Getting Better All the Time: Las Vegas Writers Explore Progress

Las Vegas Writes #5

by Aurora Brackett, Henry Brean, Geoff Carter

Progress is a motive force in every city—and, perhaps, the point of civilization itself. The evolution of Sin City has challenged conventional meanings and methods of forward movement since it began its modernization by embracing both nontraditional behaviors (legalized gambling, liberalized divorce laws) and sizable federal investments (Hoover Dam, Nellis Air Force Base). Through the up and down eras that followed—Rat Pack, Elvis, megaresorts, housing boom, housing bust, and now the Downtown Project—Las Vegas has always coined its own definition of progress. In these stories and essays by some of Las Vegas’ finest writers, you will see how locals weave spectacle, risk, and reward into the narratives of civic, political, financial, personal, and spiritual progress … or, sometimes, calamity.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2013

Reviews

[Jamie Boelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be very enjoyable and well-written. It has both real (or as real as Vegas gets) and fictional short stories, and I honestly enjoyed them all. I think this is probably much more relatable to someone who's either a Vegas local or who has spent a significant amount of time in and exploring Las Vegas (I would be the latter). Highly recommended for anyone who's a fan of Vegas and diverse short stories.

[RiskingTime · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories and articles presented as part of the Las Vegas Writes project. Thanks to the authors for their work and the editor for putting this group of writers together. As Las Vegas matures, it will continue producing talented local writers who understand the various perspectives of Las Vegas.

However, I found this particular collection underwhelming. As someone who has read lots of Las Vegas based and themed literature, this collection contains splashes of insight, but on the whole I was left with few fresh perspectives.

The group of stories presented in this collection contain the typical Las Vegas strip and gambling stories, but also some stories of the suburban experience. I think these suburban Las Vegas experiences are particularly important to understanding the current and future Las Vegas. The suburban perspective is captured tellingly by Henry Brean's article entitled "Growing Up", which talks about the perspectives of the contemporary suburban Las Vegas father.

Also worth mentioning is Sarah Jane Woodall's article about camera girls and the strip work life experience, which I think many locals will relate to.