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When We Come Back: More Stories
WHEN WE COME BACK is the startling new collection where D. H. Schleicher explores both recent history and visions of the future through literary and speculative fiction. Some stories traverse how everyday people are impacted by events like the global pandemic, the Great Recession or the dot-com bubble. Other tales paint a dystopian world post climate catastrophe or a far-flung future where an evolution in AI produces surprising results. Across these stories, characters struggle to connect, find meaning, and move forward in the face of sometimes tragic and always shifting headwinds.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2023
14 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
D.H. Schleicher
11 books47 followersD.H. Schleicher’s new novel, West Falls Revisited, launched in the summer of 2024. He is also the author of two thematically linked short story collections, When We Come Back (released in 2023), and its predecessor, And Then We Vanish (released in 2020). His earlier novel, the historical thriller Then Came Darkness, plumbs the depths of greed, revenge, and family dysfunction during the Great Depression. He currently resides in the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and son.
You can follow his blog TheSchleicherSpin.com where he shares his views on books, movies, and travel.
You can follow his blog TheSchleicherSpin.com where he shares his views on books, movies, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 22, 2023
When We Come Back is a wonderful collection of stories. It especially excels in the second half when the theme shifts to speculation about the future. The final story, When the Door Opens, is the highlight of the collection with a surprising twist that gives a great conclusion. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Schleicher's stories!
June 25, 2023
He’s done it again
I loved Schleicher’s first collection, and this is more of the same - in this best possible way. I devoured it. So much so, I’m certain I’ll have to go back to it soon to re-read in a more measured manner to truly appreciate it. If you like smart, atmospheric and emotional short stories then give this a go. It’s great.
I loved Schleicher’s first collection, and this is more of the same - in this best possible way. I devoured it. So much so, I’m certain I’ll have to go back to it soon to re-read in a more measured manner to truly appreciate it. If you like smart, atmospheric and emotional short stories then give this a go. It’s great.
December 11, 2022
When We Come Back is D.H. Schleicher’s second volume of short stories. Each is provocative, often fantastical, and graced with a dark snap of humor.
The neighbors of “Lost Cat, Very Skittish,” each with their eyes on the other, are bound together by Mr. Periwinkle and his owner’s angst. The star of the story is the esteemed lost cat, and the author’s rendering of his personality is priceless.
The characters’ longings and foibles permeate the stories. The lonely woman in “Molly on the Ferry,” the suburban couple of “Puddle Jumpers,” and other denizens of the present, past, and future populate these poignant, probing stories. Schleicher’s evocative words implant scenes in our imagination of the landscape, the unspoken words between women and men, and the hopes and fears of children.
D.H. Schleicher is a rare talent. His ability to combine darkness and light and create vignettes that leap from the page to our imagination is a gift to readers everywhere. We can only look forward to more of his clever and superbly written work.
The neighbors of “Lost Cat, Very Skittish,” each with their eyes on the other, are bound together by Mr. Periwinkle and his owner’s angst. The star of the story is the esteemed lost cat, and the author’s rendering of his personality is priceless.
The characters’ longings and foibles permeate the stories. The lonely woman in “Molly on the Ferry,” the suburban couple of “Puddle Jumpers,” and other denizens of the present, past, and future populate these poignant, probing stories. Schleicher’s evocative words implant scenes in our imagination of the landscape, the unspoken words between women and men, and the hopes and fears of children.
D.H. Schleicher is a rare talent. His ability to combine darkness and light and create vignettes that leap from the page to our imagination is a gift to readers everywhere. We can only look forward to more of his clever and superbly written work.
January 22, 2023
I've been a fan of this author's work, so when they offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!
Short story collections are always hard to review without getting into the nitty gritty of each specific story, but I did like the overall tone of past and future. A lot of people consider the 1990s to the 2000s too recent to write about, but it's nice to get a chance to look back at them. Although one story had a whiff of "friend-zoned" that wasn't great.
The future stuff is all pretty dire and very cli-fi focused, save for the last future story, "When the Door Opens." Not sure I understood the science or mechanics of what it was showing, but I liked the idea of things stretching across history. I also loved "Commuter's Sentence" if for no other reason than the image of a bunch of monkeys scampering across icy buildings.
I also liked that it included one of the more notable stories from When We Vanish. I honestly think that story probably fits better in this collection than that one.
All in all, a great short story collection for anyone that likes thinking really hard about the passage of time.
Short story collections are always hard to review without getting into the nitty gritty of each specific story, but I did like the overall tone of past and future. A lot of people consider the 1990s to the 2000s too recent to write about, but it's nice to get a chance to look back at them. Although one story had a whiff of "friend-zoned" that wasn't great.
The future stuff is all pretty dire and very cli-fi focused, save for the last future story, "When the Door Opens." Not sure I understood the science or mechanics of what it was showing, but I liked the idea of things stretching across history. I also loved "Commuter's Sentence" if for no other reason than the image of a bunch of monkeys scampering across icy buildings.
I also liked that it included one of the more notable stories from When We Vanish. I honestly think that story probably fits better in this collection than that one.
All in all, a great short story collection for anyone that likes thinking really hard about the passage of time.
February 5, 2023
Much like his first collection of stories, Schleicher's latest collection "When We Come Back" features stories with gripping writing and interesting characters, all of whom are dealing with losing something in their lives and either trying to get it back or compensate for the loss. There are some truly poignant moments, like how in "Lost Cat, Very Skittish," all of the characters involved are so close yet so far from each other or in "Puddle Jumpers" where the dad who's been beaten down by life finds purpose again in spending time with his daughter. "In The Year 2000" (probably my favorite story in the collection) features yet another man beaten down by life but who has a female friend that he shares a routine with, and it's during the action of that routine one night where he realizes that their relationship is missing something very important. That, along with all the other stories, bring to light the ache that all humans feel when missing something in their lives, an aspect that shines through in the modern-set stories as well as the ones in the not-so-distant (and, in one case, very distant) future. Another winner from Schleicher.
December 24, 2022
I enjoy fiction that pulls me from a gnarly traffic jam or a day of grading essays. When We Come Back is a powerful collection of stories— some bittersweet and others meditative. My favorite was Puddle Jumpers. In this story, a man is bludgeoned by the artifice in his life, but a simple day with his daughter helps him shift his priorities. In another vignette, a man contemplates his excursions to Atlantic City and their implications.
In these stories, D.H. Schleicher demonstrates his mastery of mood and atmosphere. I received an ARC of this collection, and I re-read the stories as I rode through New Jersey on my way from Florida to New England to see my family for Christmas. The author captures New Jersey (and close areas) well for the stories set there. I could see a city’s grit, Atlantic City’s abandon, and the sea’s salty winds. Many stories are of everyday people on the street, and I became introspective when reading this collection. I highly recommend this author’s latest release.
In these stories, D.H. Schleicher demonstrates his mastery of mood and atmosphere. I received an ARC of this collection, and I re-read the stories as I rode through New Jersey on my way from Florida to New England to see my family for Christmas. The author captures New Jersey (and close areas) well for the stories set there. I could see a city’s grit, Atlantic City’s abandon, and the sea’s salty winds. Many stories are of everyday people on the street, and I became introspective when reading this collection. I highly recommend this author’s latest release.
May 19, 2023
"When We Come Back" is a collection of short stories by author D. H. Schleicher that bring a new take and twist to both recent history and speculation on the future. It's a wonderful short read experience with a nice variety of writing styles and presentation. I particularly enjoyed both "Lost Cat, Very Skittish" and "Puddle Jumpers". Highly recommended for readers who enjoy well-written, imaginative short fiction.
November 25, 2022
WHEN WE COME BACK is another great short story collection by D.H. Schleicher. Each word, a gem waiting to be discovered, draws us further into the author’s world. It is such a pleasure to read stories that surprise me. I normally read a story or two in between my daily tasks. However, I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down.
January 5, 2023
At first I wasn't sure about this collection. Would a lost cat and some nosy neighbors keep my interest? But D.H. Schleicher's stories just kept getting better and better. I mean, have y'all read the story about the traffic jam????
January 27, 2023
David H. Schleicher’s second collection of short stories is an intriguing, potent mix without a bad one in the group. The author seductively draws you into each inventive tale. The pandemic, climate change, and more are on the table in this superb collection.
January 16, 2023
Nine stories that will make you think!
D.H. Schleicher's previous work, the terrific novel “Then Came Darkness,” was just about the best book I read in 2022. So I honestly was champing at the bit to dive into his latest collection of short stories, “When We Come Back.” These eight tales, with a bonus one, will transport you directly into the middle of some harrowing, thought-provoking, and purely atmospheric worlds. The author's gift of imagery and prose are a delight to the reader, and I admit I was fully immersed within this expansive universe. Each story is unique and well crafted.
Three stories in particular from the collection will have me thinking about them for some time to come—which I consider to be the biggest compliment one can give to an author. “In The Year 2000,” “Commuter's Sentence,” and my personal favorite, “When the Door Opens” will completely enthrall your imagination. The author has full command and a gift for language, which makes the writing seem effortless. As an author myself, I am jealous!
I urge you to go and pick up this delightful compendium!
D.H. Schleicher's previous work, the terrific novel “Then Came Darkness,” was just about the best book I read in 2022. So I honestly was champing at the bit to dive into his latest collection of short stories, “When We Come Back.” These eight tales, with a bonus one, will transport you directly into the middle of some harrowing, thought-provoking, and purely atmospheric worlds. The author's gift of imagery and prose are a delight to the reader, and I admit I was fully immersed within this expansive universe. Each story is unique and well crafted.
Three stories in particular from the collection will have me thinking about them for some time to come—which I consider to be the biggest compliment one can give to an author. “In The Year 2000,” “Commuter's Sentence,” and my personal favorite, “When the Door Opens” will completely enthrall your imagination. The author has full command and a gift for language, which makes the writing seem effortless. As an author myself, I am jealous!
I urge you to go and pick up this delightful compendium!
December 7, 2024
It’s been a couple of years since I read D. H. Schleicher’s first short story collection AND THEN WE VANISH. The stories in that book felt very special, tantalising and intricate, and reminded me of the work of Paul Auster. Now we have another collection, WHEN WE COME BACK, and what a collection it is.
The opening story, LOST CAT, VERY SKITTISH is a brief, wry snapshot of a small neighborhood during COVID and how the actions of a few individuals subtly intersect. It sets the tone for a collection that dips in and out of moments in lives, allowing you to breathe them in for a short time.
In MOLLY ON THE FERRY a woman’s curiousity brings her to a revelation about something that’s been happening all around her. A subtle tale rich with texture. One of my favourites, with a cool ending.
COLDSPACE, another favourite. A brilliant short piece, which sees a man enveloped fully by a moment of reflection.
In PUDDLE JUMPERS a husband entertains fleeting thoughts of freedom. What beautiful descriptions this story has. Reading this felt like looking at a vivid home video for just a few minutes before we are reminded that there is often darkness found just outside the frame.
IN THE YEAR 2000, for me the best story here, is a tale about being in the friend zone, and not by choice, as is so often the case. A great passage in this story made me feel very seen, at least, in the context of my younger years. “Hmmm, here I was again. Those pangs. She set the paradigm for me. My guy friends marveled at how easy-going I was with girls. I grew into a woman’s confidant. That was my gamble, my way into their secret space, but it was always a losing bet.“
Schleicher really knows how to paint the picture of a scene with efficient flourishes. He’ll note something about the way a curtain billows, or how the water behaves, or tell so much about a character from the CD she plays in the car, or how she puts her foot on the dashboard. The latter half of this collection looks at snapshots of an evolving world. MISCHIEF, MUSKRATS AND MUDSLIDES begins a foray into our witnessing of a world affected by climate change, floods, pandemics. Later we have the prosepcts of AI and the distant future of the internet. In COMMUTER’S SENTENCE, half the world is transformed into a traffic jam that becomes a permanent way of life. It ends with a shocking thought, and an image that will stay with me for a long time.
Richly and economically crafted characters search for meaning in these latter pages, and make choices as the world, its axis and its climate shifts around them, and in WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, the very core of our understanding of what may lie in store for us as a species knocks us off-balance.
The opening story, LOST CAT, VERY SKITTISH is a brief, wry snapshot of a small neighborhood during COVID and how the actions of a few individuals subtly intersect. It sets the tone for a collection that dips in and out of moments in lives, allowing you to breathe them in for a short time.
In MOLLY ON THE FERRY a woman’s curiousity brings her to a revelation about something that’s been happening all around her. A subtle tale rich with texture. One of my favourites, with a cool ending.
COLDSPACE, another favourite. A brilliant short piece, which sees a man enveloped fully by a moment of reflection.
In PUDDLE JUMPERS a husband entertains fleeting thoughts of freedom. What beautiful descriptions this story has. Reading this felt like looking at a vivid home video for just a few minutes before we are reminded that there is often darkness found just outside the frame.
IN THE YEAR 2000, for me the best story here, is a tale about being in the friend zone, and not by choice, as is so often the case. A great passage in this story made me feel very seen, at least, in the context of my younger years. “Hmmm, here I was again. Those pangs. She set the paradigm for me. My guy friends marveled at how easy-going I was with girls. I grew into a woman’s confidant. That was my gamble, my way into their secret space, but it was always a losing bet.“
Schleicher really knows how to paint the picture of a scene with efficient flourishes. He’ll note something about the way a curtain billows, or how the water behaves, or tell so much about a character from the CD she plays in the car, or how she puts her foot on the dashboard. The latter half of this collection looks at snapshots of an evolving world. MISCHIEF, MUSKRATS AND MUDSLIDES begins a foray into our witnessing of a world affected by climate change, floods, pandemics. Later we have the prosepcts of AI and the distant future of the internet. In COMMUTER’S SENTENCE, half the world is transformed into a traffic jam that becomes a permanent way of life. It ends with a shocking thought, and an image that will stay with me for a long time.
Richly and economically crafted characters search for meaning in these latter pages, and make choices as the world, its axis and its climate shifts around them, and in WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, the very core of our understanding of what may lie in store for us as a species knocks us off-balance.
April 22, 2023
A very assured, astute collection. I first read D.H. Schleicher's stories And Then We Vanish, followed by his novel Then Came Darkness. His is a confident, quiet literary style that pierces the heart of the human condition. When We Come Back did not disappoint. This collection has a strong undercurrent of what it means to be male today. An underlying theme of modern masculinity is prevalent. Boys and men navigate cultural, societal and economic pressures. From the bored Mr Johnson of the opening story vs the boy Aiden who found the courage to make an important call, to the mysterious Japanese "Joe" on the ferry to the Russian cab driver in Commuter's Sentence, these are men who have a role to start, play, complete. But what is that role? From their weaknesses, they found their strengths. "It seemed everyone was just waiting these days. For the next big storm." The narrator of "Mischief, Muskrats and Mudslides" laments. On a role-playing road trip, the narrator of "in the year 2000" calculates the shame of a childhood crush, afraid yet emboldened by the brashness. It is easier to be someone else than himself. I'd highly recommend this short book to anyone who is a fan of O. Henry stories or the modern American style.
August 1, 2023
Yes, I am the author.
I am especially proud of the “stretch” stories included in WHEN WE COME BACK, including my first foray into science fiction with the story When the Door Opens…
If you are interested in learning about the inspiration behind the stories, check out #SundayStories on my blog The Schleicher Spin.
https://theschleicherspin.com/tag/sun...
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did writing them.
I am especially proud of the “stretch” stories included in WHEN WE COME BACK, including my first foray into science fiction with the story When the Door Opens…
If you are interested in learning about the inspiration behind the stories, check out #SundayStories on my blog The Schleicher Spin.
https://theschleicherspin.com/tag/sun...
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did writing them.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews