The Aversive Clause

Subscribers to literary journals and supports of indie presses know that the short story is enjoying a literary renaissance. The form is alive and well — thriving, actually. We could list dozens of writers currently creating masterful, indelible work. One of these bright young lights is B.C. Edwards, whose debut collection “The Aversive Clause” illustrates the myriad possibilities in compact narratives. Nothing’s off limits here; no relationship dynamic unexplored. Yet, for all his sharply observed characters, Edwards isn’t concerned with mere realism (or magical realism). Weirdly wonderful, “The Aversive Clause” offers the enduring pleasure of not knowing what’s coming next.