You thought Kafka's Uncle ended with Anslenot climbing into the coal bucket to ascend into the regions beyond the ice? You really thought the story ended there? Oh, no- Anslenot is back and the story continues in the regions beyond the ice which turn out, alas, to be bleak and cold indeed . . . and with him once more, his friend/confidant/tormentor, the tarantula. Together, they explore these frozen lands and encounter denizens such as the Media Bird, a praying mantis by the name, of course, of Jonny Mantis, the Little White-Haired Girl, the Blizzard Beast among many others. But ultimately, they discover the solace-of Kafka. Also included is the story, Dusk's Mirror and how, through the eyes of children, we come to discover, once again, just how magical reality truly is. And 23 short stories, some previously published, round out this collection. "A very gifted short story writer."-Jeff VanderMeer "Bruce Taylor has earned the title of "Mr. Magic Realism" by dint of producing works that are fascinating, insightful, and downright fun to read. His fiction will make you think . . . And smile."-Ben Bova "The transformational figure for science fiction."-Elton Elliott, former editor, "The Science Fiction Review" "As rich and poetic as Bradbury at his best."-William F. Nolan, author of Logan's Run "a very gifted short fiction writer" -Jeff VanderMeer "A writer of imagination and insight, Bruce Taylor delivers a collection of stories that amazes and intrigues." -Terry Brooks
About the Author: Bruce Taylor, known as Mr. Magic Realism, was born in 1947 in Seattle, Washington, where he currently lives. He was a student at the Clarion West Science Fiction/Fantasy writing program at the University of Washington, where he studied under such writers as Avram Davidson, Robert Silverberg, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Frank Herbert. Bruce has been involved in the advancement of the genre of magic realism, founding the Magic Realism Writers International Network, and collaborating with Tamara Sellman on MARGIN (http: //www.magical-realism.comwww.magical-realism.com). Recently, he co-edited, with Elton Elliott, former editor of Science Fiction Review, an anthology titled, Like Water for Quarks, which examines the blending of magic realism with science fiction, with work by Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. LeGuin, Brian Herbert, Connie Willis, Greg Bear, William F. Nolan, among others. Elton Elliott has said that "(Bruce) is the transformational figure for science fiction." His works have been published in such places as The Twilight Zone, Talebones, The Seattle P.I., Darke Phantastique and New Dimensions. His first collection, The Final Trick of Funnyman and Other Stories (available from Fairwood Press) recently received high praise from William F. Nolan, who said that some of his stores were "as rich and poetic as Bradbury at his best." Soon to be published is a prequel (Kafka's Uncle: the Ghastly Prequel and Other Tales of Love and Pathos from the World's Most Powerful, Third-World Banana Republic). Industrial Carpet Drag, a weird and funny look at global warming and environmental decay, was released in 2014. Bruce was writer in residence at Shakespeare & Company, Paris. If not writing, Bruce is either hiking or can be found in the loft of his vast condo, awestruck at the smashing view of Mt. Rainier with his partner, artist and writer Roberta Gregory and their "mews," Roo-Prrt.