Long-time New Yorker readers will be well-familiar with the stories of George
Saunders and his black-humoured dystopian take on a near-future
America and, by natural extension, the rest of the modern world. If
the worlds that Saunders writes about are fairly scary in their
creeping idiocy and totalitarianism his characters are nevertheless
recognisably human and essentially good people, battling against
seemingly impossible odds to maintain their dignity and optimism. His
stories are also very, very funny. The Tenth of December is
not his first collection of short stories but it may well be his
best. There are ten pieces here, the pick of which for me are The
Semplica Girl Diaries and My
Chivalric Fiasco. They are not
always a straightforward read as, without way of introduction to the
world you are about to read about, Saunders often jumps straight into
a situation and narrative that only becomes comprehensible and often
chillingly recognizable after a few pages. I have to admit that I had
to read the title story twice before I had a clue as to what was
going on. No hardship though. I can imagine reading the whole book
again before too long and hope that Mr.Saunders keeps writing stories
of this quality for some time to come.
Other
George Saunders books :
Civilwarland
In Bad Decline
Pastoralia
The
Brain-Dead Megaphone
In
Persuasion Nation
The
Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
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