Darkness Divided

Darkness can be divided. It can be split like an atom, and in it can be found a destructive fire or light. Light, too, can be folded into darkness. The stories brought to light in John Shirley's stunning DARKNESS DIVIDED — most of them never before collected, some written especially for this book—are presented in two sections: one featuring stories set in the present, or the past, the other set in myriad futures. These dark tales of new noir, science fiction, fantasy, and crime, demonstrate humankind's evolution from where we were and where we are, to where we have yet to be. Shadows are a currently continuity streaming from "Til Now" into "And Soon. "John Shirley incisively explores human nature and the pitch-black streak within the soul that each of us fears. The twenty-two excursions collected here divide the darkness with scalpel-like precision, daring you to peek inside. In these divided shadows, in the shift of diffuse light and occlusion, things move—things that aren't there. There you will find your own id, the dark side of your own imagination. Read these words, and be forever changed by what you find. Darkness can be divided.-It can be split like an atom, and in it can be found a destructive fire-or light. Light, too, can be folded into darkness. The stories brought to light in John Shirley's stunning DARKNESS DIVIDED -- most of them never before collected, some written especially for this book--are presented in two sections: one featuring stories set in the present, or the past, the other set in myriad futures. These dark tales of new noir, science fiction, fantasy, and crime, demonstrate humankind's evolution from where we were and where we are, to where we have yet to be. Shadows are a current-a continuity-streaming from "Til Now" into "And Soon." John Shirley incisively explores human nature and the pitch-black streak within the soul that each of us fears. The twenty-two excursions collected here divide the darkness with scalpel-like precision, daring you to peek inside. In these divided shadows, in the shift of diffuse light and occlusion, things move--things that aren't there. There you will find your own id, the dark side of your own imagination. Read these words, and be forever changed by what you find Darkness can be divided. —It can be split like an atom, and in it can be found a destructive fire—or light. Light, too, can be folded into darkness. The stories brought to light in John Shirley's stunning DARKNESS DIVIDED — most of them never before collected, some written especially for this book—are presented in two sections: one featuring stories set in the present, or the past, the other set in myriad futures. These dark tales of new noir, science fiction, fantasy, and crime, demonstrate humankind's evolution from where we were and where we are, to where we have yet to be. Shadows are a current—a continuity—streaming from "Til Now" into "And Soon." John Shirley incisively explores human nature and the pitch-black streak within the soul that each of us fears. The twenty-two excursions collected here divide the darkness with scalpel-like precision, daring you to peek inside. In these divided shadows, in the shift of diffuse light and occlusion, things move—things that aren't there. There you will find your own id, the dark side of your own imagination. Read these words, and be forever changed by what you find. Cover; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Introduction; Part One: Til Now; My Victim; Nineteen Seconds; Jody and Annie on Tv; Occurrence at Owl Street Ridge; Wings Burnt Black: a Tale of the Crow; Tighter; Your Servants in Hell; Whisperers; Learn at Home! Your Career in Evil!; Sweetbite Point; In the Road; Part Two: and Soon; To Make Children Good; Two Strangers; The Prince; A Walk Through Beirut; What It's Like to Kill a Man; Abducting Aliens; Six Kinds of Darkness; Where It's Safe; Tricentennial; The Belonging Kind-Written with William Gibson; The Unfolding-Written with Bruce Sterling