TRIAGE

written by Richard Laymon, Edward Lee and Jack Ketchum

published by Leisure

ISBN-10: 0843958235

ISBN-13: 978-0843958232

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

05.03.2008

A stranger walks into a place of business and starts shooting. That is the premise and beginning of each of the three novellas contained in this collection. In Laymon’s story, “Triage,” a man calls into an office saying: “I’m going to get you, now!” Afterwards he walks in shooting while our protagonist, Sharon, tries to escape him. In Lee’s story, “In The Year Of Our Lord: 2202,” a man calls into our protagonist, again named Sharon, and burst into her office shooting. This time he is quickly dispatched but he is only part of a much larger scheme. Finally, in Ketchum’s tale, “Sheep Meadow Story,” Jack pulls a fast one on us and tells the story form the perspective of the shooter.

I bought this book for the Ketchum and of the three I liked his story the best. Ketchum brings such a strong sense of realism to everything he writes (with the exception of “She Wakes” but I’ll save that for another day). Laymon gives you what you’d expect and only the bits you want. Lee’s story is the most ambitious and inventive of the bunch. Mixing religion and science fiction, Lee takes you somewhere that the premise doesn’t set you up for.

Overall it’s a great read and it’s also like getting three books for the price of one: 5 out of 5