Terence Young

In these 13 stories Terence Young pulls into focus the characters and mannerisms of that hapless institution-the modern family. Simultaneously warm and chilling, Young's people shuffle between a muffled, confusing present and the laser-sharp dreamscape of memory: a man named Eustace (rhymes with useless) recalls getting his hair cut by Joni Mitchell; a single father obsesses about an impending bee invasion; a teacher testifies against colleagues accused of pedophilia; a German boy seeks vengeance against his wheelchair-bound father; a professor is credited with encouraging a former student's sex change. Young catches people squirming in all too human weakness, but he also, compassionately, suggests a way to atone. Rhymes with Useless counters regret with forgiveness, suppressed desires with unleashed lust and dislocation with homecoming.
"Terence Young's stories are disturbing in the best way. With note-perfect subtlety, knowing humour, and the well-pulled rug, Young illuminates his everyday characters-families, lovers, ourselves-under the starkly beautiful light of enigma. These are gems of clear seeing." -Bill Gaston
"This is delicious fiction-funny, sad, warm, full of surprises, packed with moments of aching poignancy, ever vivid, resonant. Terence Young is a superbly gifted storyteller and this is a radiant debut." -Leon Rooke
"Terence Young assembles silhouettes of a loopy suburb nation. He is our seeing-eye dog. Rhymes with useless? Ixnay: Rhymes with good. Mr.Young is here to stay." -Mark Jarman