Jagannath

September 24, 2012
A man in a troubled romantic relationship with an airship and the horror of being suicidally depressed in the presence of a merciful and loving God are just two of the intensely memorable stories in the English-language debut of Swedish fantasist Tidbeck (Vem är Arvid Pekon?). The title story explores a society of symbiotes living inside a vast, nurturing “mother.” An ordinary family with a history of mental illness struggles with the influence of the Vittra, strange elflike beings who may be their ancestors, in “Reindeer Mountain.” A woman creates a vegetable child only to lose him to the lure of the earth in “Cloudberry Jam.” Not all of Tidbeck’s stories have that same quiet, elusive magic—“Herr Cederberg,” for example, gradually loses its way—but all are impressively brave literary experiments. By turns brilliant and indecipherably cryptic, this book will capture the imaginations of fans of experimental fantasy and science fiction and is a fine launch for Cheeky Frawg, a new press dedicated to international and translated fiction.

In a soothing tone, narrator Kirsten Potter delivers the strange and surreal short stories of Swedish writer Karin Tidbeck. Potter transports the listener to a land that is foreign, yet one that is still so very similar to our own. Her calm voice makes the transitions between stories seamless, at times to the point that one doesn't realize a new one is beginning. A few uncommon pronunciations may give some listeners pause; however, Potter's quiet style eases us past them. This audiobook is a great listen for those who like their short stories both unusual and told in a dreamlike style. A.L.S.M. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine