On The Proper Role of Desire

The stories in Craig Fishbane s On the Proper Role of Desire are short and to the point. They don t dally, rather they confront the world head on in a manner both contemporary and timeless. The jagged characters that fill these pages are so full of life they never stop moving, talking, or trying to find their way. These painstakingly crafted fictions offer us views of ourselves through the mirror of Fishbane s inventions, stories that hold us tight and never really let go. ~ Wyn Cooper, Chaos is the New Calm Fishbane s edgy short fiction ponders the question, can God get around on a fastball while softening the heart of a terrorist? A character swaps his Lexus for a steel drum and a spangled azure overcoat. Another is having to choose between being king of the dive bars or signing time cards in a shirt and tie. You look cute in a tie, his lover tells him, and there s the rub. Throughout Fishbane whispers the paradoxical secrets of paradise in our ears, using prose that borders on poetry, prose worth reading a second and a third time. ~ Brady Peterson, Between Stations On the Proper Role of Desire is a delightful collection of short work that takes every day slice-of-life and infuses it with poignancy and humor. Craig Fishbane s writing is melodic without affectation. Reading these pieces is like sitting on a bench with a familiar friend, listening to stories and watching the world go by. ~ Wendy Russ, The League for the Suppression of Celery