The Apocalypse Reader Book

The most important thing that those attracted to the title should know is that this book is about the literal Greek meaning of the word apocalypse, which is "a revelation" or "an unveiling," the author also says that it can be "cataclysmic changes of any sort," for instance "the micro-Apocalypses that mark moments in our lives: childhood's end, a relationship's sudden explosion, Death." So instead of this being a book about the Apocalypse that we all know, love, fear and obsess over, he's put together a book where the Apocalypse can be, well...anything. So most of the suspense in the book is when you start another story and are hanging in there hoping that it is indeed about the title's namesake and not some porkknob with a problem. That's not to say that it's a bad collection, just not what I was expecting. This sucks considering he took a specific subject that I was interested in and manipulated it into something as broad as a school textbook.

He picks from a wide range of sources, from classics like Poe and Hawthorne, to sci-fi from Neil Gaiman and Michael Moorcock. Most of it is that kind of stuff that's all non-linear and arty and magically-realismy and full of pretentious language. I don't know what you'd call it. Post-modern? Probably. This is obviously, a style preference of the editor and while there's lots of other stuff in here, it shows. The problem with that kind of writing is that while I often like it, more often than not it's pretentious, jerk-off session. With this book that still holds true and considering the amount included it really throws off the averages.

When I was a little kid I used to keep score when reading a book of short stories. I marked each one good or bad and made a verdict on whether it was a good book or not based on the higher score. Just for old times sake I'm going to do that with each of these stories.

OK, What I end up with is good stories: 15, bad stories: 19. That's a shitty ratio, folks, so if I were still an obsessive-compulsive kid, I would say this was bad book.. Still I really, liked some what I liked so I can't say I regret reading it. Read at your own discretion.