Scar Vegas: And Other Stories

by Tom Paine

The first collection of stories from the O. Henry award-winning author introduces a colorful cast of outcasts, including a cross-dressing army general, a confused low-life offered the chance of a lifetime, and a depressed man whose mother seems to harbor irrational hatred for him. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jessica Rackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have come to the conclusion I don't like short stories, I feel they are incomplete. That being said, Scar Vegas wasn't horrible, just not my cup of tea. General Markman's Last Stand was my favorite story. The Mayor of St. John was my least favorite. The quality of writing was good.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally liked the stories, but it is hard for me to distinguish this book from other books of short stories by authors with Ivy League backgrounds and MFA degrees.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised that the reaction isn't a bit more rabidly positive for this book.

[Kallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My preference in fiction is for psychological renderings, so I don't know if I can fairly review Paine, who deals in western 'winner' archetype narratives that satirize our geopolitical abuse of power. He does so very skillfully, I must say. I recently read an essay by a writer who said that fiction writers should write against all the insanity going on now, and Paine certainly does. But this is simply not so compelling for me. Brilliant, nonetheless.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paine is oh so smooth with his prose, smooth enough that he draws the reader into his improbable stories. None of the stories really grabbed me or stuck with me afterwards, but the prose is impeccable. The title story is a nice mix of humor and pathos, although I’m not sure what to make of the ending, which takes up an urban legend. “The Unapproved Minutes…” is pretty entertaining as a voice study and an extended joke. “The Battle of Khafji” has an authentic voice ala Thom Jones or Tim O’Brien in their military stories, but I’m not sure what the point is aside from the political statement at the end, which is too weak to make the story work as an anti-war piece. “The Spoon Children,” is part myth and part allegory, although the narrative events are plausible, except that the voice and form betray the artifice. He definitely creates a fictive world and writes in a way that pulls you inside of it, but is that enough? Maybe my reticence is that real consequences seem to be missing from most of the stories and with a writer this good I wanted to see him tackle consequences, show me what he could do with them.

[Peter Nowakowski]

1. Will You Say Something, Monsieur Eliot?---January 26,2025
2. General Markham's Last Stand-----------January 27,2025
3. Scar Vegas---------------------------January 27,2025
4. unofficial Minutes of Carthage, VT Zoning —April 6, 2025
5. Spoon Children ———————— ————April 6, 2025
6. The Hotel on Monkey Forest Road————April 9, 2025
7. Ceausescu’s Cat————————————April 9,2025
8. The Mayor of St. John—————————-April 11,2025
9. A Predictable Nightmare on the Eve of the Stock Market Breaking 6,000—-April 11,2025
10. The Battle of Khadji——————————-April 13, 2025

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of mildly entertaining short stories. There is one about a marine corps general who has a secret obsession for women's underwear. One about a guy who goes to Las Vegas for his sister's wedding, picks up a girl, and finds himself the next day without one of his kidneys. There is one about a sailor whose boat gets sunk in a hurricane and gets picked up by a boatload of Haitian immigrants. One about a soldier in Desert Storm.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite short story collections. Lean and powerful and insightful work, turning current affairs (modern war, the environment, corporate America) into compelling stories. It's pitch perfect.

[Patrick Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.443 stars rounded up because the book's rating ought to be higher than it is on Goodreads. Tom Paine is a good writer and storyteller, and most of these stories, even when harrowing and grim, are fun to read.

[RUSA CODES · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the 2001 RUSA Notable Books winners. For the complete list, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rus...

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok set of stories but not great. probably 4 of 11 are good. Dark in most cases. Broken people largely.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced collection with a quietly moral bent. Poor Melanie Applebee.