Dec 01, 2015 Frank Scozzari rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://frankscozzari.com/

 

THE SOUL AS STRANGE ATTRACTOR is a diverse collection of short stories ranging from space aliens to a Christmas tale, most of which take place in southern New Mexico.

I found the writing here truly literary. With each new tale I found significance and meaning far beyond the scope of the story itself. Stories like LITTLE HENRY and LINE OF SIGHT left me in thoughtful repose. Each tale somehow evoked a smile or a tip of the hat. The surprisingly wide range of styles and subjects also made this anthology particularly pleasing.

It is said that New Mexico is the 'Land of Enchantment.' Gregory S Trachta captures the enchantment perfectly in THE SOUL AS STRANGE ATTRACTOR. If you're a short story fan as I am, you'll love this collection.

A review of The Soul as Strange Attractor by Arley L. Dial, author of Plews, Inadvertent Valor, and Nagodzaa.

“Elegantly written, entertaining collection of short stories.

This collection of short stories is simply delightful. Written in an engaging, poetic style, Mr. Trachta immerses you in each story using language which is breathtaking at times. As a native of New Mexico, I appreciated the way Trachta captured the feel of the small towns I know so well. You don't have to be a New Mexican to enjoy this work however, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.”

Excerpt from “Crawfish Trails,” a story from “The Soul as Strange Attractor”

   She’d appeared in a blinding glare, the headlight of an onrushing locomotive emerging through the fog….

   “I hear you’re the expert on vibration analysis?”

   “Huh?”

   “Fourier Transforms? They said you were the expert?”

   … He stared briefly, like a half-sleeping cane-pole fisherman awakening to find Old Whiskers, the dreamt-of denizen of Catfish Hollow, leaping with his bait in its mouth.

…

And, thus, a man bobbing down the sluiceway of life, ponders the unaccountable differentness of more-of-the-same.

KEY TO THE UNIVERSE?

French Swami Lumieres Sanskrit, with noble restraint, advised the congregation last evening that, “If you read this book,” (“The Soul as Strange Attractor”) expecting self actualization and awakening, you will surely be disappointed.” He went through each chapter, demonstrating the lack of, “anything even approaching my twelve step plan.” At the end he said, “This is a book for people who want to dream about being awake.” After the meeting he led the group to Chez Jose’s for ribs and enchiladas.

Excerpt from “Big Henry,” a story from “The Soul as Strange Attractor”

   The up-thrust Permian strata, from El Capitan peak to the craggy towers of the eastern escarpment, authored drama above the desert highway. As the bus whined up the mountain toward Andy’s summer job, nature’s history fell open beside the winding road. The Carlsbad Caverns were secreted within its pages….

…As Andy’s rookie fog dissolved, he expanded his observations….(H)e made a teenaged boy’s reconnaissance. There was Mrs. Ledbetter, of course, but she was as old as Aunt Holly and not as pretty. The waitresses were mostly attractive, but still too old for him, and one was married.

   There was, he noticed, a…cashier serv(ing)…from a circular stand…. She had a creamy face, sculpted in bold contours that swept from jaw to eyes like Lady Justice…as beautiful from the back as the front….Her name was Auburn Macy. “But, she’s way over your head, Andy,” one of the underground boys told him as they admired her shapely form sliding into a bus seat. “Old Man Macy practically owns half the town.”

…It might have been that same day Andy first noticed Walt, the dishwasher, behind the steam table following Henry’s moves at the grill. Before long Walt was cracking eggs and pouring batter. In a few days he graduated to bacon and hamburgers. Henry used few sentences in training his towering protégé, relying mostly on example and phrases. “Listen. Listen. Put that with that. Put it together. Don’t mix them. Get mixed in your head. Put a face on it. Face it.” All that apparently meant something to Walt….

   “Henry’s teaching Walt a trade,” he overheard a waitress remark to her redheaded colleague.

…

And, thus, a youngster at the nexus of successive moments, finds things trickier than he imagined; the future more opaque than he guessed.

SECRET CODE: VICTORIO’S GOLD

Dr. Stanley Huntgutthr, noted Halcyonist, used last nights meeting at Chez Jose’s to debunk claims about the lost treasure of Chief Victorio. “It’s no secret that Victorio cached fabulous wealth someplace in the Sierra Fangoso Mountains. But if you buy this book,” he said, waving a copy of “The Soul as Strange Attractor” overhead, “to find coded messages about its location, you are deluded.” He read several passages, recited their popular cypher meanings, and insisted, “I’ve followed every one of these so called clues. It’s a sham! A complete sham!”