Disposable Girl and Other Tales of Brutality and Wonder, an anthology
My first anthology of short stories, Disposable Girl and Other Tales of Brutality and Wonder, offers a remarkable variety of tales featuring humor, history, amusement, horror, brutality, or wonder. These 13 stories are imaginative of plot and setting, and populated by characters of courage and integrity, albeit sometimes misapplied.
They are:
“Disposable Girl” — On a private island, abducted war orphans are groomed to be disposable sex slaves, sold to 21st-century wannabe-Übermensch. Daria, though, will be no one’s disposable girl. About 5,000 words.
“Versipellis Nemora” — In the Hocking Mountains of Appalachia, Willard runs a retirement home for werewolves, which is fine until a state inspector shows up. About 4,300 words.
“Arlene, the White Oak Tree” — Arlene flees a bad marriage and a dead-end life by turning herself into a tree, proving the best revenge is good living through nature. About 950 words.
“The Brazilian Millionaire’s Butler” — When Olivia escapes to Brazil, accepting a proposal to marry a millionaire she hardly knows, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game of deception. Only the butler might save her. About 5,700 words.
“Uncle Jimmy and the Tallest Man in Chicago” — A man who receives a solicitation call seizes the conversational lead and tells stories about his youth, leading to a point. About 970 words.
“The 291” — Bowler Marty’s near-perfect game all but destroys his life and sets him up as a viral symbol for what is wrong in America, until he fights back. About 7,000 words.
“Green Dog” — The next great superhero (his superpower is truth) is shopping for a costume when he runs into the next great supervillain, leading to a costume-shop showdown. About 4,800 words.
“The Revelation to Joe” — Joe’s vision quest results in a near-death experience, a divine encounter, and an epiphany (or maybe just a bad acid trip.) About 4,800 words.
“The Thirteenth Floor” — Trapped for a century on a hotel’s secret 13th floor, a group of bickering ghosts really needs group therapy. Enter, Dr. Margolis. About 9,100 words.
“Family Values” — When a father disrespects his son, the son’s response disproves both his father’s insult and the merits of his father’s value system. About 100 words.
“Whatever Happened to ‘The Next Sudden Sam?’” — Baseball historian Rusty’s emotionally traumatic life needs a distraction. Along comes a baseball mystery that becomes his obsession. About 5,300 words.
“Great Bones” — The strength and love of a young couple is tested against the terrifying lies of a ghost hiding dark truths in their little rehabbed bungalow. About 4,400 words.
“Death of the President” — An elderly financial advisor passes along a burden to his young great-nephew: a secret about one of the most shocking deceptions and coverups in American history. About 5,000 words.
