I've come to expect a lot from Mr. Haken, and this story doesn't disappoint. The narrator's cool, confident lack of confidence combined with the precise, tangible images of the various places through which he moved combine to give the story a warmness, an empathy, an honesty that many adventurous tropical stories--especially those set in Africa--can lack. Excellent work!
Jeff Stottlemyer replied on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 04:55pm
Mr. Haken's story reminds me of Denis Johnson's work. The characters and their context are explored in depth, but Mr. Haken does not lose touch with the emotions and humor that bridge the gaps in communication between people. Lines like "yes, the inspector has arrived" broke right through the ice.
I've come to expect a lot from Mr. Haken, and this story doesn't disappoint. The narrator's cool, confident lack of confidence combined with the precise, tangible images of the various places through which he moved combine to give the story a warmness, an empathy, an honesty that many adventurous tropical stories--especially those set in Africa--can lack. Excellent work!
Mr. Haken's story reminds me of Denis Johnson's work. The characters and their context are explored in depth, but Mr. Haken does not lose touch with the emotions and humor that bridge the gaps in communication between people. Lines like "yes, the inspector has arrived" broke right through the ice.