On the Eve of Uncertain Tomorrows

N. Bissoondath heralds from Trinidad, but writes in English w/ amazing skill. This book of short stories envelopes the reader time and time again in highly 'readable' poetic flutters which prove integral as the tales are told. Moving along the surface of the story, one gets hypnotized and pulled fathoms deeper in an instant by but one strategically placed sentence. For example, the tragic character in 'On the Eve...,' the title story, a tale of seeking political asylum, seems rather cardboard at first, until quite suddenly a mere sentence or added phrase fills in a multitude of 'blanks.' Then the character is known, an aquaintance, even a friend, and ultimately a part of the reader's self. N. Bissoondath is expert at doing exactly this - filling in a lot of blanks w/ very little in the way of words. These are the stories of someone undoubtedly born to write.