spestock's review against another edition
4.0
A solid, well-written collection of short stories. I like when collections seem to revolve around a unifying theme, in this case, perception and how - or if - it corresponds to reality.
oedipa_maas's review against another edition
3.0
Some good ones in this collection and others felt sort of like the author poked around in his scraps folder for filler. The title story and "Ninety over Ninety" were the highlights. After just reading Evenson's book Last Days I can see he favors certain motifs and themes like post-apocalyptic messiahs and amputations. So if you're down for some mild pseudo-Borgesian/Palahniukian spookiness, give this collection a shot. It's weird and sometimes philosophical, but not to any remarkable extreme.
calling_sister_midnight's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
deathtomartyrs's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
smb04's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
simplyb's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fine. The writing overall was good, but the quality of the stories was variable and sometimes a little predictable. But they were fun stories and provided a little pathos, humor, and spookiness for some light reading. I would certainly recommend this book, but nothing groundbreaking, just good, solid reading.
jeffhall's review against another edition
4.0
I've been a fan of Brian Evenson's fiction for several years now, and as much as I thoroughly enjoyed his earlier collections of short stories, Fugue State strikes me as being the single best assembly of his output to date. Evenson has always trafficked in themes dark, morbid, and surreal, and all of those elements are present in these new stories. But there is a softening in the contents of Fugue State that allows these stories to rely less on shock value and more on character development, albeit within the constraints of the short story form. There is a strong sense of isolation and self-reliance shared by these various narrators that allows the protagonists to take the spotlight away from the extreme, and sometimes a bit cliched, circumstances that they find themselves in. Being along for the ride as a writer as talented as Evenson breaks new ground in this way makes for a thrilling reading experience.
michielsaey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
wpsmith17's review against another edition
4.0
I greatly enjoyed this thematic collection. Brian Evenson writes with the precision of a surgeon's hand to draw us into the trippy pathways that lead to madness. It's really impressive how he can do so much with so little.
shopgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Each story akin to sliding just very slightly to one side and catching a glimpse into another world that operates on rules similar to but unlike our own. Fantastical in all the best ways.