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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Late Light by Michael J. Bowden is a collection of six original short stories. Each one is a stand-alone and they range in length, tone, and, to a certain extent, writing style. In Catalyst, Jeff Pilton investigates a mysterious force that grants ordinary people temporary extraordinary abilities. He theorizes about a machine that condenses life’s peak experiences into a single event, leading him to document individuals performing impossible feats. His search deepens as he becomes convinced of the machine’s existence. In the story Songstones, the narrator contemplates the myth of a giant trapped at the planet’s core, who taught ancient songs to children. They then embark on a journey through a new crevice formed by an earthquake, discovering songstones embedded in the walls, humming in response to the planet's breath. They continue the search with an incredible turn of events.
Michael J. Bowden’s Late Light is a spectacularly written collection of stories so incredibly unique and creative that I'm wondering why isn't there more noise about this book. Each story presents something completely different, with Bowden’s sharp prose and textured character development standing out across the board. My favorite story is The To-do List, which puts us in the head of a police officer investigating a man, Philip, whose bizarre behavior grows increasingly unsettling. What begins as a simple investigation soon becomes akin to an obsession. It's unknown at first if the narrator is reliable as the quirks and minutiae of everyday tasks, like list-making, boil over. Though each story offers something unique, Bowden’s ability to make even the most ordinary moments feel significant is what makes this book so powerful. His attention to detail and mastery of fear and imagination make Late Light a collection worth retreading. Very highly recommended.
