"Vivid. Evocative. Bruce Holland Rogers' writing jumps right off the page." -Wil McCarthy, author of Bloom

"Bruce Holland Rogers stories are like the glimpses you catch out of the corner of your eye. They are full of the logic of dreams, and the logic of the heart." -Maureen F. McHugh, author of Mission Child

"I admire Bruce Holland Rogers and his writing for their seriousness, their onesty and their style." -Valerie Freireich, author of Becoming Human

From dark fairy tales to creepy science fiction to a theological mystery set in the Old West, the mind of Bruce Holland Rogers takes you to territories of the bizarre: Wall Street, Suburbia, and Mexico. In the Nebula Award-nominated story "These Shoes Strangers Have Died Of," a World War II veteran confronts the perpetrators and victims of genocide, and the would-be perpetrators, through his art. The title story, "Wind Over Heaven," exposes the weird underside of the upscale restaurant business. And the 1998 Bram Stoker Award-winner "The Dead Boy at Your Window" (which also won a Pushcart Prize for literary fiction) takes readers on a journey to the land of the dead like no other.

I've heard it argued that horror is an emotion, not a genre, and Bruce Holland Rogers has demonstrated this well in his collection of dark stories. The stories range from a western to a fable to science fiction, but all are intelligent tales with dark themes, including redemption and revenge, and settings ranging from the land of the dead to an alternate Aztec-like Mexico. I recommend this book.

"Vivid. Evocative. Bruce Holland Rogers' writing jumps right off the page." -Wil McCarthy, author of Bloom

"Bruce Holland Rogers stories are like the glimpses you catch out of the corner of your eye. They are full of the logic of dreams, and the logic of the heart." -Maureen F. McHugh, author of Mission Child

"I admire Bruce Holland Rogers and his writing for their seriousness, their onesty and their style." -Valerie Freireich, author of Becoming Human

From dark fairy tales to creepy science fiction to a theological mystery set in the Old West, the mind of Bruce Holland Rogers takes you to territories of the bizarre: Wall Street, Suburbia, and Mexico. In the Nebula Award-nominated story "These Shoes Strangers Have Died Of," a World War II veteran confronts the perpetrators and victims of genocide, and the would-be perpetrators, through his art. The title story, "Wind Over Heaven," exposes the weird underside of the upscale restaurant business. And the 1998 Bram Stoker Award-winner "The Dead Boy at Your Window" (which also won a Pushcart Prize for literary fiction) takes readers on a journey to the land of the dead like no other.

Hilarious and silly. A perfectly ironic retelling of "Paradise Lost."

The book tells the story of an archbishop's guardian angel who starts reading the bishop's books on Theology and becomes an atheist. The angel moves to Paris, meets a woman, has his wings fall off & takes up the harp to make a living, since he can't handle harmony. Then he meets the Devil. This is a very funny book, by the world's greatest ironist. A wonderful read for those who smile at people who pray on TV while squinting. Elegant prose even in English, better in French; a quintessential skeptic at his best.

Easy-to-read yet artful novel in the traditions of Thomas Love Peacock, Dr. Johnson (Rasselas, especially) and Francois Rabelais. The story is about religious follies in the early days of Christendom, but has plenty of relevancy to our time. France was witty and relentless when it came to superstition, hypocrisy and religious megalomania but he had tremendous sympathy for humanity's spiritual yearning and the plight of the characters. I found an old copy printed in the 20's. Somebody needs to bring this fine book, and other works of Anatole France, back in print. Updated translations will help as well.

NECESITAMOS COMPRAR EL LIBRO THAIS TRADUCIDO AL ESPAÑOL, MUCHO LES AGRADECERE ENVIARME MAIL CON ESTA INFORMACION

SALUDOS AMIGOS

really interesting read. rainey has a way of making something seem very fresh. his plots always seem original, even when they are not. great stories. great descriptions at times. what rainey is really master at, however, is the angle. he writes a story from a certain angle, making it very intersting. his stories are at their best the most refreshing stories i read in horror. very enjoyable

Rainey does what so many Cthulhu Mythos fans cannot - he takes the idea of unknowable horror, things that see us as nothing, and places that idea firmly in the modern day without doing a Lovecraft pastiche. His stories in this volume are all connected by locale, but range in horror from trapped heroes, doomed to a grisly fate, to a feisty futuristic heroine, fighting for survival after the stars have become right. Satisfying work, set in the Mythos, but without the standard trappings so many authors feel necessary to throw in (the million moldy volumes, rattling through the entire Old One pantheon, etc.). Highest recommendations. I've just ordered Balak, his novel, after finishing the collection, and can't wait for it to arrive!

If you love the Cthulhu Mythos for its sheer alienness & imcomprensability instead of for repetative buzzwords (you know them) then this is for you. With his own setting & minimal direct connection with the mythos, Rainey has expanded far beyond the traditional pastiches that make up the majority of material being offered. These stories show how truly brain-twisting impossible realities can affect people. Great reads!

those blasted penguins were baptised and changed into penguins! this satire depicts the history of France! enjoy! :)

Anatole France spares no one in this satire about the the birth life and death of the Penguin empire. Starting from the baptism of the Penguins by St. Mael (and the associated debates in Heaven about the devine status of penguins) through the founding and subsequent fall of the empire, this story pokes fun at the Church, military, courts and every political movement known to man. The trial of poor Pyrot had me in stitches. If you like satire, READ THIS BOOK.

I first read this book at the age of 12. I remember receiving it for Christmas--an irony in itself. I recollect my feelings of incredulity as I read the chapters--how could such blasphemy go unpunished?! And then, slowly, my disbelief turned into pure joy at the nose-thumbing this author gave all institutions. The Church, the State, Socialism--you name it, he mocked it. I recommend this book for all those who continue to believe in Ideals.

Monsieur Bonnard is absolutely, utterly adorable! He is wise, witty, imaginative- the embodiement of good- yet totally unaware of it. Anatole France has created an extremely real character, some even say it is Anatole projecting himself into the future as an old man. The work is humorous and sincere. The translation I used was by Lafcadio Hearn and seemed to me one of the better ones.

James Gibbons Huneker's "Egoists" is a diverting compilation of essays, exploring the personalities and lives of some of the greatest artists, poets, litteratures, philosophers and mystics who have advocated the creed of individualism, in opposition to the sentiments of equality, brotherly love and socialism. The essays combine entertainingly critical and analytical insights with a melodic prose style characterised by a sweep and grandeur of rhetoric, and many a flowery turn of phrase. A little dated, perhaps, but fun.

This is Anatole France's cautionary tale about ideological fanaticism during the "terror" of the French revolution. It is doubly remarkable in that it was published in the decade prior to the Soviet seizure of power, which imposed decades of political terror in Russia as we know, and in that France was a well-known member of the left. Thus, academics rightfully proclaim it as a symbol of the horrors to follow in the 20C.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book very much. Not only is its tone self-important with ponderous and ever-present references to classical mythology - the myth of Orestes as well as the savage bacchantes - but its innumerable references to obscure figures of the French Revolution, in all their historical accuracy, make it, well, just plain boring. Moreover, the characters appear more like symbols of abstract ideas than flesh-and-blood creatures, and so are both unrealistic psychologically as well as put in situations in which they can carry out long and improbably philosophic discussions.

The plot follows the impoverished members of an apartment building during a time of grave threat to the revolution. There is a fervent young man (a painter), his missing sister (shacked up with an aristocrat), his simple mother, and an older cynic atheist (an ex-courtesan and libertine), who gives refuge to a persecuted priest and innocent peasant girl. As the revolution takes an increasingly murderous turn, they become ever more intimately involved with each other as vehicles to portray historical events.

As such, the book seems to be written for the French high school student, all of whom memorize survey literature from secondary sources to pass rigorous examinations. This makes them able to spout facts as if they had read widely, implying depth and thoughtfulness that all too often isn't there. Of course, France obviously has great depth and his historical research is indeed exhaustive, which taught me a great deal. But the book just didn't make me feel like I was there, which was why I read it. Instead, while reading I felt like I was studying for a high school exam.

As I try to get through the classic authors, I am occasionally surprised at the banality and dullness of some of the most famous works. Perhaps this is because I read them from a rather naïve perspective, open and as if they are not revered for whatever, but just as a pure reading experience. Thus, my perceptions are personal and limited to my own experience. While the overwhelming majority of classics are truly wonderful, this one was not.

Recommended only for history buffs and students of French lit.

I'll be frank here - I had never even heard of Anatole France before I read "The Gods Will Have Blood." Frankly, though, I don't think I was missing much. That's not to say that the novel is entirely without merit. It offers an amazingly detailed description of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, and the dialogue between the antireligious Brotteaux and the kindly Father Longuemare is well written and engrossing.

Nevertheless, "The Gods Will Have Blood" fails in several obvious ways. The characters are static and typecast - Anatole France might as well have hung a sign on Gamelin that reads "EVIL" and be done with it. In fact, the novel is almost completely lacking in subtlety, both in terms of the plot and the characterization as well. Also, the writing style on display here is quite monotonous. The introduction claims that it is "polished perfection", but to me it seems more nondescript and generic than anything else.

"The Gods Will Have Blood" is, indeed, quite informative about the French Revolution. Unfortunately, historical accuracy doesn't automatically make for a great novel.

Anatole France's "The Gods Will Have Blood" (1912) is a meditation on the price of unbridled fanaticism. Several key personages and events of the French Revolution figure in the story; most notibly Maximllien Robespierre and the death of Jean-Paul Marat.

But don't expect exquisite characterizations, ala Flaubert, Dostoyevski, Henry James or James Joyce. Such was not France's aim. This is a cautionary tale; one that recapitulates Robespierre, the Terror and Napoleon, and prefigures the Soviets and the Nazis.

In fact, France's articulation of the maddening rationale by fanatical judges--that it is they, not their victims, who suffer as they go about the bloody work of enforcing national policies with the murder of perceived enemies--is visited through concentration camp butcher Rudolph Hoess in William Styron's "Sophie's Choice" (1976).

Only the translation prevents this novel from five stars. Given the fact that French is second only to ancient Greek in terms of damage from translation, and it becomes a minor complaint.

This is a novel by a master (Anatole France won the Nobel for Lit in 1921). Read this book; it's an education.