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Gunning for the Buddha collects fifteen of what I consider my best stories so far, written between the years of 1996 and 2002. They range from near-future science fiction to historical dark fantasy and modern-day horror, touching on all sorts of genres (and combinations of those genres) in the process.
Gunning was published in January 2005 by Prime Books, and it's now available as a trade paperback (ISBNs 978-1-930997-72-1 and 1-930997-72-8) as well as a hardcover (ISBNs 978-1-930997-71-4 and 1-930997-71-X).
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The Table of Contents is below. Click the title of a story to read a short excerpt.
Introduction by John Kessel Reviews: "Like the protagonist in his title story, Michael Jasper lands running. Gunning for the Buddha is a very strong collection... Ranging from science fiction to fantasy to horror, the stories offer a pleasing variety that I think will establish Jasper as a guy to keep an eye on." "This is a marvelous collection, full of intelligence and keen insight; at the same time, it rarely forgets to be entertaining... Moreover, it explores some deep themes in a grown-up way—that is, it offers no easy answers or definitive resolutions. But if you like your reading to affect you on an emotional level and linger for a while afterwards, this book will do just that." "Jasper's style is all over the place in his first collection—the influence of such established SF authors as John Kessel (who provides an introduction), Tim Powers and Andy Duncan is manifest—but readers curious to see the growth of a writer one story at a time will be rewarded... The last four entries are the most memorable, the standout being the evocative and vivid 'Natural Order,' which Jasper calls in his afterword 'the best story I've ever written in ten hours.'" "Michael Jasper hasn't adapted to the 21st century after a career in the previous one; this is his time. In his first collection Gunning for the Buddha, the 1996 Clarion graduate shows more than youthful promise as he (re)imagines America in the past, present and future, with detours into a few even stranger places... While this world may seem darker and more dystopian by the day, avid, talented newcomers like Jasper help us keep the faith." "Gunning for the Buddha by Michael Jasper leans toward horror but is a first collection with a number of promising stories." "Michael Jasper's Gunning for the Buddha is the first collection by a talented young writer who creates characters that behave believably in whatever situation they find themselves." |
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