All the stories have a sense of transgression. And sometimes confronting one's memories is what causes the sense of horror. While some of the stories are narrated in the present tense, many are primarily flashbacks telling what has brought the protagonist to the tragic or horrific situation in which he or she is now trapped. Memories, as I have said, are often painful, but many times, they are the hinge on which the story turns. And often there is a sense of claustrophobia too: in the title story as well as some of the others, the protagonists are made to inhabit close and confining spaces. However, in some of the other stories, forgetfulness is sought because memories are too painful. The woman in the title story, for example, is so terrified of it that she goes to great lengths to escape it. Oblivion is something that is sought by some and feared by others. Some of these themes are indicated by the key words in the title. But there are some common themes which serve to link the stories despite the differences in genre, point of view, setting and tone. They range from science fiction to horror to fiction that is quite realistic and tragic. This collection of stories offers us a variety of scenarios and characters. Thanks to author and GR friend Christopher Conlon for kindly providing an advance review copy.
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