Stumbling and Raging: More Politically Inspired Fiction

By: Stephen Elliott

We live in political times where it is impossible not to be involved, inspired, appalled, or motivated by the current administration. It seems like everyone has something to say about politics these... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596921587
• ISBN13: 9781596921580
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: MacAdam/Cage Publishing
• Length: 331 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Meet Jeff Parker; Meet Stefan Kiesbye

I bought this book for the Stephen Elliott-penned comic and the Michelle Herman and Dave Eggers stories (and these did not disappoint). What I didn't know was that two of the best writers you've never heard of (but you will!) offered up work good enough to stand alongside (hell, tower over!) the work represented by famous writers like Sandra Cisneros, etc., in the same volume. This is a fantastic anthology, and it's no small thing that Elliott has chosen to cast his net so wide. I'm grateful, and, oh yeah, I hopefully helped to defeat one of our more hateful Congressman by forking over my cash. Everyone wins! (Except the hateful Congressmen.)

excellent writing, excellent cause

It was wonderful to realize that the enjoyment of reading this book was also providing support to liberal candidates. Although I did not find all the stories to be outstanding, "The Translator" by Courtney Angela Brkic was both beautifully written and a perfect example of the atrocities of this war that are being hidden from the general public (see author's notes in book)

no stumbling in this collection

This is a very tight, nicely arranged collection of short stories that range from the heartfelt to the absurd. It's nice to observe that these writers do take a stance, artfully and with a keen eye. I liked the emotional richness of stories by Parker, Karan Mahajan, Yu, Keisbye, Boudinot, and Cisneros. And I like the comic a lot, the pictures are fabulous and the writing sharp. Other pieces are laugh-out loud funny (Carman for example). It's a pleasure you can feel good about.

The Sly Young Fox

Well, that sly young fox is most assuredly STEPHEN ELLIOTT, the author of last year's exquisitely original "Happy Baby" and the hip mildly clever "Looking Forward to It". In case you can't tell, I've become something of an admirer. Here, he's editing a collection short stories, all with a decidely political frame of reference, and whether it was by mistake or not, I decided to read this book along with the first collection of stories Elliott edited back in 2003, "Politically Inspired", which is something of a classic I think, because I found myself reading several of those stories twice and thinking about them after the book was set down. Suffice to say, "Stumbling and Raging" just doesn't have the cutting edge thrill that "Politically Inspired" has, it is not a classic or as nearly exciting, but it is charming and makes several wicked little points in copycat fashion of the first book. More interesting, to me, are the stories written by Stephen Elliott himself. I would really like to read a collection of stories by just the sly young fox on his lonesome. He's economical but very no-nonsense and has not only heart, but a pointed point of view. We shall see.