These stories channel the imagination of Samuel Beckett in an earthier, more palpable, perhaps more recognizably human, 21st century kind of way. To one degree or another, each story is defined by a vision that reflects the absurdity of life in contemporary society or the potential future. The characters in these stories, regardless of circumstance, engage in an existential search for meaning in a world where meaning is largely absent. A plump woman on a commuter train contemplates the world through a bizarre lens of introspection and anxiety, giving descriptive names to the strangers she meets (names like Oldie, Insect-Killer, and Bandage), but she never actually speaks to anyone, though she does steal a piece of luggage from the baggage rack. In a later story, the man whose coat is stolen is a witness to the theft and unable to raise his voice. In another story, a man approaches sexual intimacy with the clinical determination of a scientist but is bewildered by the silence of his partner. Silence takes on an atmospheric, almost metaphysical dimension in these stories. It is an expectant kind of silence. Martiny’s characters all wait for something to happen, something to be revealed, some truth to be discovered, something to act upon. [This edition shipped to DE, FR, ES, IT, and the UK - customers must set up a customer profile that includes their address to receive this product.]
River Boat Books is a publisher of great literature and was founded in 1996 in St. Paul, MN on the banks of the Mississippi River. We chose the name to honor the indomitable, adventurous spirit of Mark Twain, whose presence lingers not only up and down the Mississippi, but across the landscape of American literature. Our titles reflect both the elegance of a bygone era and an unrelenting passionate commitment to breaking all boundaries and exploring new territory.