Nothing Sacred: Outspoken Voices in Contemporary Fiction

by Bernard Schweizer (editor), James Morrow (editor)

At a time when the American publishing industry increasingly perceives fiction lovers as rather delicate creatures—easily offended, allergic to ambiguity, afraid to venture outside their comfort zones—Nothing Outspoken Voices in Contemporary Fiction was born of the opposite assumption. While the twelve authors represented in this anthology could scarcely be more diverse in their worldviews, cultural backgrounds, thematic obsessions, and prose styles, they all share two an abiding respect for their readers, and a ravenous appetite for audacity. Among the characters you’ll encounter in these stories are a former child star who fears he has become just another piece of Hollywood jetsam; a band of Cuban immigrant children determined to celebrate Independence Day on their own terms; a Holocaust survivor turned serial killer; an alternate-history Malcolm X confronting J. Edgar Hoover’s squad of zombies; a medical student who supports himself by starring in video porn; a rogue AI in thrall to a notorious Christian heresy; and a Tennessee Trump voter with a gift for making moonshine whiskey and spouting colorful rhetoric.

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies

264 pages, Hardcover

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a reference to this collection in an online article, and the idea behind Heresy Press caught my attention, as a publishing house that does not use “sensitivity readers”. I did have a slight concern that the stories would be culture wars essays masquerading as fiction, but in the event only 1 of the 12 stories maybe fell into that category, one entitled “ “ by the Filipino author Miguel Syjuco. Much of that one is a kind of monologue on free expression, censorship etc. I know the issue is important but I feel I am familiar with these arguments, and if I wanted to read more on the subject I would pick a non-fiction book. It’s not personally what I’m looking for in fiction. There was one other story that didn’t really appeal to me, Thrust by Lukas Tallent, about a male porn star. He’s bisexual but mainly does gay porn. It pays better, apparently.

I thought the other 10 stories in this book ranged from good to very good. If there’s a common theme to them, it’s that the stories examine human emotions and behaviours, mainly those of men. Only 2 are written by women. Collateral Damage, by T. N. Eyer, features a woman whose husband of 22 years has been accused of sexual harassment by 3 female work colleagues, and the impact on the protagonist is handled thoughtfully. Night of the Living Baseheads, by Tia Ja’nae, is a sort of alternative history in which J. Edgar Hoover tries to arrange the killing of Malcolm X using a gang of crack-addicted zombies! It’s kind of bonkers but is written in an extremely lively style.

The Child Star, by Michael Robert Liska, features a 52-year-old former child actor, long discarded by Hollywood and now one of the most messed-up people it’s possible to imagine. In Independence Day, by Alex Perez, two young Cuban-American brothers, in their early teens, suddenly find out they have an older half-brother living in Cuba, and he is coming to the US to live with them. They are, shall we say, a little resentful. This story had few lol moments for me, though some of the humour is a bit savage. The Rise and Fall of Aleksandar Bundalo, by the Kosovan born author Mikra Namani, is a disturbing story featuring a Holocaust survivor, who acts as an “unreliable narrator”.

Gates, by Steven Fromm, features a group of elderly men living in a gated retirement village. The book’s Foreword points out that in contemporary literature, this is about as unfashionable a demographic as it’s possible to be. In the story, the residents are having trouble with their security company, and thus the story poses questions about this type of community. In Eulogy, by Jonathan Stone, the aforementioned funeral address is given by a man who has just lost his wife of 30 years, and has some unusual content. Again, there was a lol moment for me, though the joke possibly went on a bit long.

We are back with teenage boys in Paul’s Ghost, by Lou Perez. The protagonist is a literature-loving boy who is secretly in love with the ultra-macho star player of his school’s ice hockey team. I felt I was missing some context, as there are several references to a Willa Cather story, Paul’s Case, which I haven’t read though I expect many Americans will have.

In The Optics of Infinity, by James Morrow, humanity has created a new space telescope that will be able to observe the Big Bang. The telescope is taken over by a rogue AI which plans to provide false information about the Big Bang, which will have a major impact on people on Earth. It turns out the fate of the world may, once again, lie with the decisions of Capt. James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise! The last story, Appalachian Gothic, by Joshua Wilson, features an East Tennessee moonshiner called “Homerun” Summy, who has been made the subject of a YouTube documentary. He seems a rather exaggerated character, but then I’ve never been to the Appalachians, so what do I know? The story gradually reveals more layers about the community in which “Homerun” lives.

Overall I found this a really worthwhile collection. Be warned though, or alternatively rest assured, that not one of these stories would have ever made it past a sensitivity reader.

[Naito Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nothing Sacred: Outspoken Voices in Contemporary Fiction" caught my attention while browsing through BookSirens. The promise of thought-provoking stories immediately hooked me up and the anthology lived up to its title and subtitle; it offered a diverse collection of voices and perspectives.

Each story in the anthology provided a unique angle on narratives we hear each day, delving into themes that are often overlooked or silenced. From the poignant portrayal of a child star navigating adulthood to the gripping perspective of a wife whose husband is accused of harassment, the stories covered a wide range of topics with depth and authenticity.

Among the standout stories, "Collateral Damage" offered a powerful portrayal of the aftermath of harassment allegations, while the cryptic "_____" highlighted the silent oppression that often goes unnoticed. "Thrust" provided a thought-provoking exploration of the adult entertainment industry, while "Eulogy" offered a welcome dose of humor amidst the heavier themes.

While some stories were more polished than others, each one had its own strengths and contributed to the anthology's overall impact. I would highly recommend "Nothing Sacred" to readers who enjoy exploring unexpected angles in storytelling and thinking outside the box.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read about Heresy Press I was intrigued. A publisher unafraid of controversy and criticism, that refuses to ask authors to self-censor and doesn’t use sensitivity readers? It all sounds great and is exactly what America's literary landscape is missing. But what about the writing?

Every one of the twelve stories in Nothing Sacred delivers. These stories would never have seen the light of day were it not for Heresy. And that's a shame, because God are these stories gorgeous. Hilarious. Shocking. Moving. Audacious. It's all there. 

I won't try to describe the indescribable. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy. One hour with this anthology and you'll be lining up to purchase every book Heresy brings into the world.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a compilation of 11 very enjoyable short stories, each averaging about 30 pages. Almost all were remarkable, but if I was asked to pick three favorites I would pick: The Optics of Infinity by James Morrow, Gates by Steven Fromm and The Rise and Fall of Aleksandar Bundalo by Mikra Namani.