James Lipson does an amazing job of navigating his readers through a labyrinth of stories that evoke feelings of salvation, fear, sadness, and intrigue. Fallen and Other Stories is a collection of short stories that can take the reader back to the simpler times of the past, or force the reader into the dystopic future.

James Lipson has a way with the short story. Transitions include unexpected twists that challenge and tug on your emotions, as his plots weave colorful tapestries. His rich characters and torrid pace make this a fast, entertaining ride. A wide variety of genres and styles meshes to ensure that there is something for everyone in “Fallen.”

Fallen and Other Stories is an interesting array of short stories that keeps the reader guessing. As soon as you think you know where a story is going, James Lipson throws an unconventional twist. I’ve read several stories twice after being hit with a surprise ending, gaining a deeper appreciation for the details on the second time around.

I gave this collection five stars hoping to encourage the writer to publish more. James Lipson sure can come up with some endings for his stories. Some endings are sad, some satisfying and some just make you smile, but almost all of them in this book made me go back and read the ending again. Every story ended with something for the brain to digest.