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Grace: Stories and a Novella
"We're all flawed and confronted daily with sometimes slight but often apparently insurmountable challenges. But if we dig deep, what we unearth from the depths of our souls, if we're lucky, can allow us to overcome and carry on to live another day with an untortured heart."
This is the sentiment Dan Burns explores in his exciting new collection. Five stories and a novella highlight Burns's range as a storyteller and his ability to see life and all its emotions through a unique lens. This collection features his most personal and insightful stories to date.
Redemption--In a quiet Montana town, an aging writer and his nephew are forced to weave the past and the present into a future of more significant meaning.
The Plight of Maximus Octavius Reinhold--In the new story featuring private investigator Sebastian Drake (from the novel A Fine Line), the local patrons of a rural Wisconsin town test Drake's resolve as he stares into the barrel of a .44 Magnum revolver.
Hardwired--A dying man contemplates the end of his life while hoping to pass along a secret legacy to his family.
Adrift at Sea--To fuel his creative desires, a seabound journeyman leaves behind the anchor of distraction in pursuit of a natural world.
The Final Countdown--In the year 2110, the Earth struggles to survive, ravaged by overpopulation and greed. Food is scarce, and the youth-run government has no choice but to implement a plan devised decades earlier: deport the elderly population to a remote outpost--on the moon.
Grace: A Novella--A story of impaired love, betrayal, and redemption as realized by characters who experience life through the perception of liquor-bottle glasses. Life is never what it seems. Everyone has secrets. The question is whether the skeleton key of alcohol will open the closet door and let out the hidden truths.
The collection includes notes about the thoughts, ideas, and inspiration behind the stories, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective of the author's writing process, along with twenty-six illustrations by artist Kelly Maryanski.
This is the sentiment Dan Burns explores in his exciting new collection. Five stories and a novella highlight Burns's range as a storyteller and his ability to see life and all its emotions through a unique lens. This collection features his most personal and insightful stories to date.
Redemption--In a quiet Montana town, an aging writer and his nephew are forced to weave the past and the present into a future of more significant meaning.
The Plight of Maximus Octavius Reinhold--In the new story featuring private investigator Sebastian Drake (from the novel A Fine Line), the local patrons of a rural Wisconsin town test Drake's resolve as he stares into the barrel of a .44 Magnum revolver.
Hardwired--A dying man contemplates the end of his life while hoping to pass along a secret legacy to his family.
Adrift at Sea--To fuel his creative desires, a seabound journeyman leaves behind the anchor of distraction in pursuit of a natural world.
The Final Countdown--In the year 2110, the Earth struggles to survive, ravaged by overpopulation and greed. Food is scarce, and the youth-run government has no choice but to implement a plan devised decades earlier: deport the elderly population to a remote outpost--on the moon.
Grace: A Novella--A story of impaired love, betrayal, and redemption as realized by characters who experience life through the perception of liquor-bottle glasses. Life is never what it seems. Everyone has secrets. The question is whether the skeleton key of alcohol will open the closet door and let out the hidden truths.
The collection includes notes about the thoughts, ideas, and inspiration behind the stories, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective of the author's writing process, along with twenty-six illustrations by artist Kelly Maryanski.
- GenresContemporary
292 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2019
1753 people want to read
About the author
Dan Burns
12 books68 followersDan Burns is the author of seven books, including the novels A Fine Line and Recalled to Life, and the short story collections Grace: Stories and a Novella and No Turning Back: Stories. He is also an award-winning writer of stories for the screen and stage. A Necessary Explosion: Collected Poems is his first poetry collection, fifteen years in the making.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 3, 2020
Chicago writer Dan Burns has given readers a compelling collection of stories and a novella, presenting the concept that everyday people face challenging situations that force them to find the individual inner grace needed to go on with their lives.
I especially liked:
"Redemption" introduces an older man who suddenly finds himself responsible for a young relative with problems.
"The Plight of Maximus Octavious Reinhold" reintroduces Sebastian Drake, a detective from the author's previous novel. Sebastian reluctantly gets between a squabbling husband and wife with unexpected results.
"The Final Countdown" tells the story of a young boy and his grandfather facing impending separation in a future world. I found this story especially touching.
The novella, "Grace," describes the relationship between Willie and Grace, who have differing opinions about Willie's drinking problem. This is not an uncommon marriage problem, but the developments of the story are quite uncommon. Both sides of the matter are well portrayed,
and will leave the reader pondering their decisions and their future.
These stories are unforgettable. You will anxiously await more from Dan Burns.
I especially liked:
"Redemption" introduces an older man who suddenly finds himself responsible for a young relative with problems.
"The Plight of Maximus Octavious Reinhold" reintroduces Sebastian Drake, a detective from the author's previous novel. Sebastian reluctantly gets between a squabbling husband and wife with unexpected results.
"The Final Countdown" tells the story of a young boy and his grandfather facing impending separation in a future world. I found this story especially touching.
The novella, "Grace," describes the relationship between Willie and Grace, who have differing opinions about Willie's drinking problem. This is not an uncommon marriage problem, but the developments of the story are quite uncommon. Both sides of the matter are well portrayed,
and will leave the reader pondering their decisions and their future.
These stories are unforgettable. You will anxiously await more from Dan Burns.
June 19, 2021
Maybe it was me, or maybe it was the evolution of Dan Burns as a writer, but I found this collection to be smoother and more polished than Burns' earlier work. All the stories (including Grace, the novella) are short, well-paced, and easy reading. In his story notes, Burns himself describes the theme to the stories as Grace: not just a person's name, but a human response to adversity. All centered around some element of The Human Condition, Burns touches on human responses to loss and grief, husband and wife relationships, the role of technology and challenges faced by society, the secrets we keep (and the keys that unlock them), and life's search for meaning. Potentially heady topics, but woven into personal and relatable tales that keep the pages turning.
April 21, 2020
this is a collection of stories that will touch your heart
October 25, 2019
Burns’s new collection of stories is a pleasant and poignant read, with a delightful flow from peaceful and magnanimity to evocative. My favorite story, Final Countdown, channels our mutually admired author, Ray Bradbury. Simple pencil drawings add an extra level of revelation in each story.
Beginning with a past meets present tale set on a Montana ranch, family relationships tying youth and age, love and lust, is the thread woven throughout the book.
Burns proves his versatility with genre, moving adeptly along western, gunslinger, detective noir, old man and the sea-type plots, futuristic, and his specialty of stage writing with ease. The first story features a tenderness of two-way grace when a lonely old man gets a surprise visit from his nephew in need. By the time we get to the last short story before we reach the centerpiece, the novella of the title, we have traversed through time and geography to a future glut of septuagenarians. In Grace: a novella, the reader is drawn back around to reconsider family through the eyes of a bitter wife and her sometimes humorous attempt to deal with her perceived problems.
The cover is an intriguing tumble of letters over the ghostly image of hands and face reaching out, or perhaps breaking through. Readers who enjoy shorter slices of story dealing with the challenges of family secrets, family love and war, and family adrift, will enjoy this book.
Beginning with a past meets present tale set on a Montana ranch, family relationships tying youth and age, love and lust, is the thread woven throughout the book.
Burns proves his versatility with genre, moving adeptly along western, gunslinger, detective noir, old man and the sea-type plots, futuristic, and his specialty of stage writing with ease. The first story features a tenderness of two-way grace when a lonely old man gets a surprise visit from his nephew in need. By the time we get to the last short story before we reach the centerpiece, the novella of the title, we have traversed through time and geography to a future glut of septuagenarians. In Grace: a novella, the reader is drawn back around to reconsider family through the eyes of a bitter wife and her sometimes humorous attempt to deal with her perceived problems.
The cover is an intriguing tumble of letters over the ghostly image of hands and face reaching out, or perhaps breaking through. Readers who enjoy shorter slices of story dealing with the challenges of family secrets, family love and war, and family adrift, will enjoy this book.
November 12, 2019
Interesting collection of shorts stories and one novella which captures the emotions of people who are lost or losing something of their life and are mourning the person they used to be. Many short story collections that have been recently published are lacking strong characters, they are mostly slice of life or stream of consciousness pieces without a clear understanding of the person who wrote the piece. Here there are definite characters and you feel for them even though you might not like them.
Burns writes with a masculine energy which I appreciate as I like a definite voice and tone in my short stories. I particularly liked the first story Redemption because it holds a great truth about our desire for family and connection. I also enjoyed The Final Countdown which is Burns homage to one of his favorite (and also one of my favorite authors) Ray Bradbury, and which sadly is something that may come to pass. The novella, Grace was a difficult one for me to understand and I will need to read it again to fully appreciate. In the after notes, Burns says Grace is also a play and perhaps that type of treatment would make it more clear to me. I highly recommend this collection of stories.
Burns writes with a masculine energy which I appreciate as I like a definite voice and tone in my short stories. I particularly liked the first story Redemption because it holds a great truth about our desire for family and connection. I also enjoyed The Final Countdown which is Burns homage to one of his favorite (and also one of my favorite authors) Ray Bradbury, and which sadly is something that may come to pass. The novella, Grace was a difficult one for me to understand and I will need to read it again to fully appreciate. In the after notes, Burns says Grace is also a play and perhaps that type of treatment would make it more clear to me. I highly recommend this collection of stories.
November 8, 2019
A GRACEFUL COLLECTION OF PROSE AND POEMS
November 5, 2019
If you are already a fan of Dan Burns writing, you will love this new collection of short stories and a novella, laced with poetry and illustrations. If you are new to his writing, you will soon be a fan. This author will collect readers like an angler collects rainbows, until his creel is full. He casts a lure to tempt you, and you will take the tease, until you are hooked. Trust me. I just took the bait myself and joined the list of fans, as a rookie reader of Dan Burns prose. His stories are authentic, yet poetic, set in a real world, with genuine characters so real, you feel like you are one of them. Reading along, joining the journey, you explore sudden life changes, with overwhelming challenges. Plus the pleasures and demise in alcohol abuse, and so much more. The only flaw I found was that lingering craving for more . . . might we have another round Mr. Burns?
November 5, 2019
If you are already a fan of Dan Burns writing, you will love this new collection of short stories and a novella, laced with poetry and illustrations. If you are new to his writing, you will soon be a fan. This author will collect readers like an angler collects rainbows, until his creel is full. He casts a lure to tempt you, and you will take the tease, until you are hooked. Trust me. I just took the bait myself and joined the list of fans, as a rookie reader of Dan Burns prose. His stories are authentic, yet poetic, set in a real world, with genuine characters so real, you feel like you are one of them. Reading along, joining the journey, you explore sudden life changes, with overwhelming challenges. Plus the pleasures and demise in alcohol abuse, and so much more. The only flaw I found was that lingering craving for more . . . might we have another round Mr. Burns?
January 29, 2020
Author Dan Burns pairs an impressive collection of short stories with a novella in his latest offering, “Grace.” The book explores the nature of imperfection, both in relationships and within ourselves. His characters are well-drawn, and each story pulls readers into its world. My favorite part, however, was “Grace: a novella.” Burns’ excellent pacing and dialogue made me feel right next to Willie Frye, whether it was at his apartment or in Frankie’s Tap. The auxiliary characters were excellent as well, all strong presences in their own right, even those who barely spoke. “Grace” shows us that despite our imperfections, we all have the potential to face another day successfully.
November 17, 2019
This is a wonderful set of stories on this Audiobook. Each story the Author has brought to fruition. And kept me intrigued to each individual story. Its a real page turner, The Narrator does a fantastic job and brings each character out so well. Its like there jumping off the page. I definitely recommend.
Shauna Joesten
Shauna Joesten
November 20, 2019
Grace is a book of short stories and one novella - Grace.
Stories are from a life on a Montana ranch, to family relationships, youth and age, and of love and lust as found in the novella, Grace.
It's a great read and I recommend it.
I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway and am always thankful for the Goodreads books.
Stories are from a life on a Montana ranch, to family relationships, youth and age, and of love and lust as found in the novella, Grace.
It's a great read and I recommend it.
I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway and am always thankful for the Goodreads books.
December 10, 2019
I received this advance reader copy from goodreads giveaways and after finishing this book I can say that this is a great collection of short stories. This is the first book I have read by Dan Burns and can't wait for more from this author.
December 25, 2019
Excellent book!!!
December 9, 2019
A collection of shorts stories and one novella .You will love this new collection!
December 30, 2019
I loved Grace. The short stories and Novella had me laughing and in tears. Some I found could be a reality in the future and left me a little sad. A great read!
February 5, 2020
Audible:I enjoyed this book of short stories,some more than others. Mark Bramhall was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews