This collection of “wicked tales” was published in 2015. Atwood takes pains to define “tale” as less true than “story”: “We may safely assume that all tales are fiction, whereas a ‘story’ might well be a true story about what we usually agree to call ‘real life.’”
The first three are interconnected. "Alphinland" is about Constance, who has recently lost her husband but continues to converse with him; she especially wants to know if he had that affair, like she suspected he did. The title comes from her successful fantasy series, which supported them; C. W. Starr, her nom de plume, seems to be an amalgam of J. K. Rowling and Atwood herself. Atwood's characters often write “subliterary” fiction (her word; see the romance novels in Lady Oracle, for example) to support themselves. Does she actually consider any of her work to be pulp?
“Revenant” switches to the point of view of Constance’s ex, Gavin, and his young wife, Reynolds. He regrets not marrying Constance, and tells Reynolds so. But no time to hash it out, as Reynolds has arranged for him to meet with Naveena, who is writing about his work, or so Reynolds says. In point of fact, she’s writing about Constance, and Gavin is just someone who knew her before she was famous.
The third story, “Dark Lady,” takes place after Gavin’s death. Jorrie and her twin Tin, fka Marjorie and Martin, learn of Gavin’s funeral, and Jorrie, who was with Gavin after Constance, wants to go and gloat. She hopes Constance will be there…and of course she is.
“Lusus Naturae” was written for a collection of “strange tales” edited by Michael Chabon, and continues in the undead-ish vein of Happy Zombie Sunrise Home.
“The Freeze-Dried Groom” and “The Dead Hand Loves You” are delightful little horror gems. In the first, a man who uses storage units for drug deals, and whose inner monologue imagines him as a murder victim, discovers a chilling cache, and gets to play out his fantasy. The second reminds me of the first three intertwined stories: a young writer who can’t pay the rent jokingly contracts with his housemates to share the proceeds of his next book. It’s a surprise hit that ties them all uncomfortably together, and he contemplates murdering the people siphoning off his riches.
“I Dream of Zenia with the Bright Red Teeth” is a return to the characters from The Robber Bride, but with a more sympathetic reading of the man-stealing antagonist Zenia.
The title story is a chilling tale of murder and revenge. When Bob raped 14-year-old Verna, he ruined her life, and set her on a path to seducing older men, then sending them off a little sooner than necessary. She’s plotting to do the same to a man on her cruise -- but he turns out to be Bob. Her revenge is perfectly plotted, using an aptly named piece of fossil called a “stone mattress.”
Finally, “Torching the Dusties” is about a movement that would scale up Verna’s approach by ridding the country of folks in retirement homes.
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