The Secret Society of Demolition Writers

An intriguing title, excellent introduction, and Ellen Archer's fine reading are the high points of this quirky short story collection by authors Aimee Bender, Benjamin Cheever, Michael Connelly, Sebastian Junger, Elizabeth McCracken, Rosie O'Donnell, Chris Offutt, Anna Quindlen, John Burnham Schwartz, Alice Sebold, and Lauren Slater. The intriguing twist is that all the authors use fake names, leaving the listener to try to guess who wrote what. Alas, the CD cover is overcrowded and unattractive, and a number of the stories are disappointing--lacking luster and interest. There are, however, some real high points, particularly "Ashes," which is effective and memorable. L.C. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

May 9, 2005
Instead of whodunit, this anthology of 12 anonymously penned short stories asks "who wrote it?" Parent gathers tales by well-known authors (including Aimee Bender, Michael Connelly, Sebastian Junger, Elizabeth McCracken, Anna Quindlen, Alice Sebold and himself) under the premise that freedom from reputation and byline leads to exciting storytelling. The device is intriguing—like a blind taste test—but potentially frustrating: the fun of the blind taste test, after all, is when you learn the name of your favorite flavor. And though many pieces deal with dark subjects, it's difficult to feel that anonymity has encouraged much authorial risk. A man falls in love with a women who's killed her parents; a father-to-be unleashes a ghost into the world; two young travelers are caught in a West African war. The finest story in the collection, "Wonderland," centers on a fashion magazine editor—"a fash-mag hag"—recalling a college affair with a custodian that led to unexpected consequences. The quality of the stories varies, but overall is high: why doesn't everyone just slap their names on what they wrote? Maybe because then it'd be just another anthology.