1000 stories written? Close to a third of those published? Yes. It's what happens when talent, joy and enthusiasm all combine: how can you not write? Paint? Be creative? In this new collection, Bruce Taylor (AKA _Mr. Magic Realism_), shows us the happy marriage he has enjoyed with his creativity as he sought to write what he loved to read, reading what he sought to write. Though many of these stories are longer than usual, they range from the more traditional ("The Gift Beyond Gifts") to the truly strange/_Twilight Zone_-quality of "Into Reading.". Bruce's work is at once, diverse, thoughtful and--fun.

But, no matter what Bruce writes, there is a theme that runs through much of his work: We don't see reality as bizarre, because we've all come to agree that the bizarre is "normal reality." Of course it isn't. What reality is--is _incomprehensible,_ never mind life itself. But let's not let _that_ get in the way of loving it, loving our fellow creatures who inhabit this world with us, loving the planet from whence we come and love being the mortal mammals that we are on this third planet--around a star.

"Works that are fascinating, insightful, and downright fun to read"

--Ben Bova

"As rich and poetic as Bradbury at his best."

--William F. Nolan, author of Logan's Run

"A very gifted short fiction writer."

--Jeff VanderMeer