Redefining Darkness by Alaric Cabiling is a collection of dark yet thought-provoking stories. These stories, and the characters in them, seem designed to both make the reader shudder as well as consider what darkness may well reside within.

The darkness here is largely that of humanity's inherent weaknesses carried to dark excess. In reading these I questioned what responsibilities I might have as simply a human among humans, whether I really wanted those responsibilities and whether the way some of the characters handled their own was understandable even if I would not have acted the same way.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy short stories that stay with you and might even help you come to a better understanding of yourself, or at least of humanity in general. If you also relish stories that envelop you in a pervasive atmosphere of dread or uncertainty you will find much here to enjoy. ( )

I love the short stories, although, obviously, many of them are very dark or twisted. I also wish they were a bit longer as many of them have left me wondering what happens next and it just abruptly ends. All in all though, I liked it. ( )

Redefining Darkness is a short story collection pairing protagonist choices and experiences with solid plots representing vignettes of time and place, and demonstrates just how much can be accomplished within the short story format.

Ten circumstances of 'redefining' one's world are illustrated in stories that run the gamut in presenting characters of different ages, sexes, and approaches to life.

Take the opener, 'Day of Darkness', for one example. Seven-year-old Francis is confessing his little crimes, but a bigger one takes place instead. Instantly the scene changes to a police report on television, then to the reactions of the Church, both internally and externally.

Readers receive only four pages to this short story, which create the precise and concise staccato impact of a verbal photo shoot, the camera clicking along from scene to scene while viewers receive a dose of just one definition of a growing darkness.

'Cause of Death', the next story, takes longer to build and describe its particular brand of darkness: here the anniversary of a wife's murder thirteen years earlier brings with it the nightmare of a life lived in grief, among bodies and murders, fueled with the fiery results of vodka and horror.

Again, experience the staccato paragraphs of description that click from scene to scene with the clarity of a camera shutter capturing images and vignettes. Readers have no idea where the journey is heading: all they know is that it's going straight into the darkness of death - with a peculiar twist.

Suicide. Abandonment. Death. The pursuit of fortune and sex. Each short story expertly hones the knife of angst and moves between vastly different character perspectives; and each adds a piece to the evolving jigsaw puzzle theme.

The result is a powerful, gripping gathering that grabs readers and doesn't let go. How does darkness evolve and grow? Read these stories and find out.

That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. ( )

This is a collection of very dark short stories. The stories are not black and white with neat endings but are rather mood pieces that create a sinister atmosphere. The stories encompass humanity’s fragilities – greed, lust, envy – resulting in despair and sometimes murder.

I very much admired the author’s first collection of short stories, “Insanity by Increments”. However, his new collection didn’t make quite as much of an impact on me. I had trouble connecting with some of the stories. The men in those stories were so despicable that I didn’t really want to read more about them.

That being said, there are some gems in this book. The first in the series, “Day of Darkness”, had a shocking scene that I hadn’t anticipated and was quite a good study of a parish faced with scandal. “Suicide Amidst Catharsis” is an engrossing character study of a young man contemplating suicide and the duty owed by authorities to those facing troubled times. There are many twists and turns in “Failure’s Burden” about scheming businessmen.

I have read so many, many dark stories the past few years. Quite possibly I’m at a point where I need something a bit lighter and more uplifting. These stories are very dark indeed.

This book was given to me by the author in return for an honest review. ( )

Thanx so very much!! Received today and started reading right after and I really enjoyed it!!!! :) ( )