Orange World and Other Stories

Nothing is quite what it seems

In Russell’s new collection of eight short stories nothing is quite what it seems from the Gondolier taking a late, ill-advised fare or the young couple who make the potentially life-changing stop at Joshua Tree National Park. Some of the stories are more quirky—such as “Bog Girl: A Romance,” “The Tornado Auction,” or the title story “Orange World”—while in “Bovary’s Greyhound” Russell plays with known characters looking for someone (or something) to find a good end in the story. “Black Corfu” is a dark and twisted tale—manic as its lead descends.  And “The Gondoliers” is creepy in a totally different way. Throughout is Russell’s beautiful writing.