Here’s a chance to see for yourself if the boy has a major league fastball. Some of these short stories and prose works have been previously published in books and anthologies that are out of print or next to impossible to find. Others appear here for the first time, available nowhere else in the real or virtual universe. You’ll find quite a diverse mix of material: slipstream, sci fi and even, gasp, a fair amount of mainstream fiction.
That’s part of my problem (if you want to call it that): my writing doesn’t fit comfortably into any niche. I draw hope and inspiration from people like Paul Auster, Steve Erickson, Jonathan Carroll, Nicholas Christopher, Cormac McCarthy and Jonathan Lethem, authors unafraid to cross boundaries, refusing to be limited or constrained by genre conventions. I consider myself a literary writer and anthology appearances with the likes of Graham Swift, A.S. Byatt, Umberto Eco and Louis De Bernieres shows my fiction holds up well with the best authors anywhere. Below is an excellent cross-section of my work, drawn from over two decades of putting pen to paper. Read on…
The “Conrad Dahl” series of stories: four linked narratives centred around one character, following events in his life from the age of 9-20 years. Mainstream, literary fiction, a quartet of tales that will exact an emotional price so…caveat emptor:
“New World Man”–selected by Jonathan Gates (Goldmann Publishing) as one of the 20 All-Time Best Science Fiction Stories. Well, anyway, it’s a good tale and a cautionary look at a near future world. I call it “the last cyberpunk story” and once you finish it, I think you’ll know why. The story is also a big tip o’ the hat to one of my literary heroes, Philip K. Dick. This one is for you, Phil…
Click here to for your free download of “NewWorldMan“
“Also Starring” leads off my Reality Machine collection and earned that coveted position because…well, because it’s a terrific fucking short story. Film buffs will love it and fans of the surreal and macabre will recognize its twisted appeal. “Also Starring” appeared in a number of major anthologies, including The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror and City Dreams.
Click here for your free download of “AlsoStarring“
“Daughter“
In my opinion, this is my best short story. It originally appeared in Crimewave IV (UK) and was aired on CBC Radio. One of the most terrifying tales you’re ever likely to read…and yet there are no vampires, zombies or werewolves in evidence. These monsters wear human faces. Read on:
“In Dreams, Awake“–another one from my Reality Machine collection and as the jacket copy on this one read: “The end of the world finally happens…but everyone sleeps right through it“. Couldn’t have said it any better than that.
Click here for your free download of InDreams
“Among the Invisibles” A day in the life of Little Po, a street urchin scratching out a meager existence in an unnamed Third World city. A product of automatic writing, my pen moving across the page with no advance planning or preparation. A tale from the perspective of someone barely clinging to existence, his fate all but determined from the moment of his birth. Have a look…
Click here for free download of Invisibles
“Matriarchy” is, to put it simply, the best short story I’ve written in a long while. A mainstream offering of grieving, loss…and revenge. From the summer of 2007. Enjoy…
SEX & OTHER ACTS OF THE IMAGINATION…this is the collection that really got things rolling for me. Published in 1990, it earned sparkling reviews and gained the notice of folks like Timothy Findley. The book contains the best fiction I had published up until that time, tales like “Invisible Boy” and “The Hibakusha”, offerings that took such a personal and intense approach to horror and psychological suspense that people started sitting up and taking notice. I’ve written a new Introduction and updated and revised my favorites.
Introduction intro.pdf
Invisible Boy invisboy.pdf
Apocalypse Beach apoc.pdf
Cattletruck cattletruck.pdf
Arrival arrival.pdf
Final Showing final.pdf
“Adult Children”, another mainstream story, deals with Herman, an essentially decent man, who is forced to act as a kind of surrogate parent for his mentally ill mother. I love this modest, little tale and I hope you will too.
“Surrealist World”
An homage to Andre Breton and the gang. On Spec published this one.
“Printed Matter”
Dedicated to my friend Mark Ziesing, bookseller extraordinaire.
“Partners”
An unpublished short story – too bad, this is a good one.
“Spies”
A coming of age story with an edge (also unpublished).
“Facing Mrs. Abercrombie”
Originally aired on CBC Radio Gallery, produced by Kelley Jo Burke.
“Strays”
I don’t have exact figures but I’m almost certain “Strays” is my most-rejected story of all time. It was
written as an homage to my hero Cormac McCarthy, taking the piss out of the old boy. This is a Western, of sorts, and a satire. Peter Watts, fine fellow and superb writer, gives a very funny account of the reception “Strays” received when it was submitted to ON SPEC magazine and the origins of the Cliff Burns Memorial Veto Bomb. I’ve provided a link to his site–so have a look and then come back and read the story to see what all the fuss was about.
“Harold Stensrud Watches the Olympics”
Another mainstream offering, a modest little piece that appeared in The Dalhousie Review a few years back.
This page has the following sub pages.
Great blog! In such a short time… I like the look, the name and the way you have designed your pages. I love the ‘Spleen’ section… and the tag ‘opinions and rants’. Already there is a wealth of material and I look forward to a reading frenzy.
I’m enjoying reading your work. Daughter grabbed my attention and I was hooked. May I add your blog to my roll?
I read the excerpt of your novel. Damn. Now I can only hope that it gets published one day, to see the rest of it.
I like “daughter” very much- will be sure to come back and read the rest.
Reposting (the sinister AI does not want to receive my comments.)
Last week I plucked up the courage to read ‘Strays’ and found myself highly entertained and laughing out loud in parts. (i am keeping my comments carefully vague to avoid spoiling the story). Truly there is little here to offend even the most meagre of literary minds, so the On Spec incident (and the story’s multitudinous rejections) is boggling. In fact I thought Cliff took it easy on the palpitative weak hearts of editors, in order to fashion a Satire that works and is publishable. [Editors! look up 'satire' in the dictionary. and even if the story is read as 'straight' it is inoffensive since there is obvious sympathy with the herd... come on now.]
Warning: while the Peter Watts blog is a hilarious and redemptive account (for the memorial creation) of the trials and tribulations of “Strays” and Cliff, be forewarned that it does contain a spoiler to the story…
I humbly suggest directing readers to the story first, then the Watts blog; though admittedly Watts’ tale does pique the curiosity. Or else advise us that there is a spoiler. In either case this does not detract from enjoying the story and i hope “Strays” gets its day in print (if not already? any updates?).
“Strays”, to this un-well-read reader stands on its own feet very in the company of vague memories of O Henry, Somerset Maugham and Checkhov from my short-story-reading heyday 30 years ago, and even appears to reside in that universal transcendent no-man’s land of timeless “shocking” satire occuipied by movies like “The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover” and some offerings of Sam Peckinpah and Quentin Tarantino, to my mind.
The story frightens me because it lays bare my own likenesses to some of its least likeable characters. They become archetypes of my own deep brokenness and rot , by the end of the story.
Come on, guys! Give me a break!
And yes, this is great art because it is transcendent and universal and true.
Cliff,
Greetings from a fellow Canuck. Nice to see you online. I fondly remember your tale “Cattletruck.” I’ll check out the rest of the tales here once I’ve a free moment.
Take care.
-Mike
Hello Cliff,
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. I responded to your post (it ended up rather lengthy, otherwise I’d have posted it here! Hehe) on the page.
Thanks again.
All the best,
Heather S. Ingemar
i like the concept. where to give feedback?
just read daughter and love it. mind if i add you to my blogroll? looking forward to reading more of your stories.
Cliff:
Can’t find for some reason where I posted before. Sometimes, I do go blind. Just finished Invisible Boy. Like it quite it a bit. Each story makes me want me to come back. I really liked this one. I wanted to kill Sal. I hated her for the way she was treating Jeff, and I wanted to strangle her, then the end came, and bam! Once again, a great ending. Eerie, creepy, perfect. Love it. Good read.
Brandon
http://www.bloodredtales.com
Cliff:
read a couple of your stories (Daughter and Adult Children). very nice. i particularly enjoyed Daughter. really well done. i’ll have to come back when i’m not supposed to be working and read the rest.
it’s frustrating to read on your site the rejection for your pieces. this is a world i am fairly new to and i already kind of despise it, however, hearing that it happens to everyone, and to many good pieces many times before acceptance comes is at least some small comfort. good luck to you.
kelly
Cliff, Adult Children was a most enjoyable read. Goddammit I’d love to read a whole book of these stories. It’s great that you have a place to “publish” your work for all of us to read but a bleedin’ shame its not bound and standing on the shelf. Keep ‘em coming.
Laird
Just read your excerpt from “So Dark the Night”. I liked it from the start. Not too many stories that compare a character to Max Schreck. From the comments sounds like “Daughter” should be my next read.
Best wishes for you and your writing.
~Margo
Thanks for taking the time to comment on my blog.
I just read a portion of “Daughter” and “Adult Children”. Wow. Both grabbed me in the first few lines. Can’t wait till after-work-thirty when I can read the rest.
A new fan from Texas, Michele Bernard
Perhaps no one will publish you because you are a pompous twit.
Hi, I just popped over to take a gander at your blog, it’s so nice to finally meet another writer. I can’t wait to start reading your novel series posting thingy. The excerpt was indeed compelling. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
Bianco Jade
Thanks for the comment about the Harper’s article. by the way, you’ve got a fair share of stories! I’m going to start reading them,