A Handful of Pearls and Other Stories »

A Handful of Pearls & Other Stories showcases author Beth Bernobich's versatile talent. Quoted as offering the following advice to writers-

Mix characters and plot. Blend well and set aside to rise. Stir together equal helpings of confl ict and tension. Remember that the pacing used to stir will affect the story's consistency and flavor. When characters and plot are ready, layer these with backstory, setting, and description. For a fuller heavier story, fortify with theme, subtext, and allusion. Add whimsy and logic to taste. Top with a climax and resolution. Sprinkle with surprises. (Do not overdo.) Beat prose until smooth.

-Bernobich follows that perfect recipe to the letter and offers stories that will linger in the imagination of readers. Inside these pages are tales of talented painters, tween arthropod aliens, bitter explorers, and a wistful Medusa.

Publishers Weekly

This anthology reprints nine fantasy, SF, and horror stories originally published from 2001 to 2008, including tales geared towards the gay/lesbian and erotica markets. Bernobich's best work centers on luminous hope emanating from wrenching despair: in "Chrysalide," a poor artist who takes something from each subject paints an extraordinary woman who may save her; in "Remembrance," a couple exchanges letters by recording sensation, only emphasizing the grief when one dies; and in "Jump to Zion," a slave is devastated when her master sells away her daughter, prompting her to take action. Standouts include "Poison," with gender-switching downtrodden aliens, and the title story, featuring a horrifyingly unsympathetic protagonist, both stories with extraordinary, evocative settings. Bernobich's lush prose focuses on scent, touch, and word building, and despite a few flat endings and loose narrative threads, it's clear she's a writer to watch. (Jun.)