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Missing Possibilities: Stories
"Jaime Balboa’s Missing Possibilities cleverly brings together an eclectic mix of stories, blending them to create a unified and powerful collection. Whether presenting us with dreams, nightmares or unflinching reality, Balboa’s writing is both tender and honest. He doesn’t shy away from the darker side of life, writing about abuse, poverty, loss, and death, but these stories are peppered with just enough hope and light to guide you through. They are stories of salvation and self-discovery. Belief in God, love, magic, family, and nature. This collection will help you see the world anew. "
-- Keely O’Shaughnessy, author of Baby is a Thing Best Whispered and The Swell of Seafoam
A doctor befriends a terminal cancer patient. A magical elf king befriends a child in need. Gods of old visit a contemporary church service. A customer in a neighborhood café is transported to an alternate reality. A teenager develops a quirky, wonderful superpower. The 16 stories in Missing Possibilities each grapple with key themes about what it means to be human. Alienation. Isolation. Transformation. Violence and hope, silence and voice, desperation and patience each is framed with compassion and shines light into the dark edges of society. In some cases, playfulness, humor, and light drive the stories while in others strong, gravitational forces bring us, with the characters themselves, to the breaking point.
-- Keely O’Shaughnessy, author of Baby is a Thing Best Whispered and The Swell of Seafoam
A doctor befriends a terminal cancer patient. A magical elf king befriends a child in need. Gods of old visit a contemporary church service. A customer in a neighborhood café is transported to an alternate reality. A teenager develops a quirky, wonderful superpower. The 16 stories in Missing Possibilities each grapple with key themes about what it means to be human. Alienation. Isolation. Transformation. Violence and hope, silence and voice, desperation and patience each is framed with compassion and shines light into the dark edges of society. In some cases, playfulness, humor, and light drive the stories while in others strong, gravitational forces bring us, with the characters themselves, to the breaking point.
180 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2023
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 21, 2023
I truly enjoyed every story within this collection. It was incredibly captivating — not once was I able to set the book down in the middle of a story. The stories masterfully reveal a wide variety of relevant themes within society in an amazingly engaging and well-written manner. It had been a very long time since I tore through a book as quickly as I did this one. Would sincerely recommend to anyone!!
August 3, 2023
Missing Possibilities, a compelling anthology of short stories penned by Jaime Balboa, canvasses an array of genres, each breathing life into its distinctive cast of characters.
Four stories rise above the rest, leaving an indelible mark on me: "Missing Possibilities," "The Haiku Muse," "The Gift of Tongues," and "Lazarus Wept."
"Missing Possibilities" introduces Emma, a woman on an earnest quest to find someone she has known all her life. Her journey poses an intriguing question: will she reunite with this significant figure from her past?
"The Haiku Muse" unveils the tale of a prodigious young boy, leaving the reader to wonder, will fortune favor his extraordinary abilities?
"The Gift of Tongues" ventures into an unexplored narrative of a unique individual carrying a potent secret. The suspense grows as we question if he will liberate himself from the shadows of his concealed reality.
In "Lazarus Wept," we are presented with an intriguing conundrum: Lazarus has been resurrected, but does this second life truly bring him joy?
The refreshing diversity within this collection is a testament to Balboa's ability to keep readers on their toes, as they never quite know what to expect from one story to the next. The fact that some of these stories first garnered acclaim elsewhere before being compiled in this anthology serves to underline Balboa's recognized writing prowess, which is impressive.
What sets this collection apart is its character-centric narrative, with each story driven by compelling personalities. Emma, from "Missing Possibilities," embodies determination as she tirelessly searches for a missing loved one. Maximiliano, the protagonist of "The Gift of Tongues," is written with a rich depth; his humility in the face of extraordinary power adds an intriguing layer to the story. These distinctive characterizations, combined with well-paced narratives and fitting settings, make each story a delightful reading experience.
The uniqueness of the stories, their character-driven narratives, and the oscillation between gritty realism and intense suspense all combine to create an unquenchable thirst for more. Balboa's Missing Possibilities stands as a vivid testament to the power of compelling short story writing.
Four stories rise above the rest, leaving an indelible mark on me: "Missing Possibilities," "The Haiku Muse," "The Gift of Tongues," and "Lazarus Wept."
"Missing Possibilities" introduces Emma, a woman on an earnest quest to find someone she has known all her life. Her journey poses an intriguing question: will she reunite with this significant figure from her past?
"The Haiku Muse" unveils the tale of a prodigious young boy, leaving the reader to wonder, will fortune favor his extraordinary abilities?
"The Gift of Tongues" ventures into an unexplored narrative of a unique individual carrying a potent secret. The suspense grows as we question if he will liberate himself from the shadows of his concealed reality.
In "Lazarus Wept," we are presented with an intriguing conundrum: Lazarus has been resurrected, but does this second life truly bring him joy?
The refreshing diversity within this collection is a testament to Balboa's ability to keep readers on their toes, as they never quite know what to expect from one story to the next. The fact that some of these stories first garnered acclaim elsewhere before being compiled in this anthology serves to underline Balboa's recognized writing prowess, which is impressive.
What sets this collection apart is its character-centric narrative, with each story driven by compelling personalities. Emma, from "Missing Possibilities," embodies determination as she tirelessly searches for a missing loved one. Maximiliano, the protagonist of "The Gift of Tongues," is written with a rich depth; his humility in the face of extraordinary power adds an intriguing layer to the story. These distinctive characterizations, combined with well-paced narratives and fitting settings, make each story a delightful reading experience.
The uniqueness of the stories, their character-driven narratives, and the oscillation between gritty realism and intense suspense all combine to create an unquenchable thirst for more. Balboa's Missing Possibilities stands as a vivid testament to the power of compelling short story writing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews