A Short Story
Barry Lyga
B & Z Publishing
ASIN B01N4JUOCT
This is the first in a series of previously unpublished short stories to be released by Barry Lyga, one a month for the rest of the year. With all that is going on politically he has decided to publish these short stories and donate the proceeds to the ACLU. Read about that more here. Now not being American or living in the United States that is a little less important to me. But since having discovered Barry's writings back in 2009, I have read almost all his published works, including tracking down out of print anthologies that he contributed to. So any chance to read some of his short stories is a chance I will jump at.
This short story is part mysticism, part ghost story, depending on how you read it maybe all mental health issues. It is set in 2006 and Jeremy Castle has a great apartment, with a view, a job in the financial district that has made him pretty rich. And he has a secret. A secret that cost him his girlfriend, and will likely cost him his job and maybe his freedom. Jeremy is no stranger to mental health services, his mother spent the better part of his life trying to get him fixed. And now it all seems to be unravelling again.
In the author's note Barry states: "I once described this story to a friend as being about "a superhero who realized he's a superhero too late, and so he commits suicide without dying." That's probably as close as I'll ever get to figuring out what I was trying to accomplish here. Sometimes stories happen in their own way and all you can do is hang on for the ride. "The Ghosts at 95" was like that. I wrote it in a couple of days, let it sit for a little while, then tweaked it and fixed it." And the story is a wild ride. It is open to a few interpretations, and Barry looking back says he cannot even be sure of his intent when he write it.
If you are a fan of Lyga's writings it fits nicely in his cannon of work. If you are a fan of a good short story you will not be disappointed. And if you love ghost stories then this is one with a new twist. So give it a try.
I Hunt Killers:
I Hunt Killers (2012)
Game - I Hunt Killers #2 (2013)
Blood of My Blood - I Hunt Killers # 3 (2014)
I Hunt Killers Short Stories:
Down Time (2018)
Lucky Day (2014)
Career Day (2012)
Neutral Mask (2013)
Blood Boy (2014)
Brookdale High:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (2006)
Boy Toy (2007)
Hero Type (2008)
Goth Girl Rising (2009)
Bang (2017)
Archvillian:
Archvillain #1 (2010)
The Mad Mask - Archvillian #2 (2011)
Yesterday Again - Archvillian #3 (2013)
The Flash Series:
Hocus Pocus (2017)
Johnny Quick (2018)
Tornado Twins (2018)
Other Books By Barry Lyga:
Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A definitive Guide (with Alison A.W. Lyga - 2004)
Wolverine: Worst Day Ever (2009)
MangaMan (with Colleen Dorren 2011)
Unsoul'd (2013)
After The Red Rain (2015)
The Secret Sea (2016)
Thanos Titan Consumed (2018)
The Hive (2019)
...
Short Story Project 2017
The Ghosts at 95
Loving The University
The Ideas of March
Four Minutes
Pulse vs. the Killing Fiend
Her Decade
The Life Cycle of Stars (Ignition)
Bobby
Trading Worlds
When I Die
The Autopsying of Michael Edward Morgan
Meet Me Tonight
...
Contributed to:
Geektastic (2009)
Who Done It? (2013)
Author Profile and Interview with Barry Lyga
Author Profile and Interview with Randall Banner
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