Wasteland and Other Stories

This collection of previously published stories highlights the resilience of the human spirit when faced with threats to well-being and survival. The first seven stories focus on soldiers and their experiences. In "Azaleas, " a veteran in war-torn Korea grapples with his future. "A Joke for Chong" offers a brief snapshot of life on the front lines. "Class of '65" reflects on the aftermath of a fatal firefight.
Both "Men at War" and "Low Speed Jet" delve into life on the home front during the Vietnam War. In "Government Issue, " military justice proves as destructive as combat. "Rearguard, " a home-front story set during the Iraq War, rounds out the soldier tales."Wasteland, " the collection's title story, begins in reality and slips into a dreamlike state, as the protagonist grasps not so much for physical survival as for a meaningful existence.
The next seven stories explore contemporary life, with a nod to ancient Greece. "What About India?" and "There You Go" examine how both blue- and white-collar workers rely on employment not only for income but for their sense of self-worth. "Hippasus of Metapontum" warns of the dangers of introducing revolutionary ideas into society. In "Negative Entropy, " a flash fiction piece, new ideas collide with old, destructive behaviors.
"Mind over Matter" follows a protagonist grappling with the consequences of her actions in difficult circumstances. Similarly, in "The Pugilist, " the main character drifts between reality and a self-created illusion. "Sunrise Cliff, " a flash, rekindles-or perhaps doesn't-a romance. The final two stories, "Ole Ned" and "Exodus, " set in the near future, imagine Canada's immigration challenges as its southern neighbors flee increasingly uninhabitable environments.