THE ROAD GOES EVER (NEVER) ON by Gray A. Braunbeck

This is an odd story that play its self out as a framing device for the collection of short stories. It runs pages (Ever On) 23 – 25 and (Never On) 305 – 306. The pages are connected with ellipses that are meant to imply that the stories in-between are connected in some way, in this case they are extended memories of those that the main character meets along the road in purgatory (If I’m wrong about this, I apologize. I’ve only read the two parts of this story and have not gotten to the others).

What I really like about this story is the road signs that appear: BLOODY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 300 YARDS and CAGE BUILT OUT OF CHILDREN’S BONES ON RIGHT 50 FEET AHEAD. These are creepy. They are also what I would think to expect to see along the roadside just out side of Hell.

It is not much of a story on its own. It is more like a moment in time, a good creepy, I’m glad I’m not that guy moment. It ends with the main character walking into the deep dark unknown. I think that this ending is supposed to give some kind of comfort after the walk of fire. I don’t know, again, I’ve not read enough of the other stories and this one just does not seem to stand on its own.

What is odd is that I was thinking about returning this book to the library today. It is due. However, the more I think about this story, the more I want to read at least one of the stories that fill the middle.

So (I love technology) I logged onto my account fro home and renewed the book. This edition also has a fold out of several full color illustration that inform the stories. I hope to find and read the ones about the clowns; Oooo, Oooo, and the one about the giant fossil of a human with wings that looks like it is 100 feet tall.

Check back this month for more from Escaping Purgatory.

Clark, Allen M. & Braunbeck, Gray A. “The Road Goes Ever On.” Escaping Purgatory. Eugene, Oregon: IFD Publishing, 2001. p 23 - 25

Clark, Allen M. & Braunbeck, Gray A. “The Road Goes Never On.” Escaping Purgatory. Eugene, Oregon: IFD Publishing, 2001. p 305 - 306