By opening with the death of a child, Richard Becker’s 50 States absolutely does not shy away from opening with a bang that sets the tone well for the rest of the collection. 50 States is a collection of 50 short stories each set in a different state in the US and spanning decades across the 20th and 21st century. The collection is as varied as the states the stories are set in and the progression from one to the other keeps the reader on their toes.
This collection truly does have something for everyone! From longer heartfelt pieces to quirky flash fiction or genre pieces, whether you have an hour to settle in with some coffee or five minutes to spare on a bus, 50 States is the perfect choice for someone looking for a quick, unique, and powerful read. Also, I have to say, it’s also pretty fun to pick a state at random and see what the story holds (I initially jumped to Pennsylvania and Maryland and “A Beautiful Day” is still one of my favorites).
I will say, I was initially surprised by the combination of speculative and literary stories in the collection—most collections I’ve read choose to lean more towards one than the other—but the combination was undoubtedly effective. As a fan of horror (in all forms, from gothic to slasher and everything in between), I loved how Becker was unafraid to pair classic literary topics with both graphic and surreal scenes of death and mystery. The variety in content was matched only in the variety of styles; this isn’t collection told by the same narrator (or same type of narrator). No, 50 States provides a variety of writing styles and voices that shows the breadth of experience Becker has accumulated throughout his career.
While I truly did enjoy this collection as a whole, I will admit that some of the stories veered a bit into cultural tourism (I’m thinking, specifically, of those linked to Alaska and Louisiana; though, from a craft perspective, the latter was perhaps my favorite). Between that and the graphic nature of some of the more speculative pieces, I would caution anyone looking for a lighthearted read to maybe cherry-pick which stories you go to first; again, “A Beautiful Day” would be one I recommend if you’re looking for something both speculative and heartfelt.
Overall, 50 States is a well-written dialogue-rich collection of stories spanning an eclectic variety of topics and genres. Becker’s work could easily appeal to a wide audience and this collection is one I recommend to anyone who’s a fan of unapologetic speculative short fiction.
A copy of 50 States by Richard Becker was provided for this review by Blackthorn Book Tours. 50 States can be purchased here!
For Page & Screen 