Pitchblende: New and Selected Poems

by Bruce Boston, Michael A. Arnzen (Editor), Marge Simon (Illustrator)

Pitchblende collects thirty-two new and previously published poems. Selected and with an Introduction by Michael Arnzen. Illustrated by Marge Simon.

Poems included are "Flesh Bone Blood," "The Lesions of Genetic Sin," "Like an Addict Glowing," "Alien Quarry," "Pavane for a Cyber-Princess," "The Canticles of Rage," "In Far Pale Clarity," "Ghost Blood," "The Prince Comes in Velvet," "She Was There for Him the Last Time," and twenty-two other poems.

"...Pitchblende is radioactive. It's a mineralized form of uranium oxide-black and hard and dangerous. It looks something like crystallized coal cracked right out of the gates of hell; it's darker than tar and stronger than time and its lethal nature is sneaky and invisible and inescapable once you've touched it. Killer rock.

A fitting metaphor for the rock solid poetry of Bruce Boston. It's scary, powerful stuff. And it's got a half-life that will outlive you. This poetry stands the test of time..." From the introduction by Michael Arnzen

Genres: Poetry, Horror

88 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

I've published more than sixty books and chapbooks, including the novels Stained Glass Rain and the best-of fiction collection Masque of Dreams. My work ranges from broad humor to literary surrealism, with many stops along the way for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My novel The Guardener's Tale (Sam's Dot, 2007) was a Bram Stoker Award Finailist and a Prometheus Award Nominee. My stories and poems have appeared in hundreds of publications, including Asimov's SF Magazine, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, Strange Horizons, Realms of Fantasy, Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, and The Nebula Awards Showcase, and received a number of awards, most notably, a Pushcart Prize, the Bram Stoker Award, the Asimov's Readers' Award, the Rhysling Award, and the Grand Master Award of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. For more information, please visit my website at http://www.bruceboston.com/

Reviews

[Matthew David Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to dig into some dark poetry. Boston's poetry sings with a hypnotic music that slowly lulls into the inner recesses of the reader. Boston's poetry should be read more.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've mentioned before that poetry's not my bag, so my rating definitely should be looked at more as my failing to appreciate (or hell, understand) poetry than critiquing Boston's writing.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I love Bruce Boston's poetry.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

It always amazes me what wins awards. This was an ok collection of poetry with dark overtures but definitely nothing to get all excited about.