Jonathan Carroll, Sleeping in Flame

Sleeping in Flame

[1st U.S.A edition Doubleday hardcover February 1989; paperback Vintage July 1990]
Orb Books reprint September 2004

orb...tor...distr StM? here: http://www.tor.com/torfaq.html:
In 1984 the company began publishing hardcovers, which were distributed by St. Martin's Press. In 1986, Tom Doherty sold the company to St. Martin's..
huh- quite thorough faq esp Imprints explained:
Most publishing lists are arranged in descending order of commercial potential, with the top book on the list (or lead) being the one the publisher expects will sell the most, and get the widest distribution....It's a strange truth of publishing that if a sales representative closes his or her sales kit in the middle of a presentation, and opens another one with a different imprint on the cover, the bookseller will frequently start again at the top. As a result, more books get sold.
...Because the Tor Books name had become strongly identified with SF, fantasy, horror, and related genres, TDA decided to create a new imprint to better market some of our mainstream titles: Forge Books.
...In 1992, Tom Doherty Associates created Orb Books in response to persistent complaints from readers and booksellers that some of their favorite science fiction and fantasy backlist titles were no longer available. Booksellers told us that serious SF readers would be willing to pay a slightly higher price for well-made, durable trade paperback editions of these titles.

..so..Sleeping in Flame
free damaged copy... I have only before read by him Black Cocktail, which I was unsure about. this I am finding a more straight-forward read. though unusual for me: I like some -maybe more than some- of what is said and ~how said, but there is not anything in or of cadence that is compelling me.
also there is a feeling like I am reading something in translation. maybe from German. like the expressions used are approximations of idioms at home in another language.

pubwkly: In what begins as a highly literate parapsychological puzzler, Carroll shifts gears into fantasy and fairy tale, with results that may not be wholly satisfactory to fans of any one genre. so I am pre-shift..

- Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" : In a style reminiscient of Graham Joyce, the author begins Walker's strange revelation with a single life-altering action; he dramatically rescues model-beautiful Maris from an abusive boyfriend. Graham Joyce - tooth fairy. that had a cadence for me, didnt it. so is it the style here that is reminsct? well okay style of story telling (not of writing, not tone).

4+ stars based on 29 reviews