Simplify

by Tod Goldberg

From the author of the acclaimed novel Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, come twelve haunting stories about people caught somewhere between love and madness. Simplify mines the often surreal terrain of people on the margins of from the man with a photo of Elvis bleeding on his wall in "Comeback Special," to the profoundly troubled boy genius of the title story "Simplify," to the family that must traverse "The Distance Between Us" to finally get to the truth about their son the murderer, each story hums with sharp drama, mystery, wonder, and startling humor. Simplify, the first collection of short fiction by Tod Goldberg, portrays a world where redemption, hope, and violence are never too far apart.

172 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2005

About the author

Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books of fiction, notably the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a Southwest Book of the Year; and Gangsters Don’t Die, an Amazon Best Book of 2023 as well as a Southwest Book of the Year. Other works include The House of Secrets, which he co-authored with Brad Meltzer, and Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His short fiction and essays have been anthologized widely, including in Best American Mystery & Suspense and Best American Essays, and appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Alta. Tod Goldberg is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where founded and directs the Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. His next novel, Only Way Out, will be released this fall from Thomas & Mercer.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Tod Goldberg is one sick f**k. I mean 'sick' in its old school and new school senses.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories, some of which are pretty good, some of which read like they were written as writing exercises. Yet all are worth reading.

[Jay]

Simplify is a great title, now that I think of it. Tod breaks down the most complicated of life tragedies to a few fundamental principles to provide his readers access. Once he has them hooked into his story, that's when the apparent and normal become bizzarre and frightening. I like "The Living End" the best. It is about the witness of an abduction and a neighorhood girl. Little Teddy loves basketball, baseball and his brother. The fact that he may just be the last one to see little Sarah alive effects him, but it doesn't destroy his character in any visible way. Like all of Tod Goldberg's characters, Teddy is a sensitive and intelligent kid, and he'll learn his lessons in a brilliant moment of sadness and insight.

[Bryan Alaspa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on a shelf of books at a place I joined call the Writers Workspace. The stories range from the terrifying to the bizarre and everything in between. I found Goldberg to be a solid and entertaining storyteller with a wild imagination and it sparked my own desire to write some short stories. Good ready.

[Lori Rader-Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw a panel at the AWP Denver conference and it was so refreshing and enjoyable---take note, AWP conference planners---that I decided to buy one of the guys' books. I chose Tod, because I had read one of his stories before and enjoyed it. The whole book is great and weird and unexpected. I got stuck in the airport on the way back from conference and was glad I had this book.

[Allison Parker]

I don't rate books for which I've been involved in publishing, however...
My description coming soon...

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I will read every year to keep my commitment tof live a minimalist life.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story in this collection is one of my favorite short stories of all time, I think.