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The Pub: a short story
A short story, romantic and humorous, set in the American post-war period in a deserted St. Louis pub on a rainy evening. A young man on the mission of his life stops in a moment of doubt and finds a pair of unexpected guides waiting for him at the bar. Love and loss, hope and despair mingle with the music of Billie Holiday in "The Pub."
Cover art and design by Katie Pegram
Cover art and design by Katie Pegram
16 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2017
1 person want to read
About the author
Tom Mock
5 books45 followersTom Mock is a North Carolina based fantasy and horror author. He received an English degree from East Carolina University, where he was selected as an outstanding undergraduate creative writer, and a Masters in English from North Carolina State University.
His debut urban fantasy novel The Long Nights is a SPFBO8 Semi-Finalist and won the 2021 Indies Today Awards: Runner-up in Horror, and his short fiction has been selected as a finalist in the Press 53 awards and nominated for a pushcart prize. He writes about outsiders and ghosts and magic.
He loves dogs and cats, and is forever helping his parents with their small horse farm.
His debut urban fantasy novel The Long Nights is a SPFBO8 Semi-Finalist and won the 2021 Indies Today Awards: Runner-up in Horror, and his short fiction has been selected as a finalist in the Press 53 awards and nominated for a pushcart prize. He writes about outsiders and ghosts and magic.
He loves dogs and cats, and is forever helping his parents with their small horse farm.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 31, 2023
Mysterious, Intriguing, but Falls Short
"The Pub" delves into the gritty and dangerous world of gang life, offering a raw and unflinching portrayal of a gang that prowls the streets in search of victims. Tom Mock provides a compelling narrative that initially draws you in with its mysterious and intriguing portrayal of the gang. However, as the story unfolds, it devolves into a predictable tale of drug-infested inner-city life, with themes of gang rape and murder that, while not described in graphic detail, still leave a deep impact.
The book's strength lies in its ability to generate curiosity about the identity and motivations of the gang, but ultimately falls short in delivering a fresh and original take on the subject matter. While the writing style may be engaging, the storyline's descent into familiar tropes of gang culture diminished its impact.
"The Pub" delves into the gritty and dangerous world of gang life, offering a raw and unflinching portrayal of a gang that prowls the streets in search of victims. Tom Mock provides a compelling narrative that initially draws you in with its mysterious and intriguing portrayal of the gang. However, as the story unfolds, it devolves into a predictable tale of drug-infested inner-city life, with themes of gang rape and murder that, while not described in graphic detail, still leave a deep impact.
The book's strength lies in its ability to generate curiosity about the identity and motivations of the gang, but ultimately falls short in delivering a fresh and original take on the subject matter. While the writing style may be engaging, the storyline's descent into familiar tropes of gang culture diminished its impact.
Displaying 1 of 1 review