A review of Orrin Grey’s book How to See Ghosts & Other Figments.

I think short story collections are one of the most interesting views into an author’s heart and soul. A short story can be nearly anything the author wants. It can be any shape or form. It can address any topic. There are no minimum number of words, there is no pre-established structure. A short story can be a single brilliant spike of emotion, or a muddled mass of human misery, or something even more bizarre.

Orrin Grey’s collection How to See Ghosts & Other Figments embodies that concept perfectly. In this book are eighteen stories, and each one feels like the polished facet of an insane jewel, constructed in such a way that no facet is identical in shape to another, yet the jewel’s existence cannot be denied.

In the stories, one feels a longing and obsession with old movies, old plays, old stagecraft, and wizardry. There is the sense that no matter how normal life might seem, around certain corners, in certain trunks, and behind certain curtains lie creatures and people and realities and assumptions that are so outside of the expected, that to face them directly might shatter a sane person’s mind.

Each story also includes an afterward by Grey, exploring the genesis of the story. Although these afterwards feel a teensy bit like a magician showing you the strings and pulleys of each trick, it’s also good because it feels more human. These aren’t simply stories from some otherworldly pen dipped into the ink of stars, but a person who also struggles to connect needs and passions into a single art form.

Kudos also to the cover artist, Nick Gucker who — in my opinion — embodied the multi-faceted nature of the book with a painting depicting a crazy pulsing castle of unbelievable shape and depth, filled with hints of the horrors within. I think this is a great reflection of the entire book.

I paced myself with How to See Ghosts & Other Figments one story a day, as I did other things, and I think this is a genuinely lovely way to experience this book. It is important to include the weird and wonderful in each of your days, if you want to survive reality.