Stepping Stone

Crosstown to Oblivion

by Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley's talent knows no bounds. Stepping Stone is one of six fragments in the Crosstown to Oblivion short novels in which Mosley entertainingly explores life's cosmic questions. From life's meaning to the nature of good and evil, these tales take us on speculative journeys beyond the reality we have come to know. In each tale someone in our world today is given insight into these long pondered mysteries. But how would the world really receive the answers? Stepping Pope has spent his whole life watching the world go by–and waiting for something he can't quite put into words. A gentle, unassuming soul, he has worked in the mailroom of a large corporation for decades without making waves, until the day he spots a mysterious woman in yellow. A woman nobody else can see.Soon Truman's quiet life begins to turn upside-down. An old lover surfaces from his past even as he finds his job in jeopardy. Strange visions haunt his days and nights, until he begins to doubt his sanity. Is he losing his mind, or is he on the brink of a startling revelation that will change his life forever–and transform the nature of humanity?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

Walter Mosley (b. 1952) is the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, as well as numerous other works, from literary fiction and science fiction to a young adult novel and political monographs. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the Nation, among other publications. Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Grammy, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Richard Givan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet little book that I really enjoyed until the end when it got a bit too freaky-deaky.

[Noam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am not waiting for you. I am waiting with you."

[John Benschoter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series was interesting. But, despite Mosley's playing with genre and his take on how facing the end might be faced by people of color, the nihilism grew weary. He attempted to inject some hope and love into the stories, but his characters were rarely up to it as the end of humanity reared. I can't say I'd recommend these books, but I like Mosley's writing enough that i'll definitely read more of his work.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt a little bit more like a novella than a full-length novel. Basically a short story that needed just a little more room to flush itself out. I enjoyed it though. It was anything ground-breaking, or really "great" but it was a fun little idea and I enjoyed how it played out.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter Mosley is probably best known for his excellent Easy Rawlins mysteries. (I need to get back to that series.) But Mosley also writes science fiction with the same degree of eloquence. Stepping Stone is the story of Truman Pope, a man who is much more than the sum of his parts. No more about that. This book takes you places you won't expect-so much so that you may find it a little wrenching. That may be the biggest fault this book has. The climax might have been better served with a little more build-up.

[Scott Clucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chemistry of a mundane existence mixed with magic.

As usual, Mosley makes the small dramas of life fascinating with believable characters and then he weaves in the magic that we hope could actually occur.

[Road Worrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the non-traditional protagonist. I like the nuggets of wisdom that Mosley put in this book, the same way he buries them in Easy Rawlins books. And I'm enjoying the outside reality aspects of this book as well

[Millie Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting from Mosley.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short. Any description risks being a spoiler. Recommended.

[Russell F Tolles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si fi strange

I have enjoyed reading Walter Mosley's stories but this
One is really out there. Will continue to see what he has written in the future.