Jason Waltz’s Reviews > Not a Speck of Light: Stories > Status Update

"Soul of Me": these are the kinds of word groupings people nod with vacant smiles and eyes and heads as they let you name them 'stories.' only an author with a name and an audience could get this stuff published. Skimmed, skipped, scoffed my way through this one. Actual premise was cool, why a dog is here, but my gawd, what a terrible telling.

"Nemesis": started, almost skipped it, struggled onward, started to coalesce, then sank like a senseless sound bite, skipped most assuredly.

"The Blood in My Mouth": fascinatingly intense. Numerous throwaway characters with immense depth I'd liked to have known better. Equally numerous others stories merely hinted at in the telling of this one. Dark self examination that I'm certain will reveal different things to different readers.

"Joren Falls": in which we learn Laird can be funny. Fun mystery.

"Mobility": began clever with some great lines. Then veered into stupid. Waste of time.

Whelp. Two stories in and underwhelming mumbo-jumbo so far.