Dr. King's Refrigerator: And Other Bedtime Stories

A collection of eight short stories, presented in the guise of fanciful bed-time stories, but definitely not for impressionable kids. These are hard, pointed stories, stories with an edge, and the point each story tries to make is hammered home without much subtlety. One story portrays a future world where dreams are taxed. Another is a fictional account of a night in the life of Martin Luther King. Still another deals with sensitivity to other cultures. The last story, my favorite of the collection, explores the issue of what is true courage. Author Charles Johnson writes in an edgy, hard-bitten manner, sometimes trying just a little too hard. The stories are easy to read, in no sense polished or "literary." Each story shocks or disturbs, makes one think. That seems to be their purpose. I'm glad I read this little book. If you like adult fables and allegories, you may like this collection. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.