Wednesday, March 17, 2021

SSW-Big Day in Little Bit, James Sallis

 

There are few writers I admire more than James Sallis. I have read several novels from his Lew Griffin series and the three novels grouped at the Turner Trilogy. He also writes criticism, poetry and whatever strikes his fancy. Many of his stories are available on his website. 

"Big Day in Little Bit" is the story of a hit man who comes to town and becomes so fond of the sheriff and the town and its people that he turns the job down. But there will always be another who will take the job. This is a short short and I am not entirely sure of its ending. That happens to me sometimes. But it doesn't matter because I don't read James Sallis for his endings. I read him for his gorgeous prose and his ability to make statements about life; to have a piece of a poem, an observation about history, a comment on what people are like woven into a 2500 word story. This is another terrific story with nary a false note from BULLETS AND OTHER HURTING THINGS. I know Bill would be proud to be remembered with these stories and the writers are proud to do their best for him. 

Kevin Tipple

TracyK 

Jerry House

11 comments:

Margot Kinberg said...

I admit, Patti, I haven't read this story. But I really like James Sallis' work a lot, so I'm glad you featured this one. Time to look it up.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I agree on Sallis. I very much recommend OTHERS OF MY KIND. I liked the DRIVE books too. And his latest, SARAH JANE, was excellent too.

After the Richard Russo collection, I read the R. L. Maizes book (WE LOVE ANDERSON COOPER) that a friend sent. A few real downer stories towards the end, but overall I enjoyed it, with the title story the most interesting.

My favorite story of the week (by far) was R. A. Lafferty's "In Our Block" in MY FAVORITE FANTASY STORY (which George recommended recently). It's a short "aliens fitting in" story that was quite funny to me. Lafferty was an interesting writer.

Kevin R. Tipple said...

As always, thank you for picking up my work today.

TracyK said...

I agree about endings in short stories. I have read a good number of short stories where the endings mystified me, but I still enjoyed the story because of the writing. Good to hear it is not just me.

I haven't gotten to Sallis's story in BULLETS AND OTHER HURTING THINGS yet. I have several of his books and should pull one out and read it.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Makes me feel like watching STARMAN, Jeff.
No, it's not just you. I think with a novel it is imperative to nail the ending-to solve the crime, jail the felon, get a divorce, grow up, bury your parent. With short stories many writers tend to be a bit vague.

Todd Mason said...

A reviewer who tries to avoid vagueness at all costs is Paul Frazer...I recommend his latest review to SSW readers: https://sfmagazines.com/?p=13577 (there has rarely been an issue or anthology review of Paul's I'd wholly agree with...but, so what)

Patti, I'm working on a typically tardy one when awake today (began the day with some mopping in the laundry/bathroom, which involve moving the W & D around, in their heftiness, and stop-gap fixing tiles...will take it out of one...

pattinase (abbott) said...

Imagine my dilemma when I have to do such things. If you tube doesn't tell me how to do it, I can't.

Todd Mason said...

I can...there's always something to be said for hiring pros...and Sallis's elegance was in evidence as far back, at least, as his turn of the '70s work in AGAIN, DANGEROUS VISIONS (Harlan Ellison's second book in a storied new-ficyion anthology series...THE LAST DANGEROUS VISIONS might finally be published, decades after AGAIN, by his literary executor).

While I have read some of his fantastica in FANTASTIC, AMAZING, NEW WORLDS and elsewhere since, I've not yet read his early stories in WHISPERS, the best "little" horror magazine of the '70s, at least, as yet, that I remember. I'll see if I have to fetch out my copies or can find such early work on his site.

http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/d/d4894.htm#A174010
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?1427
--which tells me one was reprinted in the Doubleday anthology WHISPERS II, so I read that one...

Todd Mason said...

I can imagine, that is. I probably could rebuild the back deck, but not so well...

Todd Mason said...

Work in progress...as are they all:
https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2019/07/ffb-seventh-galaxy-reader-edited-by.html
(Ninja the cat resents this much typing/non-petting...)

Rick Robinson said...

It's an excellent story alright. Though I think I liked Sara's better.