Godfall and Other Stories

by Sandra Odell

Overview

In Godfall and Other Stories, writer Sandra M. Odell presents 22 stories that move from riveting to weird to horrifying, exploring dark, dark places of human (and not-so-human) beings. What happens when the gods start falling dead from the sky? Why can’t a cactus marry a gila monster? When a boy can talk to time? These and other stories capture the vivid imagination of Sandra M. Odell.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780997951004
Publisher:	Hydra House
Publication date:	04/18/2018
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.52(d)

Table of Contents

Godfall

The Home for Broken

The Poison Eater

Listening to It Rain

The Business of Rats

Telling Stories

Exchanges, No Refunds

How Toby Told Time

Ink

Good Boy

Life Line

Scarecrone

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Just Be

Samaritan

Curtain Call

The Vessel Never Asks For More Wine

Black Widow

Lost in Translation

Truth Is A Stranger To Fiction

Blue

A Troll’s Trade

Afternote by Cat Rambo

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/12/2018
Odell’s powerful second collection (after The Twelve Ways of Christmas) is a diverse assemblage of short stories that demonstrate both versatility and mastery of the craft. The tone is often dark, ranging from the psychologically horrific “The Poison Eater,” in which a young man stuck in a small town undergoes a terrifying transformation, to the existential terror of “Godfall,” in which the world’s pantheon of deities dies off, one by one. Each story is carefully crafted to showcase both style and substance. “The Home for Broken” condemns full-time caregivers who treat their disabled charges as inconveniences; it’s balanced perfectly by the thoughtful hope in “Telling Stories.” The standout tale is “Ink,” an explanation of transformation’s cost that is infused with both joy and pain, presented subtly and with true emotion. The collection features a kaleidoscope of voices; each story brushes against multiple genres and is informed by some kernel of the author’s life, as explained in the fascinating author’s notes ending each segment. Odell’s excellent work marks her as a writer to watch. Agent: Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Odell’s powerful second collection (after The Twelve Ways of Christmas) is a diverse assemblage of short stories that demonstrate both versatility and mastery of the craft. The tone is often dark, ranging from the psychologically horrific “The Poison Eater,” in which a young man stuck in a small town undergoes a terrifying transformation, to the existential terror of “Godfall,” in which the world’s pantheon of deities dies off, one by one. Each story is carefully crafted to showcase both style and substance. “The Home for Broken” condemns full-time caregivers who treat their disabled charges as inconveniences; it’s balanced perfectly by the thoughtful hope in “Telling Stories.” The standout tale is “Ink,” an explanation of transformation’s cost that is infused with both joy and pain, presented subtly and with true emotion. The collection features a kaleidoscope of voices; each story brushes against multiple genres and is informed by some kernel of the author’s life, as explained in the fascinating author’s notes ending each segment. Odell’s excellent work marks her as a writer to watch. Agent: Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary. (Apr.)

—Publishers Weekly

“Godfall and Other Stories by Sandra M. Odell is filled with surreal imagery, lush language, and thought provoking stories that are enhanced by the author’s inspiration. This collection grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.”

—Jennifer Brozek, Author of Never Let Me Sleep and The Last Days of Salton Academy

From the Publisher