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Text: Ur
A beautifully surreal masquerade. World Fantasy Award Winning editor Forrest Aguirre brings you fantastical fiction from the most imaginative minds of our time. Contributors to this hallucinogenic spectacle include Brian Evenson, recipient of an O. Henry Prize and an NEA fellowship along with Lance Olsen, a Philip K. Dick Award finalist and Associate Editor at American Book Review. This anthology also features Rikki Ducornet who has had an L.A. Times Book of the Year has been a finalist for the National Book Critics' Circle Award and Terese Svoboda whose first novel was one of SPIN's ten best novels of 1994 and recently received an O. Henry Prize.
- GenresShort Stories
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Forrest Aguirre
47 books905 followersForrest's short fiction has appeared in over fifty venues, including Asimov's, Gargoyle, Apex, and Vasterien. He is a World Fantasy Award winner for his editorial work, with Jeff VanderMeer, on the Leviathan 3 anthology. His novel, Heraclix & Pomp was published October, 2014 by the Underland Press imprint of Resurrection House press. His shorter work has been collected in Fugue XXIX (Raw Dog Screaming Press), and is also available at the Kindle store or on Smashwords at:
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 24, 2014
I would say "highly recommended" but these stories are definitely not going to be to everyone's taste. They are unusual, intelligent, often bizarre, sometimes plotless. But mostly awesome!
My very favorite was Toiya Kristen Finley's "Avatar of Background Noise". I was squeaking with excitement as I read it, even though trying to follow the multiple sets of incomplete embedded notes nearly gave me a headache.
Other stories I especially liked:
"Last Transmission or Man with a Robotic Ermine" by Joshua Cohen. Thanks for making me even more leery of the entire Mustelinae clan, Mr. Cohen!
"Fugue-State" by Brian Evenson. The end of the world may be pretty horrific, but don't worry, you'll hardly notice.
"The Devil Met Baldrick Beckenbauer" by Tom Miller. Dueling banjos, but with footnotes. Across time. By insane folklorists.
"Incipit" by Jay Lake and Ruth Nestvold. Enkidu as last Neanderthal.
"A Play for Boy and Sock-puppets" by E. Sedia. Don't let them speak for you.
"Bluecoat Jack" by Sarah Totton. Making things out of other people is wrong. So is opting out of life.
"Strangers on a Train" Tamar Yellin. Poor, poor Terri.
Will definitely be looking for more writing by all these talented people.
My very favorite was Toiya Kristen Finley's "Avatar of Background Noise". I was squeaking with excitement as I read it, even though trying to follow the multiple sets of incomplete embedded notes nearly gave me a headache.
Other stories I especially liked:
"Last Transmission or Man with a Robotic Ermine" by Joshua Cohen. Thanks for making me even more leery of the entire Mustelinae clan, Mr. Cohen!
"Fugue-State" by Brian Evenson. The end of the world may be pretty horrific, but don't worry, you'll hardly notice.
"The Devil Met Baldrick Beckenbauer" by Tom Miller. Dueling banjos, but with footnotes. Across time. By insane folklorists.
"Incipit" by Jay Lake and Ruth Nestvold. Enkidu as last Neanderthal.
"A Play for Boy and Sock-puppets" by E. Sedia. Don't let them speak for you.
"Bluecoat Jack" by Sarah Totton. Making things out of other people is wrong. So is opting out of life.
"Strangers on a Train" Tamar Yellin. Poor, poor Terri.
Will definitely be looking for more writing by all these talented people.
October 2, 2012
Creative people have asserted throughout history that masks are an undeniable fixture in our everyday lives. Whether it is a different face we put on in certain social situations, a building whose exterior conceals the purpose of the interior, or stereotypes which hide the unique and wonderful truths of people and places, our world is one of masks.
Forrest Aguirre's anthology “Text: UR – The New Book of Masks” collects stories around this theme. As mentioned above, the masks presented come in all shapes, sizes, locations, and targets. No one style dominates, instead the concept is examined from all angles.
The selections for this dense, yet thoroughly enjoyable anthology do not disappoint. From a character that travels between books in search of his creator (Toiya Kristen Finley's “The Avatar of Background Noise”), to a city that is tearing itself apart (Joe Murphy's “Bitter Almonds and Absinthe”), the fantastic visions of the featured authors are at times thought-provoking, horrifying, surreal, and always a pleasure to read.
Each story invites you to peel back the facade, whether it is the character, the setting, or the plot. The truths revealed are in a word amazing, and the incredible craftsmanship of the tales are indescribably beautiful. “Text: UR” is a fantastic display of the many masks we create for ourselves and the universe around us.
Forrest Aguirre's anthology “Text: UR – The New Book of Masks” collects stories around this theme. As mentioned above, the masks presented come in all shapes, sizes, locations, and targets. No one style dominates, instead the concept is examined from all angles.
The selections for this dense, yet thoroughly enjoyable anthology do not disappoint. From a character that travels between books in search of his creator (Toiya Kristen Finley's “The Avatar of Background Noise”), to a city that is tearing itself apart (Joe Murphy's “Bitter Almonds and Absinthe”), the fantastic visions of the featured authors are at times thought-provoking, horrifying, surreal, and always a pleasure to read.
Each story invites you to peel back the facade, whether it is the character, the setting, or the plot. The truths revealed are in a word amazing, and the incredible craftsmanship of the tales are indescribably beautiful. “Text: UR” is a fantastic display of the many masks we create for ourselves and the universe around us.
November 4, 2008
A fantastic mix of stories from some of the best writers currently writing. My favorite was Brian Evenson's piece, truly spooky and mind-altering.
Note: I did the layout and cover design for this.
Note: I did the layout and cover design for this.
February 10, 2009
I'm a contributor to this anthology, so my opinion is totally biased, but it's a wonderful and solid collection of strange and experimental fantastika.
June 1, 2011
Some really great, really odd stuff here.
August 7, 2014
An anthology with all different types of writing. Most of the stories really didn't hold my interest. But will say it's rather exploring wearing a different mask as you open each authors story telling.
Bluecoat Jack by Sarah Totton is very intriguing. I recently read on of her other stories in L. Ron Hubbard anthology. 3.5 ★
No Mooing in the Moonlight: a sci fi poem. Opens up the barn doors to something crawling. Christine Boyka Kluge had a poetic stamp. will be checking out her collections. 5★
Lance Olsen - Six Questions for an Alien: More of that Metafiction. Very strong writing but very interesting 4★
Bluecoat Jack by Sarah Totton is very intriguing. I recently read on of her other stories in L. Ron Hubbard anthology. 3.5 ★
No Mooing in the Moonlight: a sci fi poem. Opens up the barn doors to something crawling. Christine Boyka Kluge had a poetic stamp. will be checking out her collections. 5★
Lance Olsen - Six Questions for an Alien: More of that Metafiction. Very strong writing but very interesting 4★
August 12, 2014
Most of these stories were not my cup of tea. I truly enjoyed three, thought a few more were okay, but the rest didn't tickle my fancy much. Would recommend this collection to those who like exploring avant garde writing styles.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews