In this story from Stephen King, an aging industrialist hires a hitman to kill an unusual target… his cat. The old man believes the cat, a stray taken in by his sister, is responsible for her death and that of two other members of his household, and fears he will be next. The hitman accepts the job and takes the cat, which was purring peacefully on his lap as they talked, away. Unfortunately for him, the tables are soon turned in a most gruesome way. Themes include appearance vs. reality, fear, animal testing and suffering, demonic retribution, the supernatural. More…
The Schreuderspitze
In this story by Mark Helprin, a grieving German photographer finds a unique way of getting over the accidental death of his wife and son. Two years after the accident, he disappears without trace. Leaving his lodgings and photographic equipment behind, he relocates to a small, remote town in the Alps. There, he decides to become a mountain climber and ascend the dangerous Schreuderspitze peak alone. He trains hard, teaches himself how to climb from books, buys the necessary equipment, and “succeeds” in a most unusual way. Themes include loss, grief, escape, isolation, a quest, dreams vs. reality, renewal. More…
Bright and Morning Star
This is the final story in Richard Wright’s hard-hitting collection Uncle Tom’s Children. Set in the American South during the 1920s, a proud African-American woman and her two sons have embraced communism in the hope of overcoming entrenched inequity and persecution. Both sons are organizers of the local communist cell. One son is already in prison and, when the woman and other son refuse to reveal the names of fellow cell members, the town sheriff and a white mob resort to deception, brutality, torture and murder. Themes: racism, racial and political violence, communism, loyalty & betrayal, motherly love, martyrdom. More…
Mrs. Geni in December
This story by Arswendo Atmowiloto explores the life of an eccentric Indonesian bridal make-up artist. While some of her views reflect Indonesia’s Muslim culture (marrying when it is time, not of love, and support for polygyny), others challenge it (pregnant brides should be proud of their proven fertility and not hide the fact). She believes that while marriage is illogical and “humanity’s most restricting and frightening discovery”, the ceremony brings joy and happiness. She proclaims: “Let people experience joy once in their lives,” implying the ceremony may mark the end of their happiness. Themes include marriage, freedom and happiness. More…
The Jogi’s Punishment
The moral of this Indian folktale appears to be that evil will always receive the punishment it deserves. We have a famed holy man who turns out to be not very holy after all, a selfish, gullible rajah who wants to keep the holy man’s talents and blessings all for himself, and an overly curious princess who disobeys her father’s order not to leave the palace grounds. We aren’t told much about the “gallant young prince of Dilaram” but he, too, must have done something wrong to be punished with the disobedient princess as a wife. More…