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Formats
Paperback Details
  • 01/2023
  • 9781087913292
  • 124 pages
  • $15.00
Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Author
Computer Love: A Digital Anthology
A god overlooks the world he created with restless dissatisfaction, and contemplates ending his misery. A young painter sees a dazzling woman from across the coffee shop and quickly falls in love, but her past brings him unspeakable shame. A gambling addict hides his debts to save his marriage, until a shady executive demands her money back or she'll squeal. Computer Love is a collection of stories about people who have experienced a profound sense of loss and seek to deeply root their sense of self in the philosophy of love. Ordinary people are driven to extreme ends about their conviction in their common bonds. Some survive, others do not, but their collective existence answers the question, what happens when your world slips away and only love remains?
Reviews
Delving into love, loss, and the lengths humans will go through to hold on to the things of importance in their lives, this imaginative debut story collection explores an array of relationships, especially the familial, the romantic, and our complex ones with habits and addictions. Like contemporary life, Pierre-Louis’s entertaining stories cross themes and genres, with elements of romance and science fiction, as they develop engaging casts and plots—and their fears, desires, and dilemmas create a crucial sense of connection between readers and characters. Stories like “The Guardian,” in which Theodore Gershwin, a grieving father, creates a protection and surveillance system that allows the population to monitor the world around them, connect to of-the-moment anxieties while escalating tension and building to satisfying—often unexpected—conclusions.

"Marley's Mom" is the story of a young boy who only wants to sit on the couch and watch reruns with his mother, but she's too busy to spend quality time with him—and his wish finally comes true with a certain finality. In "Mr. Lewis & the Lucky Zebra," a young gambler who knows his math tries his luck gambling at the Lucky Zebra. After crapping out and owing the casino a large debt, he makes a deal with the owner to settle by "operating" one of the machines. Adrian quickly learns to never bet against the house. Highly entertaining and creative, these stories will pull readers in with clear, suspenseful situations that resonate.

Pierre-Louis writes crisp, clear prose that wastes few words. Dialogue is sharp, and the sense of place in a story like “Lake Shore Drive” is poignantly tangible: “The cars with the biggest rims, flashiest lights, and curviest curves slowly rolled past. The machines seduced and called out like they were in heat.” This character-driven, idea-rich collection exploring complex conceptions of love is a quick, engaging read despite its thoughtful seriousness, and a few stories that end abruptly.

Takeaway: An imaginative anthology that explores love while incorporating elements of science fiction.

Great for fans of: N.K. Jemisin’s How Long ‘Til Black Future Month, Dahlia Adler’s His Hideous Heart.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Kirkus Reviews

Everyday people stumble into extraordinary circumstances in Pierre-Louis’ debut short story collection.

In the opening tale, “Marley’s Mom,” a 5-year-old boy craves his mother’s attention and affection. He dreads the lonely evenings when she goes out—especially when she gets home late. The struggle to hold on to family or some other kind of union is a theme coursing through the works in this compact but compelling book. For example, ex-gambler Adrian Lewis of “Mr. Lewis & The Lucky Zebra” connects with Elise, a keen, headstrong banker, but when his lingering debt at an Indiana casino threatens the couple’s future marriage, he must clear what he owes. In “An Essential Worker,” office worker Raul has grown accustomed to watching fellow employees pack up their things and leave—but one bizarre day, it appears that everyone except him has vacated the office. The collection’s highlight comes in the latter half: a series of stories involving aspiring Chicago artist Jamie and his newfound romance with Eva. She’s a wealthy, successful sex worker who’s hoping that she and Jamie will share something more profound than physical. Throughout, this collection features a commendable range of characters, including a bar owner who serves drinks as well as retribution in “Matron”and a bored god who immerses himself in mortals’ curious holiday tradition in “God in a Window.”Pierre-Louis’ lyrical prose makes spectacular sights seem oddly familiar, such as a lion with an otherworldly glow in “The Golden Lion” or, in the case of Jamie’s cluttered studio apartment, just the opposite: “Even the eggshell white walls caught a stray splash of color. Magenta, cerulean, and midnight made their debut as accidental abstracts.” One will only wish that the stories were longer.

A compilation of poetic, earnest, and arresting tales.

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 01/2023
  • 9781087913292
  • 124 pages
  • $15.00
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