An eclectic, literary science fiction short story collection.The Shivering Ground blends future and past, earth and otherworldliness in surreal tales that shimmer with art, philosophy, dance, film, and music.
A haunting medieval song in the mouth of a guard, an 1800s greatcoat on the shoulders of a playwright experiencing a quantum love affair, alien worlds both elsewhere and in the ruined water at our feet: these stories startle us with the richness and emptiness of what we absolutely know and simultaneously cannot pin into place.
In the tender emotions, hidden ecological or relational choices, and the sheer weight of a compelling voice, readers "hear" each story, endlessly together and apart.
~
"The word 'original,' as a compliment, is both overused and quite often misused. But sometimes it's the only word that will do. Sara Barkat is an original. Her imagination is imperious; she wields words as she pleases, in ways that delight and unsettle. In this, she reminds me of Emily Dickinson. Reading her, I expect you will agree. Don't miss the opportunity."
?John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture (1995-2016)
"This is a captivating, word-rich book for readers who want to think, but not have all the answers. The writing at times reminds me of Ray Bradbury in his more contemplative and nostalgic moods. At other times, it calls to mind Italo Calvino in the way that the meticulous description of ordinary things triggers the sense that everything means more than it appears, and the world itself is just a signifier of some hidden pattern."
?Byrd Nash, author The Wicked Wolves of Windsor
"Prepare for a dark descent into fantastically skewed worlds fraught with visions derived from an abundant understanding of dreamy fantasy. They are clever, inventive, and haunting. The author even tries out the second person perspective in the third story, and makes use of a host of other literary techniques to add flair and flavor to the already resplendent writing."
?L.S. Popovich, author of Undertones
