Cataclysmic and arresting, this collection of stories is told in a style as quick and efficient as a switchblade, lending a fresh interpretation to ordinary life in all its guises. The featured tales are at turns mordant, shocking, and entertaining, containing a new tonality and strong atmospheric tones. The unique characters are illustrated as existing on the edge of estrangement, while others have toppled over, finding themselves in situations that skew to the dark side. Underscoring a writing style both tactile and surprising, this anthology depicts an intriguing tension through hardscrabble subjects and lively voices.