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Tombs: A Chronicle of Latter-Day Times of Earth
It had been a time when the world needed legends, those years so long past now. Because there was something else legends could offer, or so the Poet believed. He didn't know quite what—ghouls were not skilled at imagination. Their world was a concrete one, one of stone and flesh. Struggle and survival. Survival predicated on others' deaths. Far in the future, when our sun grows ever larger, scorching the earth. When seas become poisonous and men are needed to guard the crypts from the scavengers of the dead. A ghoul-poet will share stories of love and loss, death and resurrection. Tombs is a beautifully written examination of the human condition of life, love, and death, through the prism of a dystopian apocalypse.
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
James Dorr
202 books34 followersJames Dorr is a short story writer and poet with more than five hundred individual appearances in magazines and anthologies. Dorr has worked a number of jobs, including technical writer, city editor on a regional magazine, full time non-fiction freelancer, and semi-professional musician. He resides in southern Indiana with his Goth cat Triana, named for Triana Orpheus in the Cartoon Channel's VENTURE BROS series.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 27, 2017
Tombs: a Keeper!
The reader is soon established with all he needs for this voyage into the far future: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell –all deftly interwoven into each story. All work together to give reassurance to the reality of a far distant future Earth, when the sun has grown old, and the atmosphere has thinned. You will learn what a chador is and why it is necessary. The writing is enhanced with certain words given emphasis in italics. As one reviewer notes, there are some unsettling relationships you may not be expecting. You will know how societies have been altered and changed by the millennia and wars, giving birth to monsters known as ghouls –and don’t forget the whole collection is narrated by the ghoul poet. Ghouls have their own society apart from what is left of mankind’s culture. Simply superb story telling by a master of the craft!
June 11, 2017
Greetings from the Ethereal Plane,
World building is perhaps one of the most important aspects of science fiction and fantasy, often solely deciding the imaginative depths and intricacies that define the genres. It is often difficult for authors to craft a unique world, let alone accomplish such a feat in a seamless manner.
TOMBS is an unexpected, enigmatic piece that author James Dorr spent years creating. The world is visually stunning, the layers and depths of the universe never faltering in their ability to not only captivate the reader, but to also offer a lending hand in an escape to a world full of wonder and astonishment. From the Old City to the Tombs, every setting is flawlessly illustrated with language poetic and frequently romantic. Dorr crafts his universe with talent unrivaled and unparalleled.
Told in a series of short stories that chronologically build upon the previous chapters, and in the vein of Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, TOMBS holds many tales of disturbing events, that question standards of morality and cultural norms. Dorr daringly attacks topics many may find to be unsettling, but does so in a manner that will lead readers to question their own stances on such concepts. The bravery Dorr exhibits in his prose is both foreboding and admirable.
The legends of this dystopian universe offer a bleak and dark outlook for mankind’s future, while maintaining a constant theme of hope that derives from a consistently referenced mystery, that being of love. The characters grasp onto their humanity in a world that is unforgiving, changing, and most importantly, hopeless. There is no cure for the ever-changing climate of the Latter-Day Earth, no wishful thinking for a better and less-toxic atmosphere. Rather, the characters choose to do what mankind has always been known to exceed in, more than any other species; this being the ability to adapt.
Romance and death intertwine into a stunning and macabre work of art that will take veterans of darker literature and newcomers alike to worlds unfathomable, glistening with imagination and magnificence. There are no cheerful times in this novel, desperation consistently at the cusp of all characters’ motives and actions.
Deep down in the recesses of TOMBS, the antechambers of the Old City echo with memories from our narrator, the Ghoul-poet, offering an interesting and unique point-of-view and further cementing the legendary foundations of the novel. Several scenes in TOMBS left us disturbed and unsettled, especially any setting where the Ghouls took precedence. These beings on the outside are grotesque, snarling beasts, but the more in-depth one reaches into Dorr’s realm, the more sympathy and understanding one will gain for these monsters, yet again revolving back to the central themes of humanity, preservation, love, and death.
As readers, we found Dorr’s novel, TOMBS to be breathtaking and macabre in all of the most perfect ways. We highly recommend this novel to any fan of pieces with a darker tone. If you enjoy grimdark, fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, transhumanism, post-humanism, body horror, horror, or any subgenres or combinations of these genres, we think you will find yourself hooked from the opening tale, gripping white-knuckled with anticipation for the next chapter of morose and beautifully-executed storytelling.
--The Gehenna Post
World building is perhaps one of the most important aspects of science fiction and fantasy, often solely deciding the imaginative depths and intricacies that define the genres. It is often difficult for authors to craft a unique world, let alone accomplish such a feat in a seamless manner.
TOMBS is an unexpected, enigmatic piece that author James Dorr spent years creating. The world is visually stunning, the layers and depths of the universe never faltering in their ability to not only captivate the reader, but to also offer a lending hand in an escape to a world full of wonder and astonishment. From the Old City to the Tombs, every setting is flawlessly illustrated with language poetic and frequently romantic. Dorr crafts his universe with talent unrivaled and unparalleled.
Told in a series of short stories that chronologically build upon the previous chapters, and in the vein of Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, TOMBS holds many tales of disturbing events, that question standards of morality and cultural norms. Dorr daringly attacks topics many may find to be unsettling, but does so in a manner that will lead readers to question their own stances on such concepts. The bravery Dorr exhibits in his prose is both foreboding and admirable.
The legends of this dystopian universe offer a bleak and dark outlook for mankind’s future, while maintaining a constant theme of hope that derives from a consistently referenced mystery, that being of love. The characters grasp onto their humanity in a world that is unforgiving, changing, and most importantly, hopeless. There is no cure for the ever-changing climate of the Latter-Day Earth, no wishful thinking for a better and less-toxic atmosphere. Rather, the characters choose to do what mankind has always been known to exceed in, more than any other species; this being the ability to adapt.
Romance and death intertwine into a stunning and macabre work of art that will take veterans of darker literature and newcomers alike to worlds unfathomable, glistening with imagination and magnificence. There are no cheerful times in this novel, desperation consistently at the cusp of all characters’ motives and actions.
Deep down in the recesses of TOMBS, the antechambers of the Old City echo with memories from our narrator, the Ghoul-poet, offering an interesting and unique point-of-view and further cementing the legendary foundations of the novel. Several scenes in TOMBS left us disturbed and unsettled, especially any setting where the Ghouls took precedence. These beings on the outside are grotesque, snarling beasts, but the more in-depth one reaches into Dorr’s realm, the more sympathy and understanding one will gain for these monsters, yet again revolving back to the central themes of humanity, preservation, love, and death.
As readers, we found Dorr’s novel, TOMBS to be breathtaking and macabre in all of the most perfect ways. We highly recommend this novel to any fan of pieces with a darker tone. If you enjoy grimdark, fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, transhumanism, post-humanism, body horror, horror, or any subgenres or combinations of these genres, we think you will find yourself hooked from the opening tale, gripping white-knuckled with anticipation for the next chapter of morose and beautifully-executed storytelling.
--The Gehenna Post
June 16, 2017
The book is compiled of what we could say are short stories, which are divided into chapter like form. The stories are set in a postapocalyptic time where humanity as we know it does not exist anymore and the few humans that did manage to get this far are either ill or mutated.
The beginning of the book did not do a good job of describing of what we are heading into. Yes, we learn about how this all started in as few details as possible, but then at the start of the first story, we, again, receive little details on the scenery. We do not get long descriptive paragraphs of where the story is unfolding and we do not get any descriptions of how the creatures that now roam the Earth actually look like. This is an important thing that we should know, especially in a postapocalyptic dystopian universe. And we need to know it right off the bat. Not to mention that it is supposed to be a horror story too. If we are to fear the creatures we need a reason to fear them, not because the book tells us so.
Some of the characters are too plain. We do not learn any solid background about them and, for example, while we do get a sneak peek in Towli’s head (I am using him as an example, there are many more other characters, not just him), there is basically no real thought processes going on. He does not have any capacity of real thoughts and whether or not it was meant to be this way, it does not appeal to me as a reader, to be excluded from that also, apart from the descriptions I have already mentioned.
The stories are okay, but then again, some are just very plain. There is just no depth to some of them, no bigger meaning. One could argue that they have questionable content or are rather graphic, but that does not cut it for me. I believe that is what is expected in horror genre. And some do not even have that. Reading through some of them just made me regret it as I felt like I am wasting my time. Some characters come and go, some of them die, and even though I have read a 50 page long story with that character included, I do not feel any grief regarding their death.
What I consider the best thing about the book is the structure. We get a certain view in one of the stories and then in the next one it switches the view, in order for us to view it from the other perspective. I believe that is done really well and at the end, makes us think about how it the world looks like from the eyes of another.
I believe these stories need to be featured in a bigger world that is greatly described. So that it actually makes us think about this kind of future, if it were to happen. And makes us fear it. A dystopian fiction should also offer a fresh perspective on the issue at hand (in this case, the sun expanding), but apart from the aftermath, I was not offered any of that.
The beginning of the book did not do a good job of describing of what we are heading into. Yes, we learn about how this all started in as few details as possible, but then at the start of the first story, we, again, receive little details on the scenery. We do not get long descriptive paragraphs of where the story is unfolding and we do not get any descriptions of how the creatures that now roam the Earth actually look like. This is an important thing that we should know, especially in a postapocalyptic dystopian universe. And we need to know it right off the bat. Not to mention that it is supposed to be a horror story too. If we are to fear the creatures we need a reason to fear them, not because the book tells us so.
Some of the characters are too plain. We do not learn any solid background about them and, for example, while we do get a sneak peek in Towli’s head (I am using him as an example, there are many more other characters, not just him), there is basically no real thought processes going on. He does not have any capacity of real thoughts and whether or not it was meant to be this way, it does not appeal to me as a reader, to be excluded from that also, apart from the descriptions I have already mentioned.
The stories are okay, but then again, some are just very plain. There is just no depth to some of them, no bigger meaning. One could argue that they have questionable content or are rather graphic, but that does not cut it for me. I believe that is what is expected in horror genre. And some do not even have that. Reading through some of them just made me regret it as I felt like I am wasting my time. Some characters come and go, some of them die, and even though I have read a 50 page long story with that character included, I do not feel any grief regarding their death.
What I consider the best thing about the book is the structure. We get a certain view in one of the stories and then in the next one it switches the view, in order for us to view it from the other perspective. I believe that is done really well and at the end, makes us think about how it the world looks like from the eyes of another.
I believe these stories need to be featured in a bigger world that is greatly described. So that it actually makes us think about this kind of future, if it were to happen. And makes us fear it. A dystopian fiction should also offer a fresh perspective on the issue at hand (in this case, the sun expanding), but apart from the aftermath, I was not offered any of that.
June 9, 2017
After spending the evening trying to organize my thoughts, and still struggling, this is not going to be as clear and concise as I had hoped. Man, the synopsis is perfectly written, though. James Dorr does a remarkable job tying together 16 seemingly disparate tales of life, love, death, and the human condition.
The first few stories were quite shocking, with some rather graphic and questionable content. (The Beautiful Corpse, The Lover of Dead Flesh were titles that might have given me some hints.) but the behavior treated as common, and the reflection of why it was acceptable (which, of course, I did!) based on our current society and how it is developing led to some rather disturbing self-reflection. After addressing more commonly shocking issues (sexuality, female positioning in society, how we care for our dead, and other interesting issues.) the stories take a unique twist, going from primarily told by the people charged with caring for the dead (Those who run the Tombs, telling us how to view Ghouls, New City Dwellers, and The River People.) then we shift our perspectives and get stories and views from these other peoples themselves who view their position in society as natural and appropriate, and the other's as different/ bad. Just when you think you know what to expect, the next tale twists what you think you know and gives you a new angle and perspective to consider.
And when you take that and compare it to our real-world counterparts, it creates a rabbit hole that is easy to leave you caught in a thought-provoking stupor. For anyone participating in #ReadProud reading challenge (or one similar, focusing on stories about LGBTQ.) There are several stories in this Novel-in-Stories, like Flute and Harp, The Ice Maiden, and The Winged Man that all highlight how Mr. Dorr perceives the LGBTQ issue in a distant future, which in a way, I found quite comforting despite the uncomfortable future this tale predicts.
Yes, despite the uncomfortable and dark future predicted in this future world, key elements, like love, money, and humanity's ability to carve out some sort of life in even the direst circumstances carries on with a heart-broken tinge of hope and legends.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to think deep thoughts about what they read. For anyone who has an interest in politics, social issues, climate issues, anthropological studies, biomedical, and for the curious who like to imagine how the world could turn out. For me, this was more realistic an outcome than the Divergent series, Hunger Games, or Maze Runner, though definitely not for the same audience. This is a grown up's view for grown-ups of what a dystopian world could potentially provide.
The first few stories were quite shocking, with some rather graphic and questionable content. (The Beautiful Corpse, The Lover of Dead Flesh were titles that might have given me some hints.) but the behavior treated as common, and the reflection of why it was acceptable (which, of course, I did!) based on our current society and how it is developing led to some rather disturbing self-reflection. After addressing more commonly shocking issues (sexuality, female positioning in society, how we care for our dead, and other interesting issues.) the stories take a unique twist, going from primarily told by the people charged with caring for the dead (Those who run the Tombs, telling us how to view Ghouls, New City Dwellers, and The River People.) then we shift our perspectives and get stories and views from these other peoples themselves who view their position in society as natural and appropriate, and the other's as different/ bad. Just when you think you know what to expect, the next tale twists what you think you know and gives you a new angle and perspective to consider.
And when you take that and compare it to our real-world counterparts, it creates a rabbit hole that is easy to leave you caught in a thought-provoking stupor. For anyone participating in #ReadProud reading challenge (or one similar, focusing on stories about LGBTQ.) There are several stories in this Novel-in-Stories, like Flute and Harp, The Ice Maiden, and The Winged Man that all highlight how Mr. Dorr perceives the LGBTQ issue in a distant future, which in a way, I found quite comforting despite the uncomfortable future this tale predicts.
Yes, despite the uncomfortable and dark future predicted in this future world, key elements, like love, money, and humanity's ability to carve out some sort of life in even the direst circumstances carries on with a heart-broken tinge of hope and legends.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to think deep thoughts about what they read. For anyone who has an interest in politics, social issues, climate issues, anthropological studies, biomedical, and for the curious who like to imagine how the world could turn out. For me, this was more realistic an outcome than the Divergent series, Hunger Games, or Maze Runner, though definitely not for the same audience. This is a grown up's view for grown-ups of what a dystopian world could potentially provide.
May 27, 2017
In the distant future where land and seas are polluted, an eater of the dead searches old stories for legends. This ghoul-poet, rare among his kind, seeks to learn more than heroics. The times are dismal, needing something much more powerful. Sharing with us tales of love and loss, life and death, the poet examines the human condition on a planet that is heaving its last breaths.
This is a mesmerizing collection of short stories all set in our distant future where the sun is frying Earth and many humans left are ill or mutated. The Tombs is the place where people bring their dead, a massive walled cemetery and city. There are those that work and live in the Tombs, serving the dead and protecting them from ghouls. I was fascinated by this dystopian world, the various people and their cultures. Every story brings the reader deeper into the world, unveils something beautiful and horrifying. Those two things are twined intricately here as we dance with tales of life and death.
My favorite stories include "The Beautiful Corpse" as I did wonder if Gombar was loved as much as he loved. "The Female Dead" with the embalmer who so loved that he did everything he could to protect a beauty's corpse from the ghouls. There were only a few survivors in "City on Fire" and one woman made the final trek for the man she loved.
This is a mesmerizing collection of short stories all set in our distant future where the sun is frying Earth and many humans left are ill or mutated. The Tombs is the place where people bring their dead, a massive walled cemetery and city. There are those that work and live in the Tombs, serving the dead and protecting them from ghouls. I was fascinated by this dystopian world, the various people and their cultures. Every story brings the reader deeper into the world, unveils something beautiful and horrifying. Those two things are twined intricately here as we dance with tales of life and death.
My favorite stories include "The Beautiful Corpse" as I did wonder if Gombar was loved as much as he loved. "The Female Dead" with the embalmer who so loved that he did everything he could to protect a beauty's corpse from the ghouls. There were only a few survivors in "City on Fire" and one woman made the final trek for the man she loved.
August 15, 2018
I'm writing this review now because I've just read Jack Vance's The Dying Earth, and when reviewing that book I mentioned that numerous other books have been inspired by it in the 68 years since The Dying Earth was published.
And this is a good, no excellent, example of a book inspired by Jack Vance's work. It's paints a wonderfully weird and colourful picture of an Earth lapsed into a rather Byzantine senescence. It makes no attempt to portray realistic characters or realistic plots. Like The Dying Earth the emphasis is on the scenery, and wonderful scenery it is too.
The book won't appeal to everyone because it's more like a fairy story than the usual modern fantasy. All I can say is that I loved it and if this sort of rather quirky writing appeals to you then you will love it too.
And this is a good, no excellent, example of a book inspired by Jack Vance's work. It's paints a wonderfully weird and colourful picture of an Earth lapsed into a rather Byzantine senescence. It makes no attempt to portray realistic characters or realistic plots. Like The Dying Earth the emphasis is on the scenery, and wonderful scenery it is too.
The book won't appeal to everyone because it's more like a fairy story than the usual modern fantasy. All I can say is that I loved it and if this sort of rather quirky writing appeals to you then you will love it too.
August 10, 2017
I can't say I was a big fan of this one. I gave it a chance and ended up disappointed. Perhaps I'm just used to this kind of read, but I found it wholly confusing and missing some key information that may have made things a bit easier for us readers. It was interesting, I'll give it that, but Mister Dorr simply lost me in his world-building.
November 24, 2019
Dying Earth that has little to do with Vance. The stories are repetitive and aren't structured incredibly well, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that this is pure story-telling; the kind of writing that could only come from someone as skilled as Dorr.
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