All the Names They Used for God: Stories, by Anjali Sachdeva

Though a little uneven, this is a wonderful debut collection that lovers of short stories should definitely pick up when it comes out in February. I say it's uneven mainly due to the title story taking place in Africa, while the rest of the stories are set in the U.S. (or places that look very much like it), and the contrast is a bit jarring. That story, however, clearly inspired by the Boko Haram kidnappings, is masterful. As in all of her stories, there is a slight hint of magic, one small aspect that turns the story on its ear and your perspective with it.

The first two stories were my favorites, "The World By Night" and "Glass-Lung," perhaps because they are the most atmospheric. "Manus" is just bizarre, which I love, and incredibly powerful. Some of the others start out a bit mundane, and though they always pick up some strangeness as they go along, the slow starts are a bit frustrating after the powerhouse opening stories. Still, Sachdeva knows what she's doing, weaving you into her world word by word. And though "All the Names for God" is out of place, that story alone is worth the price of admission. I look forward to more stories, and would love to see what Sachdeva does with a long-form novel.