Prepare to be entertained by two fantastical stories of magical realism.
In Pirate Ball, a quiet summer day is interrupted as pirates are spotted on the horizon, their ship heading right for town. As the vicious marauders set their sights on plunder and mayhem, only one thing can save the town. A baseball game! The town’s players are the best across three states, but will they be outplayed a … outplayed a bunch of cheating cutthroats and their Captain? Come experience the wildest game of baseball ever played, with the fate of a small-town riding on the outcome.
In Brush Strokes, Michael’s passion and talent for painting has made him famous for his portraits of little old ladies and important bankers. His paintings are so realistic that they mesmerize each subject, filling them with a profound sense of awe and nostalgia. But Michael’s real passion is fantasy art, something his wife Sarah has forbidden him to do. If Sarah had her way, Michael would go work in her father’s bank, and forget all about this stupid hobby. But as their usual argument escalates to a new level, both are about to realize how realistic Michael’s paintings really are.
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Fantasy author Geoff Habiger has been on my reading radar ever since I first met him at the Albuquerque Comic Con several years ago. His writing style is quite unique within his genre, often pulling inspiration from unusual sources to create hybrid fiction (his Saul Imbierowicz historical vampire series being a great example). His stories always create new and interesting worlds that I never thought to imagine. So whenever he drops something new, I know that I’m in for a potpourri adventure.
Not long ago, Habiger released a short story bundle that includes Pirate Ball and Brush Strokes. What’s that? Two stories from a talented author for 99 schmeckles? To quote the incomparable Philip J. Fry, “Shut up and take my money!”
Pirate Ball tells the story of a small town that tries to save itself from a band of wheat pirates by playing a game of baseball. (I’ll pause while you re-read that sentence.) It’s a hysterical premise that tees up an equally hysterical tale. Habiger channels all the great pirate tropes and infuses them with the manic energy of Tommy Lasorda. You can tell right away that the author is a fan of both subjects, which play together surprisingly well.
On the other end of the spectrum is Brush Strokes. This is a much more somber tale about a disgruntled artist with the mysterious ability to capture his subjects in hyper-realness, leaving them in states of utter captivation. His wife, on the other hand, does not appreciate his talents and constantly belittles him. He seeks a reprieve, but his options are limited. There’s not much else I can say without spoiling the reveal, so I will leave it there.
Once again, Habiger has shown his impressive range through these two divergent stories. Pirate Ball will tickle your funny bone, then Brush Strokes will freeze it solid. This bundle has something for everyone, so I highly recommend picking it up. And if you haven’t read any of Habiger’s books, use these tales as a launching point to grander adventures.
Pirate Ball is an enormously entertaining short story collection in which Geoff Habiger displays some of his mighty range. The two stories in the collection, “Pirate Ball” and “Brush Strokes,” could not be more dissimilar, but each is an excellent read on its own.
“Pirate Ball” is a light-hearted, laugh out loud romp through a prairie pirate attack that is settled on the baseball diamond. The characters are hilariously over-the-top, and the story would bring a grin to any curmudgeon.
“Brush Strokes” is the story of a gifted artist with the ability to paint his subjects as they see themselves. He is making a modest living, but longs for the freedom and spousal approval to leave portraiture behind and paint what he is passionate about — fantasy art. This story is somber and psychological, a decided contrast from “Pirate Ball’s” fun, but it is beautiful and well-crafted.
I highly recommend both stories and can’t wait to see what other short story gems lie waiting in the eclectic treasure trove of Habiger’s talented mind.