Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 is a collection of thirty-three of the author’s short stories, two graphic novels that depict the events of two of the short stories and a novella. These short stories take place across varied settings and time periods including characters of different age, race, religion, status, wealth, nationality and outlook on life. This author explores the themes of grief, death, love, family and the human condition through the obstacles faced by each unique character. A sorrowful overall tone colors the stories as most narratives take on a tragedy’s characteristics. William H. Coles takes ordinary characters and places them in extraordinary circumstances to provide riveting narratives. An illustration
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“Nemesis,” tells the tale of an insufferable man who earns the hatred of everyone in his life. Eventually, this unlovable man gains a mild-mannered woman’s affection that ignites in him an intense love but by an act of karmic revenge, misfortune upends what should have been a happy existence. The story turns a loathsome character into a man who elicits the greatest sympathy. You want this character to get what he deserves in the end and learn his lesson but when tragedy does strike him little satisfaction comes of it as he becomes a pitiful subject. “The Perennial Student,” tells of the struggles of a university professor aiming for promotion. His bane comes every day to his class as one young, unpolished girl who challenges his professional and emotional abilities. This story induces both hilarity and pity simultaneously as it follows the professor’s attempts to tame and understand the singular student wreaking havoc on his professional life. “The Thirteen Nudes of Ernest Goings,” explores the workings of a wealthy but broken family. Their relationship and lifestyles hang together by fragile thread which becomes undone by nefarious conduct, a few paintings, and an emotional breakdown. Intrigue lines this story until its conclusion and escalates in scandal as the story continues. These three are small examples of what future readers of the book can
“Nemesis,” tells the tale of an insufferable man who earns the hatred of everyone in his life. Eventually, this unlovable man gains a mild-mannered woman’s affection that ignites in him an intense love but by an act of karmic revenge, misfortune upends what should have been a happy existence. The story turns a loathsome character into a man who elicits the greatest sympathy. You want this character to get what he deserves in the end and learn his lesson but when tragedy does strike him little satisfaction comes of it as he becomes a pitiful subject. “The Perennial Student,” tells of the struggles of a university professor aiming for promotion. His bane comes every day to his class as one young, unpolished girl who challenges his professional and emotional abilities. This story induces both hilarity and pity simultaneously as it follows the professor’s attempts to tame and understand the singular student wreaking havoc on his professional life. “The Thirteen Nudes of Ernest Goings,” explores the workings of a wealthy but broken family. Their relationship and lifestyles hang together by fragile thread which becomes undone by nefarious conduct, a few paintings, and an emotional breakdown. Intrigue lines this story until its conclusion and escalates in scandal as the story continues. These three are small examples of what future readers of the book can