Short Stories That Are Long on Imagination
A review by Michael Patrick Brady
In Ben Loory's wild, dreamy debut collection of short stories, he explores the deepest recesses of the imagination, where even the most outlandish tales can yield profound insights. Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day contains 40 featherweight fables, with a diverse cast of characters that includes erudite octopi, menacing hats, and lovestruck ducks. To say that disbelief must be suspended to appreciate Loory's work would be an understatement; utter credulity is required. His stories have the maundering, free-associative quality of dreams, and follow their own peculiar logic. Loory's sparse, unadorned prose may seem at odds with the fantastical subject matter -- think Lydia Davis meets H.P. Lovecraft -- but this restraint allows his big ideas to flourish without distraction. Though he clearly revels in conjuring up curveballs, "Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day" is not just an exercise in unfettered surrealism. These stories are full of wit, humor, and heart, at ...
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Previously Reviewed by Boston Globe
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