alienated and uncomfortable, is where she meets someone she likes, and actually feels safe for a change. The theme of alienation is also explored in Martian Matters; how we are made to feel alienated, or how we sometimes choose to alienate ourselves because of sexual orientation or other things. We fear what others, especially family, will think of you. In Marigolds, the power and safety of family is expressed; how, even in death, a family member can reach out to you and let you know that everything will be okay. It also shows us that death is inevitable, and we must live our lives to the fullest.

Some of de la Luz's stories do a rather excellent job of depicting humans as miniscule in the grand scheme of things. We are often referred to as "specks," or we live on a rock floating through space. We step inside a crater and instantly feel "heavy." The universe is very much portrayed as a frontier, and the earth is just one tiny, tiny, tiny piece of that frontier. On this rock we live on, we are struggling to survive; struggling to eek out an existence that ultimately means nothing, yet we strive to make the best of what we have. "We are specks in this mess. We are so miniscule, but we express ourselves with the magnitude of an entire galaxy." This is all we have, and we will do what ever it takes to make the earth, our lives, and the societies found all over, worth living and fighting for.

Rios de la Luz's debut collection is nothing short of powerful and resonating. She knows all aspects of human nature. She knows the goodness that can be found in us; she knows we are capable of kindness and good deeds. On the flip side, she also knows the vile and terrible things we are capable of doing to one another. De la Luz shows us that somewhere, in some part of the world, a child is taking care of him/herself because their father is long gone, and their mother is out on the streets. She shows us that someone is living in fear because of who they are; they are afraid to open because of what society will do to them. She knows that somewhere, someone is being stereotyped because of the color of their skin. A man tells a woman, "I'm really a nice guy," or "I'm just trying to compliment you." "Where are you from?" Unfortunately, ignorance and stereotyping happen far too often, and de la Luz is cleverly and brutally addresses this in some of the stories found within TPBDATD. Anyone who reads this collection of stories will be left with an unforgettable experience. The truth rings free in de la Luz's stories, and sometimes the truth is harsh, but it must be acknowledged, addressed, and faced.

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, unflinching writing

This book reads like poetry, and the words are alive. I can smell the smells of the characters in each story, feel the touch of their breath on my face as I listen to their stories. The author's prose is magical, the cadence and style hypnotic. More, please!

[Tomasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, tender and courageous stories paving the way for the next collection (which is even better, believe it or not).

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was more of an intellectual trip to me than it was probably designed to be. Rios de la Luz writes stories where the real, the surreal and the outright imaginary coexist within the realm of perception and somehow feed on one another. The simplest example would be he story HAMMER, where a class assignment becomes a dream that becomes a fiction story that becomes a new part of the protagonist's personality.

I loved the philosophy behind THE PULSE BETWEEN DIMENSIONS AND THE DESERT that our knowledge and perception are blinders to the wonders of the universe and although not every story resonated with me, I'll admit they were beautiful, intricate and clever construction. It'll be interesting to see what this author can do on a longer project as I feel that with her style and her creative philosophy, possibilities are infinite.

[Nate Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing debut collection. Rios de la Luz writes stories that are simultaneously hopeful and hopeless, fantastical and all too depressingly grounded. Her prose cuts, her characters sing, and her stories have dirt under their nails. Pick this up now.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

thinking about el paso. thinking about fuck white supremacy and the violence of this world as captured here in these vivid stories. this short book is so many universes. thinking abt queer interstellar saviours

[fire_on_the_mountain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly a gifted writer-- I think I just wanted more meat on the bones, but that's the nature of short fiction. Will definitely be watching out for any more works.

[Ian Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Magical surrealism". That's the best shot at describing this book from its publisher, Constance Ann Fitzgerald of Ladybox Books (under the umbrella of Broken River Books), and it's as apt a term as any for a collection which defies pigeon-holing.

Rios de la Luz' debut is a loose assortment of short pieces ranging from a single paragraph up to thirteen pages. They're often semi-autobiographical in theme, filled with inspiration from the lived experience of growing up as a queer Latino woman. And much as I like books by old, dead white dudes, it's nice to have a perspective so far removed from my own.

There's a kind of pleasing rhythm to the language and an ear for its beauty which embraces the poetic without entirely crossing the border into outright prose poetry. It's a beauty found in the mundane and the everyday including fluid code-switching into the kind of common Spanish I would understand had I grown up in the southern United States as the author had. As it is I struggle with it but I can appreciate its form even if its function requires me to google.

These are stories about love, humanity, family and self-discovery in a place which can be dark and depressing for women and minorities, and most of the characters are both. Inter-generational relationships between women are an especial focus, both how they show love and how that love can be strained. There's a warmth and reality on display here which the surrealism of time travel and fantastical, dream-like elements serve to enhance rather than to diminish.

Rios de la Luz is a worthy new voice and I look forward to following her career.

[Scott Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of vignettes and flash stories often deal with family life and childhood outlooks, trauma, sexuality, healing and imagining spaces for justice, especially for women. In one of my favorite, “Lupe and Her Time Machine”, a grandmother builds a time machine to try to heal her family, but seems to be locked into moments of trauma, but she heroically tries again and again as she can only offer embraces. Many stories can’t be labeled as they have elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and realism or memoir. I love the witnessing and resilience against the male and racist gaze in “Rosario”. Other flash fiction deals with colorism as you might guess with the title “Morena”. In “Martian Matters” a young person deals with sexual identity and daydreams a soulmate on Mars, where she may be seen, loved and valued. This story exemplifies what most of the stories of this collection strive for, the search for possibilities and to provide spaces for hope. I love the style and motifs of these stories and highly recommend the book.

[Lisa Eckstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of brief short stories covers a range of styles and genres. Some stories are brutally real, some involve time travel, others encompass both. What unites them all is beautiful, dreamy images and powerful emotions.

In "Lupe and Her Time Machine," a grandmother builds and carefully decorates a contraption in her garage. Maybe it's a time machine powered by rose petals, maybe she's simply remembering, but the difference between these isn't as important as the insights she finds. The protagonist of "Esmai" lives prepared for apocalyptic scenarios, but instead she encounters a version of herself from another dimension.

"Ear to the Ground" shifts from childhood innocence to shocking violence, with a pause at this magical interlude: "One night, on your way home, you passed the giant pecan tree in the middle of the neighborhood. A pecan landed on your head and when you cracked it open, there were rounded sprinkles inside. You opened more, one of them had honey inside and another had pomegranate seeds inside. The last pecan you picked up had confetti inside and a photograph. It was of you and Soledad. She made bunny ears behind your head."

If these descriptions intrigue you, you're definitely the right audience for this collection, and I encourage you to seek it out.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't sleep last night. Next to my bed is a tower of books. Ive been collecting a lot of them lately. On top of one of the towers, was this collection. So I thought, I'll just read a few stories and go to bed. One hundred and twenty pages later, I slowly closed the book and set it gently on top of the read pile. The prose is visceral, poignant, and dreamlike. Inside are fabulously outlined perspectives. Some are sad, some humorous. Others are bizarre but very beautiful. There are perspectives and truths, that I'll never be able to understand. Being a male and a gringo, throws an immediate two strikes my way lol. I truthfully enjoyed these stories, and look forward to more of her work.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really strange collection of stories that I really liked a lot. You've got elements of science fiction and fantasy mixing up with family (and abuse and memory within families) all told from the perspective of a queer Latina. Definitely outside my comfort zone but in a good way. I recommend it.

[Caton Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

The science fiction stories collected here combine intensely personal loves, trauma, rage, and the North American Latinx experience. Rios de la Luz celebrates and mourns the brilliance and struggles of women- mothers, grandmothers, lost daughters with every story. A refreshing perspective in science fiction and fantasy, and a strong first release.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let this slimness of this volume fool you. The stories are brief because they're at their optimal fighting weight. This is what writing should be - broken and bloody and still staring the ugliness and cruelty of the world straight in the eye.

[Charity Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visceral, sweet, poignant

I will probably read this book again, so that all the stories will really sink in. There's so much depth and things you can relate to in here. The whole book came across a poetic documentary without being too abstract.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything in this collection was strange and wonderful and felt like a fractured version of a larger truth. The surrealist notes and time-travel references were such a wonderful surprise. I am so excited to read more of Rios de la Luz’s work!

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuentos cortos, mujeres chicanas, un poco de ciencia ficción, infancia, migración, abuso, defensa, sueños y magia.

Me encantó y ya quiero leer más cosas suyas.

[Sheldon Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Alma Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful novel. 🌵 Rios de la Luz has such a unique voice that blends in the elements of magical realism, sci-fi, and Chapina/Chicana undertones. Rios de la luz all in all is just so cool. 🌒